How Do I Get Cooked on Grease off a Stove Without Using Harsh Chemicals

Updated on April 06, 2009
E.P. asks from Palo Alto, CA
25 answers

Hello I know you mamas probably know an answer to my question...
I am going to clean a stove with cooked on grease on it, but I don't want to use harsh chemicals, for example EasyOff or anything like that. Do you girls know of any "magic tricks"???

2 moms found this helpful

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone for all your help!!! I was wondering where can I buy the MelaMagic stuff??? I will give some of these methods a try and I'll let you know which one works best. I am definitely interested in that MelaMagic stuff, so please tell me where can I buy it :)

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S.M.

answers from Redding on

Hi E.!

I too use MelaMagic from Melaleuca, I cautally use their whole cleaning line. I jsut inherited my husbands Great Grandmas vintage oven/stove and it had years of baked on grease. My MIL tried to clean it before we got it and it wouldnt come off. I then tried the MelaMagic, a little dul strentgh on a srubbie sponge and it came off! looks brand new! GOod luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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H.S.

answers from San Francisco on

We had the same issues, and tried everything. The only thing that worked was the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I don't know what's in it, but it's the only only only thing that worked for us!

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H.J.

answers from San Francisco on

ammonia left in an oven all night will loosen up grease there. I usually use Simple Green on the stovetop.

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D.G.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi E.,

We had a mini grease fire in our oven once due to some spillage that hadn't been cleaned up and was caked at the bottom. It's great that you're thinking ahead, while also thinking carefully about the best way to clean (i.e., an effective method that is also least harmful to the environment and the health of your family).

What we subsequently used to clean was a combination of items, including:

>A LOT of elbow grease (a.k.a. repetitive arm strength)

>A non-abrasive scrubber (we picked up an orange plastic one at the regular grocery store, but I bet the natural food/home supply store has an even better one)

>Baking soda and vinegar (these work great for a wide variety of cleaning projects)

You might also turn on the oven for about 15 minutes at a low temperature before you start (to loosen up the items to be cleaned off the oven surface). On a side note, this is a great tactic for cleaning the microwave too: put a bowl of water in that oven for a minute before you clean and it will make the elbow work a lot easier.

Good luck -- I hope these tactics we used also work for you and your family.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Magic Eraser or a paste of baking soda and water. The cleaners with orange oil work well too.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from San Francisco on

I have switched to baking soda and vinegar for everything. Even things that are "eco-friendly" still say keep out of reach of children, so I have taken those out of my home. I especially try not to bring anything that smells really good or has a good color, because if my kids were to somehow get a hold of it, they would try to ear or drink it. It may take a little elbow grease, but you odn't have to worry about any residue coming into contact with food. Also, on flat surfaces, like glass cooktops, use a straight edge razor to get the gunk off. I also use the razor on granite, where there's water stains.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.S.

answers from San Francisco on

here's a site that may be helpful for this and other things. www.tipnut.com i've gotten lots of helpful hints. good to see you're looking for alternative methods of cleaning.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from San Francisco on

if it's a removeable part ... I agree with the boiling water in the sink, it'll help loosen the grime. I also agree with Simple Green. That stuff kicks butt, it's also non-toxic and biodegradable. For this I'd suggest using it straight and not diluting it. But you will need to wipe the surface with a wet sponge or cloth first. Then put the simple green on, let sit for about 10 minutes or so... and it should wipe off pretty easily. Simple Green does have a strong smell ... but it's not toxic.

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S.R.

answers from San Francisco on

I wonder if letting a wet fabric softener sheet sit on the grease spot over night would soften it so that you could then use a grease cutter, like liquid dishsoap, to pick it up the next morning. Fabric softener sheets left in a soaking pan overnight work to get the most burnt on, stuck on messes (burnt beans, scorched milk, burnt rice, etc.), off with just a quick wiping the following morning.

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E.M.

answers from Bakersfield on

Hi E.-
a couple of ideas. first, try citrus. Let the lemon oil or orange oil sit on the stove for a few minutes and then wipe it off. second, baking soda. You will probably have to scrub. third- vingar- you can mix in some lemon oil or squeeze a lemon into it. lastly, take a hot, soapy sponge and squeeze some hot water on it (just like soaking your dishes) and then clean. I have found that the natrual citrus cleaners work the best, though. They seem to cut right through the grease. Hope this helps!
-E. Mc.

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J.R.

answers from San Francisco on

I use white vinegar and hot water. I use vinegar for cleaning a lot and it's inexpensive. It works great on everything i've used it on.

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M.L.

answers from Redding on

Simple Green is a good grease fighter and not nearly as harsh as easy off.

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D.J.

answers from San Francisco on

Baking soda, made into a past with dishsoap. And well, good old fashion elbow grease.

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K.M.

answers from Modesto on

Hi, I just cleaned my oven tonight with a product from Trader Joe's called ...Next to Godliness multipurpose cleaner. I love this stuff-it works wonders especially on grease! I spray it on and let it set for 20-30 minutes before I wipe or scrub it off (depending on the cleaning job). I had a major sticky mess on the bottom of my oven and used it to clean it out. Granted it took some elbow grease but it's still better than using Easy Off, I think it cleans better than the self-cleaning cycle on my oven too. I use it on my counters too-great stuff!! Hope you have a Trader Joe's close by. Good luck!

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S.M.

answers from Sacramento on

I never use harsh chemicals. I use Melaleuca. It is awesome. If you are interested they have a whole line of safe products. I can show you how to get them. ____@____.com

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N.T.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi E........I would try a mixture of baking soda and vinegar!....make a paste out of it and use some elbow grease (no pun intended). GL!

G.M.

answers from Modesto on

I LOVE the Magic Eraser. Along with the baking soda paste, it should work pretty well. Cooked on grease is one of a womans worst domestic tragedies, it goes along with when you try to rip off a paper towel and the whole roll comes down and unravels across the kitchen floor. Or when the foil or plastic wrap does the same thing ;)

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B.R.

answers from Sacramento on

Try dish soap and baking soda. The baking soda acts as an abrasive, and the soap cuts the grease. It requires a little more "elbow grease" than the harsh chemicals, but should work. If you are working on removable parts of the stove top, try taking them to the sink, and pour boiling hot water over them first so they'll be easier to clean. You can also run the oven or turn on the burners for a few minutes prior to cleaning the top of the stove, so that the metal is warm when you clean, and that should help too. I also sometimes put the removable parts into my dishwasher after getting the worst grease off. The heat and dishwasher detergent do wonders too.

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S.W.

answers from San Francisco on

I use Melaleuca brand products that are eco friendly and contain no harsh chemicals.
My sister has tried baking soda with water. Mix into paste and scrub. Works great!

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C.V.

answers from San Francisco on

ugh! This is why i stay up late cleaning my stove top after making dinner so i don't have this nightmare. I use the Mr Clean magic sponge. LOVE IT! Use it on EVERYTHING. I would be lost with them. Good luck

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R.L.

answers from Redding on

Make a paste of baking soda and water and leave it on the stove or on the spots in the oven overnight. Try to keep it off the element. I didn't even need elbow grease. It wiped off like magic. It did need rinsing, though.

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L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I use my magic eraser on my stove-top, it works great!

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A.T.

answers from Stockton on

Wear gloves - get a scrubby sponge wet with super hot water and set it on the spots for a few minutes to soften it up - then use Bon Ami powder or Barkeeper's Friend to scrub off the brown spots. Wipe clean with wet paper towels. Ta-Da!
Nature's Orange Cleaner/Degreaser works great for the greasy splatters in the kitchen and it smells yummy!
It's biodegradeable, no phosphates - found it at Safeway.
I spray the grease screens for my hood fan before I toss them in the dishwasher and they come out like new!
If your cook top is enamel you can use a copper scrubber - but if it's stainless steel you have to be really careful - even Scotch Brite scrubbers will scratch unless you use the blue "gentle" ones - but they don't work without Bon Ami 'cuz they are so soft. ;)

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E.E.

answers from San Francisco on

E.,

Good for you for not wanting to use harsh chemicals! I use and love MelaMagic. It is a strong cleaner, you can clean your BBQ with it, but is gentile enough to let kids help and does not have a strong chemical smell. MelaMagic is produced by Melaleuca. If you are interested in giving it a try, please let me know.

Thanks!
E.

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A.J.

answers from San Francisco on

White vinegar and water mixed in a spray bottle should do it!

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