How to Degrease the Top of Your Fridge in 15 Minutes or Less

Take care of your fridge as fast as greased lightning

mother and children preparing spaghetti
Photo: miniseries / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
mother and children preparing spaghetti
Photo: miniseries / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
D.P. Taylor
Written by D.P. Taylor
Contributing Writer
Updated Feb 26, 2022
SKILL LEVEL
Easy
COMPLETION TIME
15 minutes
COST
$0-$10
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • Stepladder
  • Microfiber cloths
  • Rag
SUPPLIES
  • Dusting spray
  • White vinegar
  • Paper towels
  • Wax paper (optional)

You may not cook on your fridge, but its proximity to the stovetop makes it a resting place for all sorts of oil splatters and dust. Unless you don’t mind that your cereal box is stuck on top of all that grease, you’ll have to deal with cleaning the fridge top eventually. Fortunately, this is pretty easy to do. You just need some cleaning solutions, a stepladder, and some grease—elbow grease, that is.

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5 Steps to Degrease the Top of Your Refrigerator

  1. Dust the Top of Your Fridge

    Using a stepladder to reach the top of your refrigerator, the first thing to do is clear off any items you store there and then dust everything, from the cereal boxes and old pots to the fridge top itself. Use a clean microfiber cloth for this process and some dusting spray.

  2. Start Scrubbing

    White vinegar and baking soda cleaner
    Photo: daniele / Adobe Stock

    Now, it's time to cut through that grime. Soak a rag or sponge in distilled white vinegar (the acidity of vinegar is great for grease) and scrub the top of your refrigerator until you've wiped off all the grease. Get down off the stepladder safely, rinse off the rag in the sink, soak the clean rag in vinegar again, and get back to scrubbing. This process may take a few tries to get all that greasy gunk off.

  3. Wipe the Top Down With Water

    Once the grease is gone, you'll want to get rid of that vinegar smell. Squeeze out the rag, soak it in warm water, and then wipe down the top of the fridge again to do a final rinse.

  4. Dry the Fridge Top

    Grab some paper towels and dry off the top of your fridge, and you're done!

  5. Take Some Preventive Steps

    You can keep the grime from returning by putting down some wax paper on top of your fridge. Then, return your items on top of your fridge—or better yet, find a cabinet or enclosed pantry to store your belongings to prevent dust and grime. Every few weeks, grab those wax sheets and throw them away, and replace them with new sheets.

DIY Fridge Degreasing vs. Hiring a Pro

If your fridge top needs degreasing, chances are the rest of your home needs a good, thorough cleaning, too. In that case, consider hiring a house cleaning service near you. These pros can give your whole fridge a cleaning, clean your fridge coils, deep clean your kitchen, and take care of the rest of your home. 

The cost of a house cleaning service is $120 to $240 on average, and if you have a small home, it may cost as little as $90. These services may be worth your while if having a spick-and-span home is important but you lack the time to take care of all the many chores.

Additional Questions

How do you get sticky baked-on grease off?

As mentioned above, vinegar is a good option, but you can also use salt or baking soda to help dislodge that sticky grime. After that, use soap and water to rinse it off.

How do you remove grease from plastic appliances?

You have to be careful with plastic surfaces when using a strong grease-cutting cleaner because it may harm the plastic. It’s best to use something plastic (like a plastic butter knife) to scrape off most of the grease first and then use a small amount of dishwashing liquid to clean.

Is lemon juice a degreaser?

Yes, lemon juice is another possible degreasing option, and you can even mix it with vinegar for added effect.

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Learn more about our contributor
D.P. Taylor
Written by D.P. Taylor
Contributing Writer
D.P. Taylor has a passion for helping businesses solve tough problems in their industry. He specializes in researching industry challenges and breaking them down in a way that is easy to digest while effectively solving the reader's issue.

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