The Dawn Dish Soap Alternative That Can Clean Up Grimy Kitchen Cabinets

For years, homeowners (and even professional cleaners) have chosen to get rid of cooked-on grease on kitchen cabinets with Dawn when the build-up gets too noticeable. The logic is simple and compelling: the popular dish soap is a degreaser, and it's designed to break down the very same fats and oils that pop up from a pan while cooking and cling to your cabinets. Dawn is a product many people probably already have on hand, plus, it's inexpensive and easy to use. Its reputation for cutting through grease on dishes naturally extends to cleaning your kitchen, and many other unexpected things you can clean with dish soap. But despite its power, you may still be looking for an alternative. Whether you just want something more eco-friendly or something with more concentrated power, there's a great option many folks haven't heard of: Citra Solv.

It's easy to let sticky, airborne grease film from daily cooking build up on your kitchen cabinetry, but the consequences of letting it sit there go beyond a mere unsightly appearance. This grimy residue can also harbor bacteria and even attract pests. More alarmingly, this thick layer of built-up grease is flammable, and can pose a fire hazard in a worst-case scenario. Regular cleaning is not just a matter of aesthetics, but an important part of keeping your kitchen safe, healthy, and functional. And when tackling this stubborn build-up, choosing a cleaner like Citra Solv can make quick work of the nasty task.

A concentrated option like Citra Solv is ideal for greasy cabinets. Its primary strength is its star ingredient: limonene, a natural solvent derived from the peel of the orange. This orange oil is a highly-effective degreaser that cuts through the toughest, stickiest grease and grime with ease. Plus, it leaves behind a pleasant, fresh citrus smell. This plant-based composition offers a big advantage over Dawn, in that it is biodegradable, safe for grey water systems like sinks, and free from petroleum-based materials.

Citra Solv is a concentrated cleaning product that works best when watered down in most cases. The amount of water added gives you control over its strength, so you can dilute it for general cleaning, or keep it strong for heavy-duty tasks. For moderately grimy cabinets, a suggested heavy-duty mixture is 1 ounce of concentrate per 4 ounces of water, applied with a soft cloth or sponge. Let it sit for a few minutes before gently scrubbing the affected area. Once the Citra Solv dissolves the build-up, wipe your cabinets down with a damp cloth to remove the residue, revealing beautifully clean and refreshed cabinets.

Citra Solv's main ingredient limonene is a strong natural solvent, which is defined as a substance (usually liquid) used to dissolve other materials to form a solution. In this case, limonene is being used to dissolve grease, but it may also take your cabinet paint down with it. Before you use it, perform a discreet spot test to ensure compatibility. This is especially important if you have painted, lacquered, or older wood finishes.