Cleaning Grease

TSP

Greased Lightning

Murphy's Oil Soap

All will work, I like the citrus based degreaser though....
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Maintex-1-gal-Citrus-Based-All-Purpose-Degreaser-162604HD/203086210#.UmgiSvmsiSo

I think a wife works better

OMG. Somebody hi-jacked your avatar and put up a Halloween mask in its place.

I'd say no, but then I make cleaners...

You are better off using a formulated product. TSP (or any other alkaline phosphate) contribute a number of benefits to cleaners but don't possess the inherent wetting power etc. of the surfactant and builder package of a cleaner. It's good, but not the best.

Don in LA-

Far better than TSP is Sodium Meta-Silicate. Cleans more, cleans better, less caustic, less damage to materials that have the grease to be removed on them. It also does much less environmental damage. Another benefit to its use is that it requires less scrubbing to get the grease off.

http://www.pqcorp.com/Portals/1/docs/Metso%20Sodium%20Metasilicate,%202009.pdf

It is often used as a non-solvent floor cleaner for truck, bus, large equipment and automotive repair and storage garages.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Hate to say it, but Metso is actually more caustic (alkaline) than TSP.

Agreed it's a better choice but probably less available to consumers, and if you are making up a solution yourself be sure not to let it dry on any glass or high gloss ceramics. The silicate can precipitate and bind permanently to these as a micro layer that will cause a rainbow hazing effect.

Is this "kitchen grease" a new spill, or grease that has been vaporized and deposited on cool cabinet surfaces?

Makes a difference how you remove it.

TSP is probably not the way to go.

If really hot water and a cloth won't do it, try more hot water.

Then a solvent that won't strip PU coatings is called for. Start with IPA.

<...Start with IPA...>

What a waste.

A big mistake often made is using solvents etc without any medium to then soak up the disolved grease. If you are not careful you can end up merely spreading it around.
Del

Frankly I think the standard multi-surface spray detergent cleaners are the best for this job - cleaners such as 'Fantastic'. That's what I use on my maple wood kitchen cabinet doors that have a urethane finish. I use microfiber cloths and rinse them often in hot water.

Use a good pair of rubber or vinyl gloves 'cause that stuff will make your hands really sore after a while.

Wow! A lot of good food for thought. The grease is just vaporized cooking grease that has condensed on the wood cabinets. I do have an exhaust-to-outside exhaust fan but this has built up over a couple of years and my wife usually forgets to turn on the fan. I did clean a couple of doors and cabinet faces with Formula 409 but it required some scrubbing and I think I was getting into the poly finish. Thanks guys.

Don

Del told me to tell you that you just need to get a new wife.

I might do that if I could trade for a new pickup truck.

Don

I don't know. New wives are a lot harder to break in than new pickup trucks.

If it's a really sticky build-up of grease, spray it with Goo-Gone first. It will emulsify the build up. It's based on citrus oil and is almost like a furniture polish.