Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is arguably the most powerful, eco-friendly degreaser on the planet, but most people use it all wrong. When you just sprinkle dry baking soda onto greasy stovetops, oven racks, or greasy cabinet doors, it sits as a loose powder and lacks the chemical contact time and scrubbing friction needed to break down tough lipids.
To unlock its true degreasing power across the kitchen, bathroom, and garage, you must prepare it into a high-alkaline cleaning paste. Baking soda has a mild alkalinity (pH around 9), which saponifies fats—turning stubborn, sticky grease into a water-soluble soap that wipes away effortlessly.
Here is the ultimate master formula and the step-by-step method to prep and apply it to the toughest greasy areas in your home.
The Magic Degreasing Formula: The “Ratio Paste”
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The Mixture: Combine 3 parts baking soda to 1 part warm water in a small bowl. Stir until it forms the consistency of thick frosting or spreadable toothpaste.
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The Supercharger (Optional): For extreme grease (like old oven grease or baked-on stovetop splatter), add 1 teaspoon of mild dish soap or substitute hydrogen peroxide for the water to create an even stronger foaming action.
How to Apply It for Maximum Results
Top Areas Where This Paste Destroys Grease
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Glass Oven Doors & Racks: Slather it on overnight, wake up, and wipe away months of baked-on brown grease.
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Stovetop Burners & Grates: Cuts through greasy burnt-on food residue without stripping the metal finish.
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Kitchen Cabinet Doors: Removes that sticky, yellowish hand-grease buildup around handles and knobs.
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Range Hood Filters: Soak greasy metal mesh filters in a sink filled with hot water and baking soda paste to dissolve trapped cooking oils.