What's the Best Natural Degreaser?

The Short Answer

Vinegar is not a degreaser.

This is the most common myth in natural cleaning. Vinegar is acetic acid. Grease and oil are acidic or neutral fats. Chemically, acids do not dissolve fats—they just separate them. When you spray vinegar on a greasy stovetop, you aren't dissolving the grime; you're just making it slippery enough to push around.

To actually cut grease, you need alkalinity (a high pH).

The best natural degreasers use ingredients with a high pH, like Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate) or Castile Soap, to facilitate saponification—literally turning the grease into soap so it washes away with water. Alternatively, they use a natural solvent like Orange Oil (d-limonene) to break down the oil structure.

Why This Matters

Standard industrial degreasers are often toxic cocktails. They rely on petroleum distillates (nerve damage risk), butyl cellosolve (blood cell damage), and caustic lye (chemical burns). They work instantly, but they leave residues that vaporize when your oven or stove heats up, filling your kitchen with fumes. Is Degreaser Toxic

Natural degreasers are safer, but they require a trade-off: Time.

Because they don't use harsh petroleum solvents, natural options need to sit on the surface for 5-10 minutes. This "dwell time" allows the safer chemistry to break down the fat molecules. If you spray and wipe immediately, you will be disappointed.

What's Actually In Natural Degreasers

You usually find one of three active agents in effective green degreasers.

• D-Limonene (Citrus Solvent) — Extracted from orange peels. It is an incredibly powerful solvent that dissolves grease on contact.
• Caution: It is a skin sensitizer and toxic to aquatic life in high concentrations. Wear gloves. Chemicals To Avoid In Cleaners
• Sodium Carbonate (Washing Soda) — The stronger cousin of baking soda. With a pH of 11, it is highly alkaline and excellent at breaking down fatty acids.
• Note: It can leave a white residue if not rinsed well.
• Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) — Wait, isn't this toxic? In oven cleaners, yes. But in products like Force of Nature, it exists in minute, safe trace amounts as a byproduct of electrolysis, giving the water the soapy feel that helps cut grease. Is Force Of Nature Safe

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• "Solvent-free" (unless using citrus oil)
• EPA Safer Choice Certified (Gold standard for commercial degreasers)
• Concentrates (Allows you to mix a stronger ratio for tough jobs)

Red Flags:

• "Warning: Corrosive" (Indicates high levels of lye or acids)
• 2-Butoxyethanol (Common toxin in "heavy duty" cleaners)
• Fragrance/Parfum (Hides phthalates) Are Fragrances In Cleaners Bad

The Best Options

For grease, you need power. Here is what actually works.

1. The Versatile King: Branch Basics

The Branch Basics Concentrate is our top pick because it is customizable. For heavy grease, you don't use the "All-Purpose" bottle; you use the Concentrate directly or a 1:1 mix.

• Why it works: It uses a chamomile-derived surfactant that is surprisingly tough on oil when undiluted.
• How to use: Squirt a dime-sized amount of concentrate directly onto the grease. Let sit for 5 minutes. Scrub. Is Branch Basics Safe

2. The Heavy Hitter: Krud Kutter Original

If you have a BBQ grill or an engine to clean, gentle soaps won't cut it. Krud Kutter Original is water-based, biodegradable, and EPA Safer Choice certified.

• Why it works: It uses a proprietary blend of safer surfactants that mimic the power of solvents without the toxicity.
• Warning: It is strong. It can dry out your skin. Use gloves.

3. The Best DIY: "The Orange Goo"

Make your own heavy-duty paste for pennies.

• Mix: 1/2 cup Baking Soda, 2 tbsp Castile Soap (like Dr. Bronner's), and 20 drops Orange Essential Oil.
• Why it works: The baking soda provides abrasion, the soap lifts the grease, and the orange oil dissolves the sticky residue.
• Use: Smear on oven doors or backsplashes. Wait 15 minutes. Wipe clean.

The Bottom Line

1. Stop using vinegar on grease. It doesn't work. Save it for windows and lime scale.

2. Use alkalinity. For tough grease, you need Washing Soda or a strong plant-based soap (Castile).

3. Let it sit. Natural degreasers need 5–10 minutes of dwell time to break down fat molecules.

4. Try the DIY Paste. Baking soda + Castile soap + Orange oil is more effective than 90% of store-bought "green" sprays.

FAQ

Does lemon juice cut grease?

Yes, but only slightly. Lemon juice contains citric acid and a tiny amount of d-limonene oil. It is better than plain water, but for heavy grease, you need the concentrated oil from the peel, not the juice.

Is Simple Green non-toxic?

It's complicated. The original formula contained 2-butoxyethanol (toxic). They reformulated it, but they still use synthetic colors and preservatives. It works, but Krud Kutter Original is generally considered the cleaner formulation today. Is Simple Green Safe

Can I use baking soda on a glass stovetop?

Yes. Baking soda is a mild abrasive (RDA value ~7). It is softer than glass, so it will scrub away burnt-on food without scratching your stovetop. Mix it with a little hot water to make a paste.

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