Kitchen: How to Degrease Kitchen Tiles & Cabinets After Heavy Cooking (Curry & Oil Spills)

The Ultimate Malaysian Kitchen Deep Cleaning Guide: Tackling Oil, Heat & Spice

Malaysian cooking is full of flavor—from heavy sambal sautés to deep-frying and rich curries. However, high heat combined with tropical humidity creates a uniquely tough challenge: sticky, yellow grease films on cabinets, stubborn tile grout grime, and food odors that attract ants or lizards.

This deep-cleaning checklist breaks down your kitchen into manageable zones so you can restore every surface to a squeak-clean, hygienic state.

The Deep Clean Prep Kit

Before starting, assemble your cleaning supplies to save time.

Pro Tip: Always wear rubber gloves and open kitchen windows or turn on the exhaust fan to maintain air circulation when using degreasers in humid weather.

Zone 1: The Cooking Hub (Range Hood, Stove & Backsplash)

This zone suffers the most direct impact from oil splatter and smoke.

1. Range Hood & Filter Mesh

Cooking fumes carry fine oil droplets that collect on the mesh filter, reducing airflow and creating a fire hazard.

1. Spray: Apply degreaser liberally across the backsplash and let it sit for 5 minutes to break the bond of hardened oil.

2. Scrub Grout: Mix baking soda and water into a thick paste. Apply along grout lines and scrub with an old toothbrush.

3. Wipe & Polish: Wipe clean with a hot, damp microfiber cloth, then buff dry with a second clean cloth to prevent water spots.

Zone 2: Cabinets & High Storage

In humid climates, dust mixes with airborne cooking oil to form a sticky film on top of overhead cabinets.

1. Top of Overhead Cabinets

• Clear Dust-Oil Layer: Spray degreaser on top of the upper cabinets. Let it sit for 3 minutes, then scrape away softened grime with a plastic putty knife or wipe with a heavy-duty rag.

• Prevention Trick: Line the tops of high cabinets with fresh newspaper or butcher paper. Next time, simply roll up the paper and replace it.

2. Cabinet Doors & Handles

• Laminate & Melamine: Spray a mild dish soap solution (avoid harsh solvents that can delaminate edges) and wipe in circular motions. Pay extra attention to handle grooves where oil accumulates from hands.

• Solid Wood: Use a dedicated wood-safe cleaner and dry immediately to prevent moisture swelling.

3. Interior Shelving & Drawers

• Remove all dry ingredients, spices, and cutlery trays.

• Vacuum crumbs from corners (a major attraction for ants and flour beetles).

• Wipe down interior laminate with a damp cloth mixed with a drop of peppermint or tea tree oil—natural scents that deter pests.

Zone 3: Countertops, Sink & Waste Management

Your sink trap and trash area are primary targets for fruit flies, drain flies, and odors during hot afternoons.

SINK & DRAIN DEEP CLEAN

1. Countertop Deep Cleaning

• Quartz & Granite: Avoid acidic cleaners like pure vinegar or bleach, which can etch protective sealants. Use pH-neutral stone cleaner or mild dish soap.

• Tile Countertops: Clean grout seams thoroughly using a baking soda paste.

2. Sink Trap & Faucet Deodorization

1. Unclog Slime: Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar. Let it fizz for 15 minutes.

2. Flush: Pour a kettle of boiling water straight down the drain to flush away melted grease and kill drain fly larvae inside the P-trap.

3. Aerator Cleaning: Unscrew the tip of your faucet nozzle to rinse out trapped sediment and limescale.

3. Bin Sanitization

• Wash the inside and outside of your rubbish bin with disinfectant.

• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of baking soda at the bottom of the bin before putting in a new trash bag to absorb moisture and food smells.

Zone 4: Kitchen Appliances

Appliance interiors accumulate hidden spills that release bad odors when heated.

1. Refrigerator & Gasket Seals

• Purge Expired Food: Throw away expired sauces, curry pastes, and forgotten leftovers.

• Clean Rubber Gaskets: The magnetic rubber door seal frequently traps black mold in humid weather. Wipe inside the folds using a cotton swab dipped in vinegar water.

• Odor Removal: Place an open container of activated charcoal or baking soda on the middle shelf to absorb strong food odors.

2. Microwave & Oven Steam Clean

• Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup of water and 3 slices of lemon (or 2 tablespoons of vinegar).

• Microwave on high for 3 to 5 minutes until the window steams up.

• Leave the door closed for 5 minutes. The trapped steam softens baked-on food splatters, allowing you to wipe them off effortlessly.

3. Rice Cooker & Air Fryer

• Rice Cooker Inner Lid: Detach the aluminum inner lid and steam vent. Wash away starch buildup that causes sour smells.

• Air Fryer Heating Element: Turn the unit upside down (when unplugged and cool) and wipe oil splatter off the heating coil using a damp sponge.

Zone 5: Deep Scrubbing Floors & Floor Traps

Oil vapor settles onto kitchen floors, making tiles slippery even after light mopping.

1. Emulsifying Floor Grease

1. Mix hot water with a capful of specialized floor degreasing detergent.

2. Mop or scrub the tiles with a stiff deck brush to break down oil film in tile texture.

3. Pass over with a clean, dry microfiber mop to collect dirty water rather than letting it air-dry back onto tiles.

2. Floor Drains & Mosquito/Cockroach Traps

• Remove floor drain covers and scrape away hair and accumulated food debris.

• Pour hot soapy water down the drain trap and ensure the anti-odor seal or valve is functioning properly.