Grease traps aren't any new thing in any residential and commercial spaces. However, cleaning grease can be a very cumbersome task in your busy daily schedule. Grease on the cooktop, cabinets, and clothes are caused by oily hands or the oily food residue that can easily stick to your kitchen surfaces. Removing oils and grease requires a little bit of rigorous polishing and cleaning. Still, with plant-based kitchen degreasers, the goals of a neat and clean kitchen can be easily accomplished. What if we say the primary solution to removing the tough stains is hidden on your kitchen shelves? Simple ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda can be the secret weapon to your happy and clean home.

Greases are oils that have solidified into a semisolid state. They can be found anywhere: on tools, machines, and kitchens. While grease and oil are somewhat tricky to get rid of once they've tarnished your clothes, nothing is impossible. Making a trip to the dry cleaners is a costly but convenient solution; the money is worth it if the outfit in question is a dear and lavish one. On the contrary, your everyday clothes can be taken care of by applying one or more home remedies. The key to effectively removing oil and grease stains is to attend to them immediately; allowing them to dry up adds to their rigidity.

What are grease and stain?

Grease and oil stains are undeniably a nuisance. They appear on clothing, bed sheets, and other materials and can be difficult to remove. Greases can be categorized into two types:

1. Animal fats such as lard, bacon grease, butter and bacon fat
2. Vegetable fats such as vegetable peanut butter and margarine

These stains are usually caused by food products that are improperly stored or prepared. This can include cooking oils in frying foods or preparing baked goods, not washing hands after handling raw meat before taking other foods, etc.

How do you dispose of oil and grease in the right way?

Throwing in the trash can be the most convenient way to get rid of excess oil or grease in the kitchen. But it isn't the best solution in every case. Sometimes applying home remedies and washing stains with lukewarm water also helps a lot. Follow these simple steps to get rid of oil and grease:

• Let the oil or grease cool down and solidify
• After that, gently scrape the grease into the container that can be thrown away
• Then cover it up properly to prevent leakage and throw it in the trash

Some homemade formulas to get rid of oily and sticky surfaces:

White vinegar:

• Soak a sponge in a white vinegar
• Squeeze it properly
• If necessary, you can also put some natural cleaner in the solution
• Gently rub the greasy surface
• After 5 minutes, rinse it well with water

Baking soda:

A natural cleaning agent thoroughly cleanses the dirt without leaving any toxic residues behind.

• Dampen the stain surface or fabric with water
• Generously cover it up with baking soda
• Let it stay overnight or throughout the day
• Rinse it off well with water

The alkaline feature of the baking soda breaks the dirt particle and erases the stain.

Corn starch:

A promising substitute for baking soda has an equal amount of potential to remove grease and stains.

• Mix one teaspoon of cornstarch in some water
• Scrub the solution gently on the affected areas
• Let it sit on the surface/ fabric for an hour
• Rinse it off with water
• Witness the miracle
• The abrasive property of granular cornstarch is highly absorbent.

Dishwashing soap:

If you want a quick and easy solution, you can use the most convenient way- dishwashing liquid. However, this soapy solution is only applicable for food residues on cookware. It's always best to use natural dishwasher cleaners because they are chemical and toxic-free.

Lemon:

After vinegar, another superhero of the Indian Kitchen Swachhata Abhiyan is Lemon. From cooking to skincare, in each and every household chore, lemon plays a very integral part.

• Soak the stained cloth/ surface/ utensil with water
• Apply some diluted lemon juice and let it sit for a while
• In case of hard stains, you can also put some baking soda on the lemon peel and scrub well
• Rinse it off with water

Why is vinegar used often as a natural grease remover?

The first step to getting rid of a grease stain is to apply some vinegar to it. Vinegar can be used effectively to remove most stains from fabric, including oil and grease. It is also a natural deodorizer and stain remover that leaves your clothes smelling fresh and clean. You can either use white or apple cider vinegar for this purpose.

• Tips to prevent grease and stains:
• Use a kitchen degreaser
• Clean the grease trap regularly
• Don't put oil down the sink
• Recycle fryer oil
• Regularly clean exhaust filters
• Clean kitchen floors