Gambian cooking is delicious. Benachin, domoda, yassa and fried fish all mean oil, and oil means grease on the tiles, the cooker, the walls and the cabinets. Over time it turns into a sticky layer that traps dust. Here is how to remove kitchen grease effectively.
1. Use warm water and a degreaser
Grease softens with heat. Mix hot water with a good dish soap or a kitchen degreaser. Cold water simply smears grease around.
2. Kitchen tiles and walls
- Spray or wipe on the warm soapy solution and leave it for 5 minutes.
- Scrub with a non-scratch sponge, working from the top down.
- For grout lines, use a paste of baking soda and water and an old toothbrush.
- Rinse with clean water and dry with a microfibre cloth.
3. Gas cooker and burners
- Turn off the gas and let everything cool.
- Soak removable burner caps and pan supports in hot soapy water for 30 minutes.
- Scrub, rinse and dry completely before putting them back, because wet burners do not light evenly.
4. Extractor hood filters
Metal filters can be soaked in very hot water with dish soap and a spoon of baking soda, then scrubbed with a soft brush.
5. Cabinet doors
Wipe them with warm soapy water and dry them immediately. Avoid soaking wooden or painted cabinets.
What not to do
- Do not use steel wool on stainless steel or glossy surfaces.
- Do not mix bleach with other cleaning products.
- Do not use acidic cleaners on marble or granite worktops.
If the grease has built up over months, a professional kitchen deep clean saves hours of scrubbing. It is part of every First Arch deep cleaning service.
Safety first: always test products on a hidden area, follow the label, and never mix bleach with other cleaning products.
