I’ve seen that happen too—vinegar’s great for some things, but it’s definitely not as gentle as people think.
Couldn’t agree more. Every time I work on an older place, folks have their own “tried and true” methods, and sometimes it’s just about what *doesn’t* ruin the finish. Dish soap and water is underrated, honestly.Funny how every old house ends up with its own set of cleaning rules...
Funny how every old house ends up with its own set of cleaning rules...
That’s the truth. I’ve walked into more than a few “time capsule” kitchens where someone’s grandma swore by lemon juice for everything, and the next owner is convinced only baking soda will do. It’s wild how much of it comes down to what survived the last round of cleaning.
I’ve seen vinegar do a number on old brass hardware—left it cloudy and weird. But then again, I’ve had tenants who used nothing but store-bought sprays and managed to strip the finish off vintage stoves. Honestly, I’m with you on dish soap and water. Sometimes the simplest stuff is safest, especially if you’re not sure what you’re dealing with. I usually test a tiny spot first, just in case.
Funny thing is, I once had a guy tell me mayonnaise was the secret for old wood cabinets... I tried it, and all I got was a greasy mess. Guess every house really does have its own “rules.”
Honestly, I’m not totally sold on the “just dish soap and water” thing for everything.
Maybe, but I tried that on my ancient oven knobs and they still felt sticky. Ended up using a store-bought degreaser and it worked way better. I get wanting to play it safe, but sometimes you need the heavy-duty stuff or you’ll be scrubbing forever.Sometimes the simplest stuff is safest, especially if you’re not sure what you’re dealing with.
I hear you on the sticky oven knobs—some of those old ones seem to have a layer of grease that’s basically fused to the plastic. I’ve run into that a lot when doing kitchen remodels, especially in houses where the appliances haven’t been deep-cleaned in years. Dish soap and water is fine for light messes, but once you’re dealing with baked-on grime or years of buildup, it just doesn’t cut it.
One trick I’ve picked up is using a citrus-based degreaser. It’s not as harsh as some of the industrial stuff, but it still breaks down that stubborn gunk way faster than soap alone. Sometimes I’ll even let the knobs soak in hot water with a splash of degreaser before scrubbing—makes a big difference.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with any homemade solutions for that kind of grime? Baking soda paste maybe? I’ve tried vinegar and baking soda on range hoods, but never really on oven knobs... Wondering if I’m missing out on an easier fix.
Natural Cleaners Vs Store-Bought Stuff For Appliances
Man, sticky oven knobs are like the final boss of kitchen grime. I’ve tried the baking soda paste trick—works okay, but honestly, it’s a lot of elbow grease for not much payoff. Citrus degreasers are my go-to too, especially when I’m flipping a place and need things looking decent fast. I once tried just soaking knobs in hot water and dish soap overnight... came back in the morning and they were still gross. Sometimes you just gotta bring out the big guns, you know?
