Most degreasers work by being harsh. Strong solvents and caustic bases cut grease fast, but they also burn skin, damage rubber and plastics, and leave waste you can't pour down a drain. If you want an eco friendly degreaser that still handles a baked-on stovetop, a greasy drivetrain or a dirty shop floor, you need to know what to look for on the label.
The short answer: choose a biodegradable, water-based formula with clearly listed ingredients, low VOCs and no chlorinated solvents or heavy fragrance. Plant-based surfactants and enzymes handle most kitchen and bike grease. Heavier automotive and industrial grime may need a concentrate you dilute, or a longer dwell time. Check the safety data sheet rather than trusting words like "green" on the front.
Below you'll find five degreasers we'd actually consider, sorted by use: kitchen, auto and bikes. For each one, you get what it cleans best, how to use it, and where it falls short. At Eco Safeway, we work with marine and commercial customers who need safer cleaning chemistry, so we weigh safety and rinse-off as heavily as cutting power.
1. Charlie's Soap 1001 heavy duty degreaser
Best for
This is our pick for garage and shop work, from engine bays and tools to greasy concrete. It also suits anyone who wants one concentrated, biodegradable degreaser they can dilute for different jobs. If you want a single jug that handles a range hood, a bike chain and an oily workbench, start here.
How it works and what's in it
Charlie's Soap sells a water-based concentrate. Surfactants lift oil off the surface and hold it in the water so it rinses away. The brand markets its cleaners as biodegradable and phosphate-free, but formulas change, so read the current safety data sheet before you buy.
Use a stronger mix for baked-on grease and a weaker one for light films. Follow the label's dilution chart, and let the product dwell a few minutes before you scrub.
Where it works and where to be careful
It does well on metal, concrete, tools, grills and most hard kitchen surfaces. Watch for these limits:
- Test a hidden spot first on painted, anodized or soft-metal parts.
- Wear gloves and eye protection when you handle the concentrate.
- Rinse well so no residue is left on food-contact surfaces.
- Collect heavy oily runoff. Biodegradable does not make used wash water safe to pour into a storm drain.
Biodegradable describes the cleaner, not the oil you wash off with it.
Sizes and price range
Charlie's Soap sells in jug and bulk sizes, and retailer prices vary. We can't confirm one list price, so check current listings. Because it's a concentrate, compare cost per diluted gallon rather than the sticker price on the jug. That math usually favors the larger sizes if you clean often.
2. Simple Green industrial cleaner and degreaser
Best for
This is the practical all-rounder if you want an eco friendly degreaser for general shop and facility cleaning. Think floors, machinery, tools and greasy engine parts. It's easy to find at hardware stores, which helps when you run out mid-job.
How it works and what's in it
Simple Green sells this as a water-based concentrate. Surfactants break oil away from the surface so water carries it off. The brand describes it as non-toxic and biodegradable, but confirm on the current safety data sheet for your size. Dilute to the label ratio, then give heavy grease a few minutes of dwell time.
Where it works and where to be careful
It handles oily floors, tools and most sealed surfaces. Keep these limits in mind:
- Check the label before using it on aluminum or other soft metals, since long contact can stain them.
- Rinse food-contact surfaces thoroughly.
- Don't let used wash water reach a storm drain.
Match the dilution to the grease, and rinse before the surface dries.
Sizes and price range
Expect spray bottles, gallon jugs, pails and drums. Prices vary by retailer, so compare cost per diluted gallon rather than jug price. Larger sizes usually cost less per use if you clean often.
3. Gear Hugger plant-based heavy duty degreaser
Best for
Pick this one for bikes and drivetrains. If you want a plant-based eco friendly degreaser for chains, cassettes and greasy hubs, it suits that job better than a general shop cleaner. It also handles small tools and mechanical parts.
How it works and what's in it
Gear Hugger positions this as a plant-based, biodegradable formula. Plant-derived surfactants lift oil and hold it in the rinse water. Ingredients can change, so read the current safety data sheet before you buy. Apply it, wait a few minutes, brush the chain and cassette, then rinse.
Where it works and where to be careful
It works on metal drivetrain parts and other greasy components. Keep these limits in mind:
- Keep it off brake rotors and pads, and wipe away overspray.
- Test first on painted frames, decals and carbon.
- Don't let chain-grease rinse water reach a storm drain.
Degrease the drivetrain, then keep every drop away from the brakes.
Sizes and price range
Retail listings vary by size and seller, and we can't confirm current prices. Check bike shops and online retailers, then compare cost per ounce rather than bottle price. For frequent cleaning, larger refill sizes usually make more sense than small spray bottles.
4. EvaClean PurPower non-butyl degreaser
Best for
Choose this for commercial kitchens and food-service cleaning: range hoods, grills, fryer exteriors and greasy floors. If you want an eco friendly degreaser without butyl solvents for ventilated indoor spaces, it fits well.
How it works and what's in it
EvaClean markets PurPower as a non-butyl, biodegradable concentrate. Butyl glycol ethers are common solvents in heavy degreasers, and skipping them usually means less odor. Surfactants do the cutting. Dilute to the label ratio, spray, let it dwell, then wipe or rinse. Check the current safety data sheet for the exact ingredients.
Where it works and where to be careful
It suits stainless steel, tile and other sealed hard surfaces. Keep these limits in mind:
- Test first on aluminum, painted or soft surfaces.
- Wear gloves and eye protection with the concentrate.
- Rinse food-contact surfaces thoroughly.
- Send greasy wash water to a grease trap or sanitary drain, following local rules.
Non-butyl describes the solvent profile, not a pass on rinsing and disposal.
Sizes and price range
Availability varies by distributor, and we can't confirm current prices. Look for gallon and larger sizes, then compare cost per diluted gallon. Concentrate sizes usually pay off in kitchens that clean every day.
5. ATTITUDE natural kitchen degreaser spray
Best for
Home cooks get the most from this one. It handles light daily cleanup on stovetops, counters, backsplashes and range-hood exteriors. If you want a gentle eco friendly degreaser in a ready-to-use spray, it's the easiest option on this list.
How it works and what's in it
ATTITUDE markets this spray as a plant- and mineral-based formula. Surfactants loosen fresh cooking grease, and you wipe it away with a damp cloth. It comes pre-diluted, so there's no mixing. Check the current safety data sheet for the exact ingredients, and confirm the label for your bottle.
Where it works and where to be careful
It suits everyday splatter and appliance exteriors. Keep these limits in mind:
- Expect extra passes on baked-on, carbonized grease. Use a concentrate like picks 1 or 4 for that.
- Test first on natural stone, unsealed wood and delicate finishes.
- Wipe food-contact surfaces with clean water afterward.
A gentle spray wins at daily upkeep and loses to baked-on buildup.
Sizes and price range
Expect a spray bottle sized for home use, and look for refill options at retailers. We can't confirm current prices. Because it's ready to use, compare cost per ounce against what you'd pay for a diluted concentrate.
Choosing the right degreaser for your job
Match the product to the grease. A concentrate like Charlie's Soap, Simple Green or EvaClean gives you the most cutting power for baked-on grime. Gear Hugger is built for bike drivetrains, and ATTITUDE covers daily kitchen upkeep.
Whatever you pick, the same rules apply. Read the safety data sheet, test a hidden spot, rinse food-contact surfaces, and keep oily wash water out of storm drains. A good eco friendly degreaser is only as safe as the way you use and dispose of it.
Working on a boat or aircraft instead? Our aluminum-safe degreaser spray is made to lift grease, oil and dirt from marine and aircraft surfaces. Check the product page for details, and read the label first like you would with any cleaner on this list.
