So, I decided to try my hand at the grease cleaning business. Wasn't some grand plan, really. Just kept seeing how absolutely filthy kitchen exhaust hoods get, especially in the back of restaurants. You know, that thick, sticky grime. I figured, somebody has to be cleaning this stuff, right? Seemed like there might be a real need there.

First thing I did was just look around, try to understand what was involved. Watched a few videos online, read some forums. Seemed simple enough on the surface – spray, scrape, wipe. Ha! Famous last words. Then I went out and bought some basic stuff. Didn't spend a fortune. Got some scrapers, a couple of bottles of degreaser from the local hardware store, a big stack of rags, and a box of heavy-duty gloves. Definitely knew I'd need the gloves.

My first test subject was my own range hood at home. Pulled it apart as much as I could. Wow. It was way grosser than I ever realized. And it took me ages. Scraping that baked-on stuff is no joke. Made a huge mess too. That was my first real taste of what I was getting into.

Getting the First Gig

After messing up my own kitchen, I needed a real job. A friend of mine runs a small local diner, kind of a greasy spoon place. He was complaining about his kitchen exhaust needing a clean. I offered to do it, told him I was just starting out, give me a shot. He agreed, probably 'cause I offered a low price. I was pretty nervous going in. Didn't want to screw up his equipment or make things worse.

That first real job was an eye-opener. It took me hours, way longer than I estimated. The grease in a commercial kitchen is a whole different beast compared to home grease. It was thick, layered, almost like tar in some spots. My cheap hardware store degreaser barely touched it. I spent most of the time just scraping, physically removing the gunk. My arms were killing me by the end.

Learned a huge lesson right there: the right tools and chemicals are everything.

After that diner job, I knew I couldn't cheap out. I went and researched proper commercial-grade degreasers. Found some stuff that foams up and clings to the surface. Cost more, for sure, but man, what a difference. It actually started dissolving the grease instead of me just scraping endlessly. I also invested in better scrapers with different shapes, some long-handled brushes, and eventually a small, portable pressure washer for rinsing things down where possible.

• Had to learn fast about different kinds of grease – fryer grease, grill grease, they're not all the same.
• Figured out the importance of prep work. Covering nearby surfaces and equipment with plastic sheeting saved tons of cleanup time later.
• Safety became a big focus. Working with strong chemicals, slippery floors, sometimes ladders... got myself better goggles, a respirator mask, and non-slip boots. You don't want to mess around with that stuff.

The Not-So-Fun Parts

Let's be real, this isn't a glamorous job. Some days you end up completely covered head-to-toe in nasty, smelly grease. It gets everywhere. Sometimes you're working in cramped, boiling hot kitchens late at night or super early in the morning, 'cause restaurants want it done when they're closed. That really messes with your sleep schedule.

And then there's quoting jobs. You look at a system, give a price, and then you start cleaning and find out it's ten times worse than it looked. Layers hidden away. Do you stick to the quote and lose money, or try to ask for more? That's always a tricky conversation. Plus, the paperwork, insurance, scheduling... it adds up.

So, where am I with this now? I'm still doing it, mostly keeping it small, just myself. I've got a handful of regular clients now – small restaurants, cafes, places like that. It pays the bills, sometimes a bit extra if I have a good month. Definitely haven't struck it rich or anything. I thought about trying to grow, maybe hire a helper, but managing people seems like a whole different world of problems I'm not sure I want to tackle right now.

It's tough, dirty work, no doubt about it. But honestly, there's a weird kind of satisfaction when you finish a job. Seeing a greasy, hazardous hood system looking clean and safe again feels pretty good.

That's basically my journey so far with this grease cleaning thing. Just plugging away, learning as I go, getting my hands dirty. Literally.