# Where can I buy elbow grease? Need answer moderately fast! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 24, 2008, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-elbow-grease-need-answer-moderately-fast/457589 "2008-07-24T06:02:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-elbow-grease-need-answer-moderately-fast/457589/1 "2008-07-24T06:02:35Z")
I know what you’re thinking. Yes, I know what elbow grease is. But I’m lazy. Or more particularly, I am the living embodiment of Murphy’s Law of Cleaning, to wit: You can’t get anything clean without getting something else dirty. And its corollary: You can get \*everything \* dirty without getting _anything_ clean. I have been cleaning ovens and refrigerators and laundry rooms and I have gotten everything dirty without getting anything clean. My husband bought Fume-Free EasyOff, which does not live up to its name (i.e., not easy, not off, and I am fuming). I have a mound of dirty cleaning rags, used-up sponges, and soggy mop heads. And everything’s still dirty. What I’m looking for is something like EasyOff that actually works. I’d really rather not scrub down my entire kitchen with sandpaper. TIA. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-elbow-grease-need-answer-moderately-fast/457589/2 "2008-07-24T08:26:14Z")
[QUOTE=Hilarity N. Suze] Fume-Free EasyOff [/QUOTE] Hmm. Not familiar with it, I don’t think we have it over here. But my oven cleaner of choice is [Mr Muscle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Muscle) . Your problem is probably the Fume-Free bit. IME, oven cleaners that actually work can double as WMDs. If it strips the membranes out of your airways, it will probably strip the grease out of your oven. Mr Muscle certainly does this. Open windows, spray half a can into the oven, close oven door, leave to ripen for half an hour, rinse. That used to be standard routine in my renting days when moving into a place with a ‘student oven’. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-elbow-grease-need-answer-moderately-fast/457589/3 "2008-07-24T10:31:15Z")
Since the OP is really looking for opinions, let’s move this. **samclem** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-elbow-grease-need-answer-moderately-fast/457589/4 "2008-07-24T10:46:19Z")
One trick for cleaning the oven racks: put them in a plastic garbage bag, spray in oven cleaner, tie up snugly, let sit. When you take them out (with gloves on) they should be easy to wipe down and rinse. ---
**Author:** ![Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cornelius_Tuggerson)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-elbow-grease-need-answer-moderately-fast/457589/5 "2008-07-24T15:30:29Z")
There are usually men selling general purpose elbow grease outside of Home depot stores. Rates are pretty reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-elbow-grease-need-answer-moderately-fast/457589/6 "2008-07-24T15:34:30Z")
[QUOTE=lobotomyboy63] One trick for cleaning the oven racks: put them in a plastic garbage bag, spray in oven cleaner, tie up snugly, let sit. When you take them out (with gloves on) they should be easy to wipe down and rinse. [/QUOTE] Now that’s a good idea. Thanks! Too bad the area above the range won’t fit into a garbage bag… ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-elbow-grease-need-answer-moderately-fast/457589/7 "2008-07-24T15:35:44Z")
[QUOTE=Cornelius Tuggerson] There are usually men selling general purpose elbow grease outside of Home depot stores. Rates are pretty reasonable. [/QUOTE] They seem to be avoiding MY Home Depot. Hmmm.