How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen – Save Time With Our 10-Step Checklist!

Everyone knows that the kitchen is the heart of the home and the place that gathers the family for meals, conversations and time together. A spotless kitchen sounds like a “mission impossible” but as we all know – with good planning and organization, everything is possible. So, how to deep clean your kitchen? It is something that every housewife needs to do at least once a month so that the kitchen remains the warmest and most comfortable place in the house.

Keeping order in the kitchen is a painstaking and time-consuming task. With everyday cooking, dirt always appears and it accumulates and builds up. Yes, daily maintenance is one thing but a deep cleaning will require a little bit more effort. A good plan and preparation will save you time, so look at our tips and checklist ideas.

How to deep clean your kitchen – what tools and cleaners will you need?

First of all, you need to prepare everything that will be used to deep clean your kitchen: sponges and rags, dish and paper towels, a pair of rubber gloves, mop and bucket for water, vacuum cleaner, etc. Prepare all the household detergents that you are going to use. For example:

• Floor cleaner
• All-purpose, non-abrasive cleaner
• Stainless steel cleaner, if you have stainless steel appliances
• Oven cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Polisher

Once you have gathered tools and cleaners, it is time to divide the kitchen area into separate zones – stove, sink, refrigerator, sink, countertop, backsplash, cabinets and shelves.

The final step from your kitchen cleaning is to wash and disinfect the floor and the space under the sink where the trash can is stored.

How to deep clean your kitchen – step by step instructions to follow

Cleaning is a process, so you can add your own steps to our “How to deep clean your kitchen checklist”. We all have different cleaning habits, so some of the steps listed below may be your regular routine, but this is even better as you will need less time to make your kitchen look spotless and shining!

Step 1 – Declutter kitchen surfaces

Deep- cleaning the kitchen begins with removing everything from countertops, dining table and open shelves. Place everything in a box so that you can return the items to their places.

Step 2 – Dust

Start from the higher shelves and work your way down. Remove dust from chandelier and other light fixtures, cabinet tops and refrigerator. Do not worry that the dust will go on the floor. You will clean it later.

Step 3 – Clean the refrigerator

Empty the fridge. Take out food, shelves, containers and racks. Throw away spoiled food. Working from top to bottom, wipe the walls using a soft cloth and non-abrasive cleaning agent or homemade soda and vinegar solution. Wash and dry all shelves and racks, dry and return to their places. Return food into the refrigerator. Wipe the outside of the fridge as well.

Step 4 – Clean the cabinets and shelves

Empty the cabinets from food, dishes, glasses, spices, etc. Place everything in boxes or containers. Wipe down the cabinet fronts with a soft cloth and water or a suitable cleaning agent. Remove everything from the open shelves, dust and wipe them, then return all the items. Clean the interior surfaces of the cabinets with a microfiber cloth and disinfectant spray. When dry, return the contents of cabinets back to their places. Do not forget to wipe and clean glass or plastic containers from dust and dirt. Wash the cabinet candles as well.

Step 5 – Clean kitchen surfaces

This includes countertop, backsplash, windowsill, hood, dining table, kitchen island top, etc. You can use a sponge and soapy water or special cleaners for wood, marble, tile, depending on the surfaces. Do not forget that natural stone and solid wood require special care. Do not use abrasive cleaners as they may damage the surfaces in your kitchen.

Step 6 – Clean mirrors and glass cabinet fronts

Wipe mirror and glass cabinet fronts, for example, with a vinegar and water solution. Polish the surface with a microfiber cloth.

Step 7 – Clean the kitchen appliances

The oven, hood, microwave and cooktop are the most contaminated appliances because they are used more often than others. To save time, these appliances are washed in parallel. Remove all trays and racks from the oven and soak them in warm soapy water. The oven is treated with a special spray or degreaser which removes deposits. Do not forget the oven door and glass. The cooktop is treated with a detergent, which is left for a while so that you can remove fat and dirt easily. Wash the oven trays and racks, let them dry and return to their places.

Small household appliances such as microwave ovens are cleaned in the same way as an oven. One of the best methods to clean your microwave is cutting a large lemon into slices, put the slices into a microwave-safe bowl and fill it with water. Place the bowl in the microwave for 5 minutes at maximum power. After the time has elapsed, open the door and wipe the inside with a soft cloth.

The inside of the kettle or coffee machine is wiped with a limescale cleaner and then rinsed with clean water.

Step 8 – Clean the kitchen sink and faucet

Start with rinsing your sink to remove any food residue. Sprinkle the sink with baking soda, covering the entire surface. Scrub the sink with a sponge. Baking soda is abrasive but it cannot damage or scratch stainless steel or other types of sinks. Rinse the sink thoroughly. If you notice any hard water stains, soak a paper towel with white vinegar and cover the stains. Let sit for about 15-20 minutes, then wipe of with clean wet cloth. Clean the faucet and handle with soapy water and a sponge.

Step 9 – Clean the floor

Sweep or vacuum clean the kitchen floor to remove dirt and debris. Wash the floor. Depending on the type of flooring You can use a mop or a steam cleaner. Not every flooring tolerates moisture, so make sure that you use soapy water on tile, linoleum or other moisture resistant surfaces. Solid wood, marble slabs or laminate will need a special cleaner.

Step 10 – Empty trash

This is the final step of the kitchen deep cleaning. Remove the trash from the cans, wipe down the outside and inside of the bin and the lid, place a new garbage bag and you’re ready!

The most effective way to deep clean your kitchen quickly is to prepare properly for the process and follow the cleaning steps outlined in this article. Of course, do not hesitate to involve other family members, even the children, in the process. With a little help, the task will not be so tedious neither so time consuming!