If there’s one place in your home that sees a lot of spills and stains, it’s the kitchen. From food preparation to dirty dishes, the space can get messy quickly.
But you don’t want to be cooking dinner on dirty stove tops, or spend an hour looking for one bottle in the refrigerator door.
Run the dishwasher, and wipe down surfaces and small appliances every day. This will help prevent dust, dirt, and debris from building up.
Meanwhile, when deep cleaning, start by running a load in the dishwasher. Next, move to cleaning the microwave, cooktops, and fridge.
Then unload the dishwasher to clean it. Finish by wiping down all surfaces, from benchtops to the floor.
It’s imperative to clean your kitchen thoroughly to avoid contamination and keep your loved ones safe. Get down and dirty for a few hours – then admire your sparkling clean kitchen at the end!
How Often to Clean Your Kitchen?
Daily cleaning includes washing dishes and wiping down surfaces. You should also clean your coffee maker every day after use. This can save you from having to spend hours scrubbing!
Meanwhile, deep clean your kitchen once a month – or at the very least, once every three months. It helps with appliance maintenance and ensures you have a clean kitchen for cooking.
Everyday Kitchen Cleaning
The goal of regular kitchen cleaning is to make the job easier when you deep clean.
By tidying up as you go, you’ll save yourself a lot of effort later on.
- Vacuum or sweep daily. It’ll stop dirt from building up.
- Empty the rubbish regularly to avoid attracting pests and bacteria.
- Wash dishes after every meal and wipe down the table.
- Minimise clutter on benchtops and in cabinets.
- Wipe down surfaces to remove crumbs and spilled liquids.
- Tackle messes immediately such as spills or dropped food.
- Lightly clean small appliances regularly – including the microwave, toaster, coffee machine, and kettle.
How to Deep Clean a Kitchen
Deep cleaning may be a lot of effort, but it’s worth it to keep the place tidy and safe. Here’s a step-by-step guide for a thorough kitchen clean.
Of course, if the job feels too much, leave it to a professional cleaner! They’ll get things done efficiently, leaving your kitchen sparkling clean.
1. Declutter the space
Start clearing surfaces of bottles, plates, containers, and everything not in their proper places. Anything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen should go, too.
Check your kitchen cabinets for expired spices, condiments, and other items.
If you’ve just eaten, clear the dining table of plates and dishes. Then regroup in the kitchen to get cleaning.
2. Run the dishwasher
Load up the dishwasher – or if you hand wash, clean the dishes in the kitchen sink.
While the dishwasher is running, work on the rest of the kitchen. You can pause in between cleaning to load up another batch of dishes.
For best results, use a dishwashing liquid that’s gentle on your hands or biodegradable tablets for your dishwasher.
3. Clean the microwave
You can clean your microwave in two ways – steam cleaning, or deep cleaning.
To deep clean a microwave, add four tablespoons of baking soda to a litre of warm water. Use paper towels to wipe the inside of the microwave with the cleaning solution.
While that’s sitting, mix a cup each of white vinegar and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl inside and run the appliance on high for 3 minutes. Let the mixture sit inside for 10 minutes to steam.
Remove the bowl (be careful!), plus the turntable and carousel. Soak them in warm, soapy water to clean, then rinse and dry. Wipe the inside of your microwave with a sponge or clean cloth to remove the baking soda residue.
Replace all the parts for a clean microwave.
4. Clean the stove top
How you clean your stove top depends on what kind of stove you own – either gas or electric. The first step is always to clean food debris from the stove. Wipe with a clean cloth to remove crumbs.
You can clean gas burners using a paste of 1 part vinegar, 2 parts baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap. Spread the paste on the burner caps and let it sit for 20 minutes, then wash off and dry.
For the burners themselves, fill a spray bottle with vinegar diluted in hot water. Spritz on the burners and gently scrub with a sponge or old toothbrush. Follow with a clean rag to dry.
On the other hand, sprinkle an induction cooktop with bicarb soda, then spray with some vinegar. Dunk a towel in hot soapy water and lay it on the stove.
Let it sit for 15 minutes, then use the towel to wipe the surface clean.
5. Clean the fridge
This one is more intensive than the rest, but needs doing the most. Your refrigerator is your kitchen’s workhorse, so you need to maintain it accordingly.
This is just a rundown, but you can check out our step-by-step instructions for cleaning your fridge.
Start by emptying out the fridge and freezer. Use this time to take inventory of your food items and throw out anything that’s spoiled. Take out the shelves and drawers, then set them in the sink.
Switch your fridge off or unplug it.
Spray the inside of your fridge with a cleaning solution of white vinegar and hot water. Let the mixture soak in while you rinse the shelves in hot soapy water. Then use damp cleaning cloths to wipe the interior.
Go over the inside with a clean rag or microfibre cloth to dry it. Replace the shelves, then the food items. Finally, polish the exterior (need help cleaning stainless steel?) and enjoy a clean fridge.
6. Clean the dishwasher
Now that you’ve finished running the latest load of dishes, it’s time to clean the dishwasher. No, it’s not self-cleaning – even if we want it to be! So pack up your cutlery and get to work.
Declog the spinning/water holes and wash any removable parts such as the filter and dish rack. Wipe seals and dials with a damp cloth wetted with vinegar.
Then replace everything and run the hottest, shortest cycle with 2-3 cups of vinegar in a bowl at the bottom.
Polish the exterior with a multipurpose cleaner. Get all the nooks and crannies where dirt can build up. Then let the whole appliance dry.
7. Wipe down surfaces
Gather all the larger crumbs and toss them in the rubbish bin.
Then take a damp cloth and use it to wipe down your benchtops and the sink.
This will clean off all the fine dust that’s settled on your kitchen surfaces.
8. Clean the kitchen floor and sink
The last places to clean are the kitchen sink and floor. Sweep up any debris from the kitchen floors, then give them a thorough mopping.
If your floor is still looking less than pristine, it may be time to clean the tile grout!
Rinse your sink in hot soapy water, then wipe it down. You can remove water stains with vinegar.
Finally, unplug the sink stopper and pour hot water down the drain to unclog any build-up inside. And don’t forget to clean under the sink!
Kitchen Cleaning Tips
Work top to bottom, one side to another.
It’s the most systematic and efficient way to clean, and ensures you don’t accidentally dirty one area while cleaning another. The last thing to clean is the kitchen floor.
You don’t have to clean everything in one day – it’s a lot, and it’ll take a long time.
Schedule the cleaning over a few days to make things easier for yourself. Just don’t make a mess in between!
Don’t be afraid to turn to a professional cleaner if you feel overwhelmed by all the cleaning tasks.
They know how to clean the kitchen inside and out, and will make it easier for you in the long run.
