How to Clean a Kitchen Thoroughly – Checklist

There is no need to point out all the benefits of cleaning your kitchen. All of you already know the importance of keeping good hygiene in the places where you prepare food. When you add to that the prevention of a cockroach infestation and the prolonged life of your kitchen appliances, you have enough reasons to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Since cleaning the entire kitchen is a tedious task, we’ve created a simple and easy-to-follow checklist to help you out.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Sponge
• Bucket of warm water
• Gloves
• Microfiber cloths
• Degreasing detergent (or if you don’t want to use a degreaser, make a paste out of baking soda, water and lemon)
• All-purpose cleaning spray (or just water and dishwashing liquid)
• Cleaning scraper (optional)

Let’s begin!

Degrease and clean the oven and splashback

Possibly the hardest task on this list is first – degreasing the oven and splashback. For this, you will need gloves, a degreaser, a scraper, a sponge and a bucket of water.

1. Put on gloves.
2. Take out the oven racks and trays.
3. Clean any food residue with a spatula or scraper, then spray the degreaser inside the oven and on the oven parts. Alternatively, apply the baking soda + water paste.
4. Let it sit for a while. In case you’re using baking soda, you can leave it overnight.
5. Scrub everything off with a sponge and warm water.

Clean the stovetop with the non-abrasive side of the sponge and degreasing liquid. We advise you to avoid using soda because it can scratch the stovetop, especially if you have a glass one. Use a scraper to carefully remove any burnt food from the top. Wipe with a clean cloth to achieve a shiny finish.

Before you start cooking, we advise you to heat up the oven so you remove any leftover cleaning detergent smell. Here’s a more in-depth article about How to Remove the Smell of an Oven Cleaner.

The splashback is intended to catch any grease splashes so the material it’s made of should be relatively easy to clean with a degreaser and a sponge.

Empty out and clean the fridge freezer

The second toughest task on this list is to empty out your fridge and freezer and defrost it.

1. Start by turning off your fridge and freezer.
2. If a lot of ice has formed, you might be tempted to scrape it off with a knife or something sharp. Don’t. You can damage the walls of your fridge. Be patient, wait for it to defrost and then gently push the ice until it falls off easily without force.
3. You can wash the walls and racks with a sponge and dishwashing liquid or with multi-purpose detergent.
4. In the end, wipe everything with a microfiber cloth and warm water.

Remove food and buildup from the microwave and other appliances

Cleaning is part of taking care of your kitchen appliances. It prolongs their life and helps them work better. Most appliances come with instructions on how to clean them and our advice is to follow them.

Here’s a short summary of how to clean the most commonly used kitchen appliances:

• Microwave. Put a bowl of water in the microwave and let it run for a few minutes. After this, the food residue should be soft enough for you to just wipe it off.
• Electric kettle. For this, you can use a special detergent from the store or you can fill the kettle with white vinegar and water, boil it, unplug it and leave it to sit like that for half an hour. Throw away the water and rinse. You might want to repeat the procedure. After, wash the kettle with water and soft detergent. Leave it to dry. Before using the kettle again, boil and throw out the first water.
• Dishwasher. Start by cleaning the filter and drain from gunk and food. Put in a cup of white vinegar and run the dishwasher on a hot cycle. After, run a short cycle, this time with baking soda. Voila! The dishwasher is odour and stain-free. For a more in-depth version of this process, read here.

Wipe the cupboards

This one is a more straightforward task. And it’s a good method to prevent a cockroach infestation.

1. Empty out the cupboards completely.
2. Use a cleaning solution, preferably a degreasing one.
3. After you’re done, let them dry and then put everything back in its place.
4. You might want to re-wash the things you store in the cupboards if you haven’t used them for a while.

Remove gunk from the sink and drain

Needless to say, start with an empty sink. Remove any food bits you see, then wash the walls with dish soap and a sponge. Make a paste out of baking soda and lemon juice and pour it down the drain. Let it sit for around 15 minutes and rinse with hot water.

Clean the walls

Depending on what the walls in your kitchen might be covered with, there are different ways to wash them. Start by cleaning from top to bottom. Be careful what detergent you use, as it might damage the wall paint. You can use sugar soap and a soft cloth to remove marks.

Are you a tenant by any chance? Not a lot of people insist on cleaning the walls, but when they do, they’re usually renting. Why don’t you take a look at our End of Lease Cleaning Checklist, you might find it helpful.

Clean the floor

Cleaning the floor should be the last thing on your list. It’s not uncommon for your kitchen floor to be made from several different materials – ceramic tiles around the oven and sink and laminate flooring, for example, so pay attention if the detergents you use are suitable for all parts of your floor.

First, sweep with a broom or just vacuum the floor to remove crumbs and dust. Then, use a mop and a bit of detergent to finish your cleaning session. And with this, you’re done with the laborious task of cleaning the entire kitchen!