When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned your entire kitchen?
If you had to think about that answer, it’s probably time for you to deep clean it again. For many people, deep cleaning a kitchen is a daunting task because there’s so much that needs to be done.
Fortunately, we’ve made a step-by-step guide on how to deep clean a kitchen. Keep reading our guide as you prepare to clean to ensure that you don’t forget anything. We’ll also give you some extra housekeeping tips to make things easier!
1. Gather Supplies for Deep Cleaning a Kitchen
Before you can begin deep cleaning your kitchen, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got everything you might need. Here is a list of the supplies you’ll want to get together:
- Duster
- Microfiber cleaning cloths
- Natural all-purpose cleaner
- Vinegar
- Oven cleaner
- Sponges
- Vacuum (or a broom)
- Mop or a floor steamer
- Natural oil or wood polish
While it’s up to you on which products you want to use, we recommend sticking with more natural products for your household’s safety and the environment.
2. Start by Dusting
When you start deep cleaning any room, it’s best to work your way from the top to the bottom. This way dust, dirt, and crumbs don’t fall on surfaces that you’ve already cleaned.
Start by dusting the ceiling, light fixtures, and the walls if they need it. Work your way to the tops of your cabinets, the fridge, and then down to lower cabinets and countertops. As you’re dusting, you may need to spot-clean certain areas of the walls if they’ve got grease or food splatters on them.
3. Clean The Fridge and Freezer
In order to have a functional kitchen, you’ll need an organized fridge. While it may seem like a lot of work, it’s best to start by emptying all of the contents onto the counter. Once your fridge is empty, wipe down and sanitize the shelves and drawers.
Check the dates of all of the refrigerated items and throw away anything expired or any old leftovers. Sort through the remaining items and organize them as you return them to the fridge.
If your freezer is messy, follow the same steps to clean it out. If you’ve got ice cube trays, be sure to wash those as well.
4. Clean The Pantry
Cleaning the pantry is pretty similar to cleaning the fridge. Start by pulling everything out and sorting through it on your counter.
Expired products should always go in the garbage. If you have dry or canned goods that aren’t expired but you don’t want them, consider setting them aside and donating them later. Organize the food you have as you’re putting it back in the pantry.
5. Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers
If you store any food products in your kitchen cabinets or drawers, be sure to check the dates and discard anything that’s no longer good.
Otherwise, if your drawers and cabinets are full of clutter, take the time to organize them for the best functionality.
Once the insides of your cabinets and drawers are clean, wipe down the exterior with a cleaning cloth. If you want your cabinets to shine, try using a natural oil, or even a wood polish with your cloth.
6. Microwave
The microwave is notorious for being grimy and disgusting, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Start by removing the rotating plate and washing it in the sink. Spray your all-purpose cleaner along the interior walls of the microwave and let it sit for a minute, then wipe it away with a cloth. If there are still food and grease spots, consider using a sponge to scrub the grime away.
7. Kitchen Sink
Before you clean your kitchen sink, pour some baking soda down the garbage disposal and let it sit for at least an hour. This will help get rid of old odors that are trapped in the disposal.
Once you’ve washed that down, spray your sink with an all-purpose cleaner and give it a good scrub with a sponge. Don’t forget to wipe down the faucets to give them an extra shine.
8. Dishwasher
Believe it or not, your dishwasher also needs to be cleaned.
Start by opening your dishwasher and removing the bottom rack. You’ll want to give everything a thorough wipe down with hot water and vinegar and check under the spinning arms, around the drain, and the detergent holder.
Once you feel like you’ve wiped everything out, return the bottom rack to your dishwasher and pour about a cup of vinegar into the bottom of the appliance. Run a full cycle on your empty dishwasher so everything gets cleaned again.
9. Stovetop and Oven
While some ovens have a self-clean option, that can be hazardous and we recommend cleaning it yourself.
Follow the directions on your oven cleaner, and use caution not to inhale any of the cleaner. While the oven cleaner is sitting, wipe down your stovetop with a wet cleaning cloth. Don’t forget to wipe down the knobs and grates if you have them.
Once you’ve let the oven cleaner sit for the directed amount of time, go ahead and wipe it out.
10. Countertops
One of the last steps to deep cleaning a kitchen is tidying and wiping down the countertops. Try to find new places for any clutter or even just reorganize it so it looks better.
Wash your countertops with a cleaning cloth and soapy water, or even a cleaner of your choice. If you wipe any crumbs off of the counter and onto the floor, don’t worry about it because we’re cleaning the floor next.
11. Vacuum and Mop Last
Now that you’ve deep cleaned all of the surfaces and appliances in your kitchen, it’s time to finish strong by cleaning the floor. Vacuum or sweep the floors, and be sure to get into tight spaces like around the fridge and baseboards.
Lastly, you’ll want to mop the floors. If you have a floor steamer that you would prefer to use, that works just as well. If you don’t have anything to mop with, consider spot cleaning with a rag on your hands and knees.
Consider Hiring Maid Services
Hooray, you’ve deep cleaned your kitchen! Or maybe you’ve just read through our guide on how to clean a kitchen and you’re feeling a little overwhelmed.
Deep cleaning a kitchen can take a lot of time and work, but it still needs to be done. Whether you’ve got a busy schedule or you don’t want to do it, hiring a professional cleaning service is the perfect solution.
Reach out to us to request a cleaning quote today! Whether you need help just once or every week, we’re happy to help you with your housekeeping needs.
