Sometimes, I clean houses with pets and children, which tend to be messier compared to homes without them. From years of professional experience, I know exactly where to start, no matter how messy the kitchen is!
The kitchen is the heart of a family, so it should always be a priority. A lack of hygiene here can undoubtedly impact your family’s health. Plus, when your kitchen is clean, tidy, and well-organized, it feels like 80% of your home is clean—even if the other parts aren’t so!
Today, I’m sharing a guide on where to start cleaning, no matter how messy it looks, along with the best order to clean efficiently and effectively.
These tips are drawn from my years of professional experience and include some secret kitchen-cleaning strategies you won’t find anywhere else!
Deep VS Regular Kitchen Cleaning
Kitchen deep cleaning involves focusing on every single detail, from the tops of cabinets to the inside of oven glass dividers. Thorough cleaning of kitchen appliances like ovens, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers. Deep cleaning is an essential task that should be done once or twice a year.
More clearly, deep cleaning includes areas like the inside of drawers, polishing silver utensils, and covering all the finer details that often get overlooked during regular cleaning.
On the other hand, regular kitchen cleaning should be performed weekly or biweekly, depending on how often you use your kitchen. During regular cleaning, you might clean the refrigerator, but only the visible areas, focusing more on general tidying to keep the kitchen functional.
Today, I’ll share a guide for regular kitchen cleaning, including a secret order to follow.
Keep in Mind Before We Start
Today, we’re not discussing natural cleaning methods but rather a standard cleaning using common household cleaning products. Incorrectly formulated natural solutions can sometimes damage or discolor kitchen items. We’ll cover natural cleaning methods, like using vinegar and baking soda, in a separate blog post.
Now that you know the difference between regular and deep cleaning, let’s focus on a quick, regular cleaning that should take no more than 1 hour—ideally, about 45 minutes. The goal is to clean the entire kitchen efficiently, not to spend hours on a single task.
Kitchen Cleaning Guide: In Correct Order
When you know exactly what to do in which order, and have a step-by-step checklist from a professional, you’ll be amazed at how efficiently you can clean your kitchen—just like a pro!
Step 1: Gather Essential Kitchen Cleaning Tools
Before starting your cleaning, ensure you have all the necessary tools within reach. This saves time and helps you clean more effectively, quickly, and thoroughly.
Here’s a list of essential tools:
- Microfiber cloths
- Sponges and scrubbers
- Hand gloves
- Razor blade scraper (for the stove)
- Vacuum cleaner (including small brush attachments)
- Mop stick and bucket
- Long-handled duster (optional)
- Narrow Brush (For kitchen sink)
- Cleaning detergent
- Dish soap
- Special cleaners for the stove and sink (if available)
- An all-purpose detergent works well if you don’t have a specific floor cleaner.
- Disinfectant Spray
Step 2: Quick Vacuum
Here’s a secret you might not have heard before, a quick vacuum is essential before diving into kitchen cleaning.
Everyday tasks like toasting bread or slicing it often leave behind crumbs. If you have pets or children, you’ll likely find even more debris, like pet hair or scattered crumbs, that can easily spread to other areas of your home.
You might plan to focus solely on cleaning the kitchen today, but as you move around—whether to check on your baby, manage laundry, or take a quick break—you could inadvertently carry dust or debris to other parts of the house.
A quick vacuum at this stage prevents the spread of dirt. Quickly vacuum the kitchen counter and floor surface.
Step 3: Declutter
Less clutter means less effort in cleaning. Start from one side of the counter and work your way to the other.
- Check the dining table as well.
- Discard items you no longer need, such as empty packets or old newspapers.
- Return items like cookie boxes, sugar pots, or flour packets to their designated drawers or cabinets.
- Don’t forget to inspect the refrigerator. Discard expired food or anything you no longer want to keep.
- Gather dirty dishes scattered around the kitchen—plates, knives, glasses, food containers, tea jars, etc.—and place them in the sink or on the counter for cleaning.
- If there’s leftover food in a cooking pot, transfer it into a container and store it in the refrigerator or its appropriate place. Aim to clear as much space as possible.
Remember, this is regular cleaning, so stay focused. Don’t spend too much time decluttering or organizing.
Step 4: Take Care of the Dishes
Start with the dishwasher. Unload it and put the clean dishes back in their proper places. If any dishes are still damp, use a dry kitchen towel to wipe them before storing them.
Next, load the dishwasher with the dirty dishes you gathered during decluttering. Ensure every item is dishwasher-safe, arrange them properly, and then run the machine.
For any items that didn’t fit or aren’t dishwasher-safe, wash them by hand. Once washed, place them on the dish rack to dry.
After they’ve dried, use a dry kitchen towel to wipe off any remaining water drops and store them in their designated places. This will free up the kitchen rack, making it easier to clean later.
Step 5: Take Out the Garbage
Empty the rubbish bins and place them near the front door to ensure they get taken out or to remind yourself to do it later.
Quickly wipe down the bins and spray disinfectant before putting in new bin bags. Washing the bins isn’t necessary unless it’s urgent, as this is a regular cleaning session, and you don’t want to spend too much time on a single task.
Finally, replace the bags and quickly clean the area under the sink where the bins are kept.
Step 6: Thorough Dry Dusting
Dry dusting is a crucial part of cleaning. Without proper dusting, wiping surfaces won’t be as effective. Dust all reachable areas, working from top to bottom, so cobwebs and dust collect at the floor level for easier cleanup.
Since this is regular cleaning, you’re not expected to disassemble light fixtures or perform deep cleaning. Simply focus on dusting the visible surfaces you can easily access.
Use a dry microfiber cloth, a duster, or a vacuum with a small brush nozzle for the best results. Based on my experience, a long-handled duster is the quickest tool for reaching:
Wall moldings, open shelves, stovetops, picture frames, lamps, kitchen counters, electrical sockets, window sills, mirrors, cabinet tops, radiators etc.
For easy-to-reach surfaces, a microfiber cloth works perfectly. For hard-to-reach spots—like behind the refrigerator, cabinets, or under the oven or dishwasher—a long-handled duster is ideal.
Avoid using a damp cloth for dusting, as it can smear dirt and make things worse.
Step 7: Wipe Clean Surfaces
After dusting, wiping a surface makes it shiny.
Preparation: Prepare soapy water (dishwashing liquid with warm tap water) in your kitchen sink to speed up the cleaning process instead of using a separate bucket.
- Kitchen Cabinet: Dampen a microfiber cloth with the soapy water to easily remove grease from the cabinet. For the best results, wipe with a dry microfiber cloth after using a wet one; otherwise, it may leave water stains on the cabinet. Focus more on high-touch areas, like knobs and the surrounding areas of cabinet doors, as these tend to get dirtier due to frequent contact.
- Kitchen Tables and Chairs: Wipe down the dining table and chairs. Don’t forget to check beneath the chair and table if there are small children at home.
- Small Surfaces: Wipe windowsills, the top of the kitchen fan, light switches, or anything else that needs to be cleaned.
- Items on the Counter: Wipe spice jars and oil bottles, and place them with labels facing forward. This simple step gives your kitchen a professionally cleaned look.
Microfiber Cloth Tip: To use all 8 clean sides of a microfiber cloth, fold it twice across the middle.
Step 8: Wipe Clean Large Appliances
Drain the warm soapy water from the sink and prepare again for the appliances.
Oven: Wipe the exterior of the oven first with a damp cloth, followed by a dry one. Open the door and clean the edges and inside glass surface, paying special attention to door handles and knobs.
When wiping the oven, ensure the microfiber cloth is only damp, not soaked, to prevent water from seeping into the oven door glass panels.
Save the oven’s interior and grill for a separate deep cleaning session.
Fridge and Freezer: Open the doors and wipe the moldings and edges. Quickly wipe any visible spots, such as spills from soda or sauce. Thoroughly clean the fridge door, handles, etc. If there are magnets or pictures on the fridge door, you don’t need to remove them; simply clean around them as needed.
For stainless steel fridges, take extra care and consider using a specific stainless steel cleaner. Avoid using vinegar on stainless steel; this also applies to microwaves.
Dishwasher: Open the door and wipe the inside, edges, and exterior. Mineral deposits and undissolved detergent can build up inside the door. If the dishwasher is in use, wipe only the exterior. If it’s not in use, consider running an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaner.
Step 9: Wipe Clean Small Appliances
- Microwave: Wash the plate and lid by hand, then clean the inside and exterior of the microwave. Whether there are stains or burnt-on food inside, a soaked microfiber cloth in warm, soapy water works well for quick cleaning. Use it to loosen residue on the walls, ceiling, and bottom of the microwave. If needed, repeat this step. Then wipe thoroughly inside and outside with a damp cloth. Finish by drying with a clean microfiber cloth including the plate and lid.
- Toaster: Empty crumbs from the toaster tray, and wipe down the tray and the entire toaster.
- Kettle: Simply wash by hand or wipe it down. Don’t forget to clean the base.
- Coffee Maker: Discard the coffee filter, wash the jar by hand, and avoid putting it in the dishwasher. Wipe the coffee maker thoroughly.
- Additional Appliances: Also wipe down the air fryer, instant pot, stand mixer, etc.
- Dish Rack: Don’t forget to clean or wash the dish rack. Mineral deposits and hard water stains may accumulate. If there’s a tray under the rack, wash and wipe it as well.
Step 10: Exhaust Fan Filter
- Clean the area around the exhaust fan filter above the stove with a damp microfiber cloth in warm soapy water. If there’s excessive grease, repeat the process.
- Wipe dry with a green microfiber cloth.
- Do not open the filter cover or remove the filter; save that for deep cleaning.
Step 11: Cooktop Stove Burner
Electric Cooktop: Apply washing-up liquid to your scrubber and rub the cooktop surface to loosen any stubborn grease. The grease is already wet, now its easy to scrape the cooking ranges if there’s a lot of grease buildup. Wipe away the loosened grease, then wipe several times with a damp cloth until the surface is spotless.
If you have a special detergent for glass cooktops, you can use it to scrub the surface in this step, then wipe it down, followed by a dry microfiber cloth.
Gas Stovetop: Soak the greasy grates and burner caps in warm, soapy water in the kitchen sink. Scrub the stovetop surface with washing-up liquid or a special detergent (if available). If necessary, scrape off any hardened grease that remains after scrubbing. Repeat the scrubbing, rinse, and then wipe dry. Clean the grates and burner caps by hand, wipe them dry, and place them back on the stovetop.
Don’t forget to rinse the microfiber cloth thoroughly after use, as it may contain a lot of cooking fat residue.
Step 12: Kitchen Counter
Since you’ve already cleared the counter, wiped the oil bottles and spice jars, and organized the tray, this final step will give your countertop a shiny finish.
Backsplash: This area is especially important, as it often collects cooking grease and can become grimy. If left uncleaned, grease buildup becomes hard to remove. Depending on the material—whether ceramic or stone tile, stainless steel, or glass tile—wipe the backsplash with a microfiber cloth dampened in warm soapy water. You may scrub if necessary, then rinse, wipe, and finish with a dry wipe.
Avoid using abrasive detergents, as these can damage the tile grout.
It’s fine to wipe down the tiles without focusing deeply on grout cleaning, so a grout brush isn’t needed here.
Countertop: Wipe the counter with a soapy, damp microfiber cloth. If you have a special detergent for countertops, you can use it here, followed by a dry microfiber cloth to give it a shiny finish.
Step 13: Kitchen Sink
Cleaning a sink and making it shiny doesn’t require much effort—just the right tools.
The sink will already be a bit shiny after holding soapy water for wipe cleaning.
Stainless Steel Sink: A liquid detergent with a rubber applicator works best. Spread it to easily reach all areas, including the strainer and faucets. Wait a minute, then scrub with Svinto steel wool. It’s highly effective, covering all areas without leaving any space untouched and removes all brown and black spots, even in the strainer, faucet grout.
If you don’t have special tools, washing liquid with a scrubber also works well.
However, Svinto and a liquid scour cream provide a professional look, with a noticeable difference in shine.
- Check the edges of the sink, as a small brush is ideal here.
- Don’t forget to wipe or wash the sponge and dishwasher holder.
- Scrub the faucets and water tap, then finish by drying the sink and countertop with a clean microfiber cloth.
Gold Bar Sink/Brass Sink: Do not use Svinto to clean a brass sink, as it may cause scratching. Instead, a soft sponge and washing-up liquid are ideal for this type of sink.
Step 14: Clean the Floor
The kitchen floor is typically the dirtiest in your home, as it collects cooking spills, grease, water droplets from the sink and dishwasher, and footprints, often resulting in dirty spots. Extra attention is necessary here.
A good guideline is to quickly vacuum every day and mop the floor once a week.
- Vacuum the floors and carpets, setting the carpets aside before mopping.
- Move the dining chairs to the side of the kitchen. Avoid placing chairs on the table to prevent damage to the tabletop.
- Check your floor type. If a specific detergent is available for it, use that one with the mop water. If you’re unsure about the floor type and appropriate detergent, simply use warm water.
- The mop cloth should be only slightly damp. Mop under the dining table, and return the chairs once the floor is dry. Finally, place all carpets back neatly when the floor has dried completely.
Step 15: Disinfectant Spray
This step is particularly important if you have multiple pets. Or you are sensitive to germs, have elderly family members undergoing treatment, or have a baby at home.
Most commercial cleaning detergents already contain disinfecting agents, so it’s usually unnecessary to spray disinfectant separately. However, if you’re using a detergent without disinfecting properties, apply disinfectant spray after cleaning, especially on high-contact areas like the kitchen sink, cabinet knobs, fridge door, and trash bin handle.
Step 16: Pro Tips
- Refill any items as needed, such as hand soap, dish soap, a new sponge, microfiber cloth, or kitchen towel.
- If there’s a kitchen paper towel, fold it in a trinagle shape to give your kitchen a pro look.
- Ensure all spice jars, oil bottles, hand soap, and dish soap have their labels facing forward.
- Add a fresh fragrance to your newly cleaned kitchen with a lemon slice, candle, or fresh flowers.
- Put all cleaning supplies back in their places, and don’t leave any cleaning cloths in the kitchen.
- If you can’t wash used microfiber cloths immediately, hang them on the edge of the mop bucket to dry and prevent odors.
- Remember to vacuum the duster before storing it in the cleaning cabinet to avoid spreading dust.
- Go through the regular kitchen cleaning checklist to make sure nothing has been missed.
- Finish by viewing the kitchen from a stranger’s eye to ensure it looks spotless and inviting.
More Kitchen Cleaning Tips
Always read and follow the dosage instructions on the cleaning product packaging. DO NOT overdose on cleaning detergents.
Wipe the bottoms of detergent bottles and water buckets dry before placing them on the floor or any other surfaces.
In the kitchen, use green microfiber cloths (or a specific color) to help prevent the spread of bacteria.
