Are you ready to get your kitchen sparkling clean?
No room gets as much use as a kitchen, or has as many different items that need regular cleaning and upkeep.
This is why it’s important to deep clean your kitchen 3-4 times per year. I’m talking like a really, really good clean.
Here’s how to deep clean your kitchen.
How Much Time Does it Take to Deep Clean a Kitchen?
Deep cleaning is much different than regular tidying up. The time required to thoroughly clean depends on how bad things have gotten.
If your kitchen is in fairly good shape, you can knock out a good, deep clean in 2-3 hours. If your kitchen has seen better days, then it’s going to take longer.
The good news is you don’t have to do all of this in one day. In fact, you can spread your deep cleaning over a week or set a limit of 30 minutes per day. It’s all up to you.
Where to Start: Set Yourself Up for Success with a Basic Cleaning
Download Kitchen Deep Clean Checklist
Before you get started with deep cleaning, it’s important to do a regular tidying up of the kitchen. This will clear the clutter from your workspace, give you plenty of space, and set you up to tackle your deep cleaning list.
Here’s what to do:
Load, run, and Unload Your Dishwasher – You’re going to be cleaning your dishwasher, and it will need to be empty. So, get all your dishes washed and put away.
Pick up Trash – Go around the room and throw out/recycle any trash.
Put Belongings Away – Return non-kitchen items to their proper homes.
Wipe Down Counters – Knock the crumbs off your counters, then give them a good wipe-down with your favorite cleaner.
Sweep and Mop – Sweep and then mop your kitchen floors.
Once you’ve done a good basic cleaning, you’ll be ready to get down to business.
How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen
Now that you have a good base, we’re going to get down to deep cleaning.
Clean Your Dishwasher
Have you ever cleaned your dishwasher? If not, you’re going to be in for a real treat.
Dishwasher filters get nasty – especially if you put anything other than completely rinsed off dishes in your dishwasher.
Here’s what to do:
- Remove the filter (It probably twists out. If you have trouble removing it, Google the instructions for your model.)
- Use an old toothbrush to scrub all the grime off the filter.
- Wipe down the inside of the dishwasher with a 50/50 vinegar-and-water solution. (Pay special attention to the outer edges and your silverware holder.)
- Once the filter is clean, reinsert it.
- Place one cup of vinegar on the top rack of your dishwasher, then run it (with nothing else in it) on the quick cycle.
Clean Your Pantry (And Any Other Cabinets with Food)
Remove all food from your pantry. Sweep out any crumbs. Now, wipe down everything inside the pantry/cabinets. Throw out expired food and place everything back in a neat, organized fashion.
Clean Your Stovetop
Let’s get that stove sparkling.
If you have a gas cooktop, sweep up all the crumbs or knock them on the floor. Use dish soap and water on a microfiber cloth to scrub the cooktop clean of grease and dirt.
If you have a glass cooktop, start by wiping off the crumbs and any burnt-on food with a microfiber cloth. Next, squirt a glass stove-top cleaner onto the top and wipe in a circular motion.
Clean Your Oven
Cleaning the oven is not fun, but actually relatively easy.
To clean the oven, we’ll be using an oven cleaner. (Since oven cleaner can be harsh, use rubber gloves. If you’re sensitive to fumes, wear safety glasses.)
Pull everything out of your oven. Spray the inside of the oven with the cleaner, avoiding the heating elements for an electric oven and the gas outlet for a gas oven. Let the cleaner sit for 20 min., or as directed, and then wipe down the oven with a damp rag.
Take your racks outside, spray them with cleaner, let them sit in a safe place, and then scrub them down with a damp rag.
Clean Your Sink
Did you know that your kitchen sink harbors more germs than your toilet? Pretty gross, right?
How to Clean Your Sink with Vinegar and Baking Soda – Sprinkle baking soda all over the sink. Rub it in a circular motion with a cloth. Pour white distilled vinegar over the baking soda. Rinse with warm water and dry with a cloth.
How to Clean Your Sink with a Store-Bought Cleaner – Not into using vinegar? Don’t use it. You can buy a sink cleaner. I like this one. Just squirt on, scrub with a damp cloth, and then rinse off.
Clean Your Refrigerator
This is my least favorite deep cleaning chore. It feels like such a pain when I’m doing it, but it is always worth it afterward!
- Remove everything from the fridge, tossing out any expired food
- Sweep out all of the crumbs
- Using hot soapy water and a microfiber cloth, wipe down the refrigerator, scrubbing any sticky spots
- Use a magic eraser for the stubborn spots
- Wipe everything down with a dry towel
- Put your food back in the fridge
Since freezers don’t receive quite the damage that refrigerators do, a quick wipe down with a dry microfiber cloth will probably be sufficient—bonus points for organizing the food in your freezer.
Clean Your Microwave
Remove all crumbs from the microwave.
Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave that mixture for five minutes. Wait another five minutes before removing the bowl. (Be careful when you do, it will be hot!)
Now wipe down your microwave. The steam from the mixture will make it very easy to remove any stuck-on food.
Clean Your Coffee Maker
Standard Coffee Maker – Empty any used coffee grounds. Now fill the pot with a water-vinegar solution: for every 1 cup of white distilled vinegar, add 2 cups of water. Run the coffee pot with this solution. Run with just water two times afterward to remove any lingering vinegar.
If you’ve never cleaned your coffee maker, you’ll be surprised at the gunk that comes out!
Keurig – For a Keurig, wash all the removable parts with hot soapy water. To remove mineral buildup inside the machine, I recommend using Keurig’s descaling solution.
The Finishing Touches
Wipe Down the Baseboards
Spray a microfiber cloth with your favorite all-purpose cleaner and wipe down all baseboards and trim work. (If you have a ceiling fan in your kitchen (or is that only me??), wipe down the blades with this same cloth.)
Wash the Windows and Window Tracks
Pull out your vacuum or shop vac, open up the windows, and vacuum the tracks. If you haven’t done this in a while, you’ll probably find a collection of bugs in there. After sweeping the tracks, wipe them down with an all-purpose cleaner.
Last, use a glass cleaner to wipe down your windows.
Knock Down Any Cob Webs from the Ceiling
Take your broom or shop vac hose and hunt down all the cobwebs hiding in the corners of the ceiling and walls.
Wipe Down Your Cabinets
Wipe down your cabinets with soap and water, vinegar and water, or a mild cleaner. If you’re using something new, BE SURE TO DO A SPOT TEST. I didn’t spot-test once, and the cleaner I used stripped the stain from my cabinet.
Clean the Outside of Your Appliances
If you have black or white appliances, use your favorite multipurpose cleaner to give them a thorough wipe-down. Scrub any stuck-on food off the appliances.
If you have stainless steel appliances, use a stainless-steel cleaner. Although Mrs. Meyers also works on stainless steel.
Wipe Down Your Trash Can
Wipe down the outside of your trash can with a disinfecting cleaner. Scrub any stuck-on messes.
Re-Wipe Down Counters
Now that you’ve done all that deep cleaning, your counters are probably a little dirty. Wipe them down again for good measure.
Do a Final Sweep and Mop
Do your final sweep and mop!
How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen – You Made It!
You’ve officially conquered the how to deep clean your kitchen challenge! While it was a lot of work, you now have the pleasure of a super clean kitchen. Perform some weekly maintenance to keep your kitchen looking great.