A kitchen is the centre and heart of your home. Knowing how to clean a kitchen is essential for many reasons. Your kitchen must be clean for hygienic reasons and to make it comfortable and easy to cook in. The key to cleaning your kitchen, just like with any household chore, is to just start – declutter, organise, and clean out kitchen appliances and hard-to-reach surfaces for your kitchen to look like perfection. Take it one step at a time and you’ll see the results will be worth the effort.
Having a clean kitchen often feels like the first step to having a completely clean house, even if you’re not able to achieve an entirely clean house. We’ve put together a guide of kitchen cleaning tips, as well as some helpful ways to keep it quick and efficient. When it’s time for a deeper, expert cleaning service, book a SweepStar from SweepSouth to perform the best job possible.
Things To Remember While Cleaning The Kitchen
Keeps these 2 tips in mind to make kitchen cleaning a pleasant experience:
1. Don’t Get Too Deep
When cleaning your kitchen, remember that you’re doing an overall clean, meaning there’s no need to know how to spring clean your kitchen all the time. If you would like to deep clean your oven interior or dishwasher, skip those for now and make time to do that another day.
2. The Right Tools
The right cleaning tools make the job more satisfying and effective. You should have a razor blade that makes for a handy tool when scraping debris stuck to your glass stove top, for example. Another example is the use of white vinegar (which is a powerful cleaning agent), on specific countertops only. The acid can damage natural stone countertops such as marble or granite, so it’s not ideal for these.
Kitchen Cleaning
The cleaning routine listed below is intended for weekly or bi-weekly kitchen cleaning. Here’s how to make your kitchen squeaky clean in a day or less with 13 easy steps:
1. Clear Clutter From Countertops
You will not be able to properly clean around junk that shouldn’t be in the kitchen. Start with one corner of the kitchen or section of the countertop and remove everything that doesn’t need to be on your kitchen countertops.
2. Dishes
Start by placing freshly washed dishes into the necessary spaces or cupboards. If you have a dishwasher then unpack the clean dishes and replace them with the dirty dishes yet to be washed.
3. Dust The Top Of The Fridge And Cabinets
Cleaning from top to bottom is always key, no matter which room you have to clean. Doing this helps to dislodge dust and dirt from higher surfaces to the lower ones which get cleaned last. In the kitchen, start at the top by dusting overhead light fixtures, the tops of your refrigerator, and the top of cabinets.
- How To Clean Kitchen Cabinets
First, clear everything out of each cabinet at a time, then use a handheld vacuum or a duster to remove dust. After dusting your kitchen cabinets inside and out, you can use a cloth dampened with soapy water to wipe the cabinets. Or, using a solution of equal parts vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle, spritz the cabinets and allow the cleaner to sit for a few minutes, then wipe the cabinets clean with a soft cloth.
4. Clean Small Appliances
Quickly clean your small appliances; remember not to clean too deeply or spend too much time on them. You’ll want to know how to clean a microwave, toaster, Nespresso machine, food processor, and mixers.
- How To Clean A Microwave With Lemon
You can clean your microwave with this natural cleaner – cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice out into a bowl that’s safe for the microwave. You can also place the lemon halves into the juice with ½ a cup of water. Then place the bowl inside the microwave, and on the highest setting, heat up the bowl for about 2 to 3 minutes.
The steam will have loosened any bits of grime or food, so it will be easy for you to just wipe the interior of the microwave, without having to scrub. Lemon also provides a fresh smell, while the antibacterial power of the lemons will help you to clean the interior.
With all kitchen appliances, it’s best to start with interiors, such as tipping out crumbs from your toaster. Finish by wiping down the exteriors of each appliance using a microfiber cloth with some white vinegar or an all-purpose cleaner. Don’t use vinegar on stainless steel – it could strip it of its shine.
5. Clean Anything Else On Counters
If you have a tray of cooking oils, a rack of mugs, or something holding utensils on your counters, give them a clean. Dust and wash or wipe down trays, as well as any containers. Put anything back that’s been kept on your counters, that could be in a cabinet, cupboard, or drawer instead. Wipe your dish rack too if it’s empty, and put your drying mat in the washing machine.
6. Scrub The Exterior Of The Oven And Stove
A quick clean of the exterior of your stove and oven makes a big difference in the look of a completely clean kitchen. Again, start from the top and move downwards. For gas stove tops, take the grills off before cleaning. If they have grime or greasy residue, you may want to soak them and wipe the surface underneath with an all-purpose cleaner.
- How To Clean An Oven
Cleaning your oven of grease and residue can be a time-consuming task of kitchen cleaning. To make it easier for you, fill a bowl with about ½ a cup of baking soda and a few tablespoons of water, and mix together until you’re left with a spreadable paste.
You can then use the paste to coat the inside of the oven and allow the paste to sit overnight. The next morning it will be easier to wipe clean with a damp cloth. If stains or some of the paste remain, simply spray them with white vinegar which will make the baking soda into a foam when it reacts with vinegar, then use a damp cloth to wipe again.
- Clean An Oven Without Scrubbing
Knowing how to clean an oven of grease and residue can be a time-consuming task when kitchen cleaning. To make it easier for you, fill a bowl with about ½ a cup of baking soda and a few tablespoons of water, and mix until you’re left with a spreadable paste.
You can then use the paste to coat the inside of the oven and allow the paste to sit overnight. The next morning it will be easier to wipe clean with a damp cloth. If stains or some of the paste remain, simply spray them with white vinegar which will make the baking soda into a foam when it reacts with vinegar. Then, use a damp cloth to wipe again.
Check out our post on how to clean a greasy oven for an in-depth look at the best method. For an electric glass stove top, cleaning is quite easy – simply wipe the whole area with warm soapy water.
Once the top is clean, wipe down the front of your oven with an all-purpose cleaner, white vinegar, or diluted dish soap. Don’t forget the knobs or the display.
7. Wipe Down Counters
Once you’ve dusted, done the dishes, and the small appliances are clean, it’s time to give your counters some care. Work in sections to take everything off your counters, including the things that stay on the cooking oils or cooking utensils holder. Dislodge crumbs caught between counters and the oven, with a credit card, or scraper if necessary. Wipe your counters thoroughly with a microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner. Buff the counters dry to make them shine. Repeat the method with each section of the counter.
8. Deep Clean Your Sink
Learning the best way to clean the kitchen sink is simpler than it might sound. First, rinse the sink out. Use a scrubbing cleanser and make sure to address the nooks and crannies with a detailed cleaning brush. Scrub your taps and sponge holders or soap dishes. Rinse and finish by filling your sink with hot water and adding bleach to the water. Let it sit for 10 minutes before draining.
9. Clear Out The Fridge
You may not have time to learn how to clean a fridge thoroughly, but you should try to go through the shelves and remove expired foods. Wipe down spillage and move items to the correct places.
You can clean your fridge with baking soda. Clean the interior of your fridge with two tablespoons of baking soda for every quart of warm water. To prevent odours, you can place a cup of baking soda with a couple of drops of essential oils, and leave the cup on one of the inner shelves.
10. Clean The Outside Areas Of Large Appliances
You shouldn’t forget to learn how to clean a washing machine and dishwasher. If necessary, use a small amount of olive oil and a clean cloth to rub stainless steel appliances with the grain to remove tarnishes, water marks, and streaks. You can end by buffing with a soft dry cloth to restore shine. For a more in depth look, learn how to clean stainless steel the best possible way.
11. Empty And Wipe The Garbage Bin
Although it may not be ideal to clean the entire garbage can, make it as clean as possible inside by taking out the trash, vacuuming out crumbs from the bottom of the can, and wiping inside and out with a disinfectant wipe.
12. Sweep, Vacuum, Mop
Sweep the floor with a broom to collect all the big crumbs and debris, especially bits near the cabinet toe kicks. Nudge your broom underneath the fridge and oven as well. Once you’ve swept, use a vacuum cleaner to pick up fine dust and dirt. Follow through with a thorough mopping to clean up any remaining dirt.
13. Finishing Touches
The crowning glory of a pristine kitchen is new sponges, cloths, and dish towels. Perhaps you will want to light a candle and place some freshly cut flowers into a vase on the counter or table.
Daily Kitchen Cleaning
These tips are for daily kitchen cleaning if you have the time to do it:
- Clean after every meal: this is the general rule of thumb. It may seem tedious, but it is worth it.
- Try to keep an empty sink: it’s best to try to keep your sink empty at all times, as this will instantly make your kitchen appear clean.
- Eye-level test: remove every last crumb by checking your countertops at your eye level after cleaning them.
- Be strategic: Always work left to right and top to bottom. Once you’ve got this strategy down, cleaning your kitchen will be simple and you won’t need to think about what you’re cleaning next.
- Clean the floor: clean the floor last so that you gather all of the dirt and crumbs from other areas of the kitchen. Here you can read how to clean and mop all types of floors in your home.
- Vacuum daily: it takes only 5 minutes to vacuum floors which will prevent them getting stained, so you’ll have more time for other things when deep cleaning.
- Empty the trash: stinky garbage is awful and promotes bacteria. Don’t let your bin get to the point of overflowing, rather empty it regularly.
- Never overfill the dishwasher: If you have a dishwasher, overfilling it will prevent the dishes from getting cleaned properly. No one wants to do the dishes twice. With these sorts of appliances, it’s best to refer back to the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean a dishwasher appropriately.
- Clear the fridge out regularly: cleaning the fridge often will help reduce smells and unsightly food on display each time you open the doors. Aim to clean and throw away old food at least once a month.
- Under the counter sink: clean the space underneath your sink regularly – just because all your cleaning products are there, it doesn’t mean that it’s a clean place.
- Minimise: be minimal and limit what you have on the countertops to keep the cooking area uncluttered. This also makes it easier to clean, and makes it look more visually appealing.
- Labels: check out these 8 smart ways to organise your pantry which will prevent you from having to organise items every day of the week. Label herbs and spices, even if they sit in an area on a countertop. Creating order will make navigating much easier and more routine.
Conclusion
Additionally, if you want a deeper cleaning routine, you may want to add pantry cleaning, and cleaning underneath your appliances, to the list. Remember that decluttering the countertops, inside cabinets, refrigerator, and pantry interiors, make a noticeable difference in the look and feel of your kitchen. And now you know the techniques needed to clean your kitchen, for you and your family to keep it tidy and organised in future. This kitchen cleaning is the bare minimum and can be done within a day.