Kitchen cleaning can really be a chore. Though keeping the kitchen clean is something that is ongoing, a deep clean session is required every so often. This article provides a kitchen cleaning checklist, plus tips on how to get the job done well. Be sure to read until the end to see a video of my own personal kitchen cleaning and declutter!

 

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

If you plan to do a major kitchen cleaning in one day, be sure to get plenty of rest and to drink enough water during the process. It can be tiring work! Gather your favorite music, or download a few of your favorite podcasts to listen to. This really will help the time be more enjoyable! Be sure to think about what your ultimate goals are for your kitchen. If you want to cook more, every decision should be driven by that. If it is a calming space you’re after, keep that in mind while you work.

 

DECLUTTER THE DISHES/ CUPS AND COOKING ITEMS

In order to truly see how many of any given type of item you own, Marie Kondo suggests to lay them all out in one place. When it comes to dishes and cooking items, it is really easy to collect more than we actually need or use.

Think carefully about which items you use often. Are there small appliances or serving dishes that can do double duty? Which is the one coffee cup you tend to gravitate toward? Are the others in the cabinet really serving you well just sitting there taking up space? Trust that the items you decide to part with will likely be useful for someone else.

Once you have sorted through the items and begin to put things back, don’t automatically assume that the place it was before is the best option. Really think about where the items will be most useful.

 

RETHINK THE ‘EVERYTHING’ DRAWER

If you are like me, you have a drawer in your kitchen that is dedicated to cutlery – knives, forks and spoons. Then you have a drawer that is for everything else. I’m embarrassed to show you what mine looked like before my deep clean declutter. It was basically a tangled mess of serving spoons, spatulas and other random items. In my mind, I justified this scenario saying that at least everything was in one spot. However, because the drawer was so full, it was still overly difficult to find items when I needed them.

I emptied out the entire drawer and eliminated all of the items that we rarely used. I decided to place the most regularly used items in a large ceramic container I had purchased on sale a few months ago. Items were positioned standing up for easy accessibility. A few odd things, such as a potato masher and apple slicer, did not fit comfortably. They were given a spot in the cutlery drawer instead.

This solution looks nice and is functional!

 

 

SORT THROUGH THE PANTRY / FOOD STORAGE PLACES

Go through all the areas where food is stored. That may be in a large walk in pantry, or in simple cabinets and drawers. While kitchen cleaning, remove any expired canned or boxed goods. Remember that you can not donate expired items. Though it will seem like a waste to dump all of this food into the trashcan, it may serve as a good reminder to only purchase items that you can use quickly.

I will admit that our Lazy Susan cabinet, which holds most of our dry and canned goods, was filled with expired product. Most of these items had been gifted to us by someone who didn’t want to throw them out herself. We thought we might eat the food, but never did. And now, it has made it’s way to the trash anyway. Lesson learned.

 

TAKE CARE OF THE WORK HORSES

The appliances and sink are the work horses of the kitchen. They work hard so that, in some cases, you don’t have to. You can respect their help by cleaning them regularly.

FRIDGE

A fridge is likely the most overlooked appliance in the entire kitchen. It silently does it’s job, acting much like a storage cabinet. But, the fridge has a step up on the standard cupboard in that it keeps our food fresh. If it were to break down, we really would miss it’s function!

Fridges can benefit from a regular cleaning. Remove any sauces that are basically empty, throw out any questionable food, and wash the crisper drawers and shelves.

OVEN

The oven has to be one of the most dreaded items to clean in the entire house. It is large, grimy, and downright awkward to sanitize. That may be the reason why many of us put off the task until the grossness has gotten well out of control.

There are plenty of techniques people swear by when it comes to oven cleanliness. Bren, from the blog Bren Did, has a wonderful post that compares all of the homemade and natural oven cleaning methods. And she found a clear winner! One tip I have found to be helpful is to place aluminum foil on the bottom of the oven. It will catch splatters and spills, making cleaning up a lot faster!

MICROWAVE

If your microwave is set above your oven/stove, as ours is, it is likely to see it’s fair share of grease. A simple spray of white vinegar and a hot rag rinse can do wonders. Make sure to remove the turntable and give it a thorough washing as well.

DISHWASHER

I personally have very little experience with a dishwasher, since we don’t own one and don’t plan on installing one in the new house. However, I do know that even this little cleaning machine needs a good clean of it’s own on occasion. 101 Days of Organizing has a great post on how to keep your dishwasher running smoothly and grime free.

SINK

Give your sink a good scrub with a natural scouring product, such as baking soda. Spraying a stainless steel sink with vinegar and rubbing with a damp rag can help to remove any pesky water spots. Be sure to clean the faucet handles and nozzle with natural products.

 

CLEAN ALL THE FLAT SURFACES

Kitchens have likely the largest amount of surface area that needs cleaning. Where you can get by in a bedroom without needing to clean the walls for many years, for example, the same is not true for a kitchen. Look at each and every surface as an opportunity to really make the room shine.

 

FLOORS

If your kitchen has any area rugs, now is a good time to shake them out or throw them in the washing machine. Sweep the entire floor, then mop with warm soapy water.

 

COUNTERS

It is important to keep counters as clear as possible. After all, they are intended to be working space! By keeping them clear and clean, your kitchen will be more efficient, and look a lot less cluttered. This is one of the seven daily habits I believe to be most important for a tidy house, and a clear mind.

 

WALLS AND CABINET DOORS

When deep cleaning, be sure to spray down walls and cabinets doors. Pay special attention to the cabinets that are near the oven, as they are most likely to have grease build up.

Walls should be painted in a satin or semi gloss finish, to ensure a wipe-able surface and easy clean up.

Give the back splash extra care, checking grout lines for signs of mildew and wear.

 

CABINET INTERIORS + TOPS

While you are sorting through your dishware, remove everything from your cabinets and drawers and give them a quick wash. Add shelf and drawer liners for an easy clean surface. They come in many fun styles and are relatively inexpensive. This post from Salvaged Inspiration has great tips on how to fit the liners perfectly.

Don’t forget to clean on top of any cabinets that don’t reach the ceiling. This soffit space can collect plenty of dust, especially if you use it for decor display!

 

MY KITCHEN CLEANING VIDEO

I recently went through this exact same process with the kitchen in our rental home. And though it was an exhausting long day of hard work, the reward was worth the effort!

 

SAVE THESE KITCHEN CLEANING TIPS

Not ready to start your major kitchen cleaning and declutter yet? Save this checklist and tips for later!