It’s that time again: time to clean your kitchen. A clean kitchen feels fresh and relaxing, but the cleaning process is stressful and exhausting.

Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a cleaning checklist that you can use to make the process quicker and easier? Why not clean your kitchen like an expert?

You’re in luck! Keep reading for our ultimate kitchen cleaning checklist so you can make your kitchen sparkle.

Conquer That Refrigerator

This is going to be an unpopular opinion, but if it’s been a while since you’ve done a deep-cleaning session for your kitchen, we suggest starting with the refrigerator.

Yes, cleaning the refrigerator can feel like a gargantuan task, but once you get it out of the way, you’ll feel so much better. Doing it first means that you can place things on the floor and countertops without undoing your hard work.

Start by getting rid of expired products. If something is past its “use-by” date, it goes into the garbage. If you’re not sure whether or not something is still good, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

A bonus tip: When you put away leftovers, use a label maker to put a date on them!

Remove all of the other food from the fridge and freezer and clean all of the inside surfaces before replacing everything. When you’re done, put a box of baking soda in the back of the refrigerator to prevent smells and replace all of the food that you’re keeping.

Keep Clean Cabinets

Now that the refrigerator is done, move to the cabinets. Follow the same process that you did with the refrigerator. Remove all expired foods and then remove all of the foods. Wipe down the inside shelves of the cabinets before putting things back.

If you struggle with maintaining a clean cabinet, consider implementing some organizational techniques. These can also help with the refrigerator and drawers!

Don’t Forget The Stove and Oven

How often do you clean your stove and oven?

If your stove has a top that can open up and removable burners, start taking it apart so you can get all of the grime out of the way. Even the neatest home chef will end up with some debris hiding in the inside of the stove.

Wipe off the surface of the stove and scrub the inside of your oven if there are any baked-on messes.

While you’re at it, make sure to spend some time cleaning your backsplash. This is one area that people tend to overlook while they’re cleaning.

Make Countertops Shine

Now that there’s no risk of dirtying your countertops further, it’s time to conquer them. You want to do counters before floors because it’s likely that debris will fall onto the floor while you’re cleaning.

Start by taking everything off of the counter. Remove the microwave, coffee maker, and any other appliances or containers that can get in the way of the cleaning process.

Use a brush or dry sponge to gather any crumbs, small pieces of trash, or dust. Try to brush everything into a dustpan, but keep in mind that you will likely miss some debris that will fall onto the floor.

After this, use a chemical cleaner to wipe down the counters with your sponge, paper towels, or a cloth. Let the countertop dry before you put your items back where they belong.

Keep Your Sink Clean

While you’re waiting for the countertops to dry, start cleaning the sink. You want to maintain a clean sink so you avoid drain flies and mold. You can use a commercial drain cleaner, diluted bleach, or boiling water to clean the drain.

Wipe the surface of the sink and the faucets until they shine. Don’t forget faucet handles and the handheld sprayer if you have one.

Sweep, Vacuum, and Mop The Grime

After your sink and countertops are clean, start working on the floor. It will likely be dirtier than it was when you started, but that’s okay.

Sweeping and vacuuming come first. If you have any rugs in your kitchen, vacuum them and put them aside so you can deal with the rest of the floor. Use a broom and dustpan to get rid of any visible debris (and don’t forget to look under the cabinets, dishwasher, oven, and refrigerator).

After you sweep, use a vacuum to get rid of anything else that may be lurking on your floor.

Once all of the debris is gone, grab your mop. Start from the far end of your kitchen and work your way to the entrance so you don’t get trapped in the middle of a wet floor!

Keeping It Clean

Once you’ve cleaned your kitchen, how are you going to keep it clean?

As we mentioned before, trying DIY organization techniques is a great idea. It can be fun to set them up, it will make the cleaning process easier in the future, and you may even discover that you have more space.

Start cleaning as you go. While you cook, wipe off any messes. Sweep your floor at least once per week and you’ll have less to mop up later.

Keep This Cleaning Checklist On-Hand!

Next time you’re getting ready to clean your house, use this kitchen cleaning checklist to get started. You’ll have a shiny and clean kitchen before you know it. You don’t have to waste an entire day with the cleaning process!

Does this all seem like too much work? We get it. Cleaning can feel like a full-time job.

Why not treat yourself to professional maid services? Contact us to get a quote so we can start making your house sparkle as soon as possible!