We all know that keeping the kitchen clean is important. No one wants to be cooking in a dirty environment that is filled with grime and harmful bacteria. With that said, the kitchen is one of the rooms that is notoriously difficult to keep clean, particularly in a busy family home, when it always seems to be mealtime. If you’re wondering if you could be cleaning more efficiently, we have you covered. Read on to discover everything you need to know about how to clean your kitchen effectively, and how to keep it that way!
YOUR KITCHEN CLEANING CHECKLIST
To make life easier for you, we have put together a checklist you can use when you clean your kitchen. We have split up the tasks based on how frequently you need to do them.
YOUR DAILY KITCHEN CLEANING CHECKLIST
- Empty your dishwasher
- Clean the dishwasher as required – we recommend running the dishwasher on a hot cycle with a bowl or cup of white vinegar in the top rack, as the vinegar’s acidic properties will neutralise any strange smells and clean your dishwasher
- Wipe the sink and clean it after every use
- Wash all of your dishes – don’t put your fragile items in the dishwasher
- Tidy up any stray items and clutter on your countertop
- Sweep the floor
- Wipe down your stove and clean the burners
- Wipe and sanitise your countertops – you can use a multipurpose cleaner for this
YOUR WEEKLY KITCHEN CLEANING CHECKLIST
- Empty the rubbish
- Take out your recycling – rinsing the bin once in a while with warm water and dish soap won’t hurt either
- Clean your bin – once you have rinsed the bin thoroughly with water and disinfectant, adding fresh citrus peels will generate a fresh smell
- Disinfect your taps and sink
- Clean the interior of the microwave – you can microwave a cup of white vinegar to do this, as it will loosen any caked-on grime and gunk by steam cleaning the interior of the appliance
- Clean the outside of your appliances – you can wipe stainless steel appliances with a simple spritz of white vinegar
- Don’t forget to give the radiators a clean – the Radiclean could make light work of this
- Remove smudges from your cabinets by spot cleaning
- Deep clean the sink – we advise sprinkling some baking soda over the sink basin, allowing it to sit for a few minutes, and then scrubbing and rinsing clean with warm water
- Launder dish towels
- Mop floors – we advise using a steam mop, rather than a mop bucket
- Sanitise sponges – Microwave your damp sponge for one minute on high to kill the bacteria
YOUR FORTNIGHTLY KITCHEN CLEANING CHECKLIST
- Clean and sanitise all of your bins – get some bleach and dilute it a bit so that you can give your rubbish bins a good clean
- Dust the tops of your refrigerator and cabinets
- Take inventory of your freezer – if the meat in your freezer has started to discolor, don’t take any risks; get rid of it
- Clean your cabinet drawers and doors
- Wash kitchen rugs (if you have them)
- Clean and descale your kettle – run your kettle with some white vinegar, and then run it again with warm water so you get rid of any vinegar residue. Alternatively, use shop-bought descaler.
- Clean the grout in between your tiles – Baking soda paste is excellent for smearing onto grout that is stained; simply mix baking soda and water with a ratio of 3:1 and then wipe it on the area and let it sit for half an hour before scrubbing it with a soft bristle brush
- Clean your dish drying rack
- Clean your dishwasher
- Dust your light fixtures
HOW TO CLEAN WHITE GOODS IN YOUR KITCHEN
One of the things that make kitchens difficult to clean is the fact that you not only have the floors, walls, and surfaces to clean but you have a wide range of white goods as well.
The majority of your kitchen can be cleaned cheaply and effectively with a solution of water and baking soda. However, to give you a helping hand, we’ll talk you through some of the steps to follow for the main appliances in a kitchen.
OVEN
You should start by taking the shelves out of the oven so that you can soak them in some soapy water. Use a scouring pad and dishwashing liquid to clean the shelves. For the oven itself, you can get specialised oven cleaners, some of which work wonders. You typically have to spray the oven for a set period of time, anywhere from 30 minutes until overnight, and then you can remove it. Make sure all cleaning products are fully removed before you use the oven again.
HOB
How you clean the hob will depend on the type you have. If you have a hob with exposed burners, unscrew them and clean them with warm, soapy water. Remember never to get the electrical connection wet or submerge electric elements into the water though. For a smooth job, sprinkle a layer of plain baking soda over it, and then use a non-abrasive sponge to clean the entire surface. You can then use a wet cloth or a damp paper towel to cover the job, leaving it for 20 minutes or so, allowing the toughest stains to get loose. You can then wipe any residue away.
FRIDGE
Last but not least, when you clean your kitchen, you cannot forget about your fridge. Give your fridge a clear-out and wipe it down once a week before you go to the shops for your groceries. You can take out the drawers and shelves so you can wipe them with a sponge soaked in water and baking soda. Should you be lucky enough to have an ice maker, make sure you clean this once a month at least so that the ice cubes remain fresh.
FINAL WORDS ON CLEANING YOUR KITCHEN
Now we’ve offered our guidance on how to clean your kitchen you may to want to get started with a deep clean. We hope that the tips that we have provided you with above will help you in terms of keeping on top of your kitchen, ensuring it’s a healthy, hygienic place to cook.
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