Quick Answer
To clean a kitchen thoroughly, work from top to bottom: start with cabinet tops and range hood filters, then move to appliances (fridge, oven, microwave, stovetop), followed by countertops and the sink, and finish with the floors. Daily tasks take 5–15 minutes. Weekly tasks cover appliances and the sink. Deep cleaning every 1–3 months handles the oven interior, under appliances, cabinet degreasing, and refrigerator coils.
The kitchen is the hardest-working room in any home and the hardest to keep clean. Between daily cooking, spills, grease buildup, and constantly used appliances, the mess never truly stops. But here’s what 40 years of professional cleaning has taught my family: a clean kitchen isn’t about scrubbing for hours on the weekend. It’s about knowing what to clean, when to clean it, and how to clean it right.
I’ve organized every task by frequency, broken down every surface and appliance, and included links to my in-depth tutorials for each one. Let’s clean that up. ✌️💚
What You’ll Need
You can shop all my favorite cleaning tools and supplies here: 👇 Shop My Amazon Storefront
Daily Kitchen Cleaning Habits (5–15 Minutes)
The secret to a consistently clean kitchen is building small habits that prevent mess from compounding. These daily tasks take under 15 minutes and make a dramatic difference in how your kitchen looks and smells throughout the week.
For the complete daily home routine, check out my 15-Minute Daily Reset guide.
Wipe Countertops After Every Meal
Spray your counters with a diluted dish soap solution, wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, then dry with a clean towel. This 60-second habit prevents sticky buildup and keeps your kitchen looking sharp between deeper cleans.
Stay on Top of Dishes Every Day
Wash dishes or load the dishwasher at the end of each day. Use the two-minute rule: if it takes less than two minutes to clean, do it immediately. A coffee cup left in the sink becomes four, then a full load you’re dreading tomorrow.
Wipe the Stovetop After Cooking
A quick wipe while the surface is still warm takes 30 seconds and keeps grease from baking on. Waiting until it dries turns that 30-second wipe into a 10-minute scrub. Use Dawn PowerWash or a damp microfiber cloth and you’re done.
Empty the Trash If It Contains Food
Kitchen odors almost always trace back to food scraps sitting in the trash overnight. If there’s food waste in the bin, empty it before bed. It takes 60 seconds and makes a dramatic difference in how your kitchen smells in the morning.
Brandon’s Tip
Keep a spray bottle of diluted dish soap under the sink at all times. One squirt, one wipe! That’s your countertop done for the day. It takes less time than hunting for a cleaning product.
The Weekly Kitchen Cleaning Routine
Once a week, go deeper. I covered the full routine in my post on the best weekly kitchen cleaning routine. It’s the single most effective habit for keeping your kitchen consistently clean. Here’s your weekly checklist:
See also: How to Clean Your Kitchen: The Complete Weekly Routine my full breakdown of each step.
How to Clean Every Kitchen Appliance
Appliances are where most kitchens fall behind. They’re used daily but rarely cleaned properly. Here’s the full breakdown with links to my in-depth tutorials for each one.
The Oven
The oven should be deep cleaned every 1–3 months depending on use. Apply a baking soda paste to the interior, let it dwell for at least 15 minutes (or overnight for heavy buildup), then wipe clean with a damp cloth. A light vinegar spray afterward neutralizes any remaining baking soda residue. Find the complete step-by-step in the Cleaning Library under Kitchen → Oven.
Avoid This Mistake
Never run your oven’s self-clean cycle right before a big dinner. It locks the oven for hours, can trigger smoke alarms, and leaves the appliance unavailable while it cools. Plan it for a day when you don’t need to cook.
The Stovetop & Glass Cooktop
For gas burners, remove grates and soak in hot soapy water, then scrub with a non-abrasive brush. For glass and ceramic cooktops, use a cooktop scraper at a 45-degree angle while the surface is still warm, apply a non-abrasive cooktop cleaner or baking soda paste, rub with a non-scratch pad, let it dry to a white haze, then buff off with a dry microfiber cloth.
Never Use On Glass Cooktops
Steel wool, abrasive powder cleansers, chlorine bleach, rust remover, or ammonia; all will scratch or permanently damage the glass surface.
The Refrigerator
Weekly: remove expired food and wipe sticky spots before grocery day. Monthly: remove all shelves and drawers, wash them in the sink, wipe the interior walls. Every 6–12 months: vacuum the refrigerator coils. Dusty coils force the motor to work harder and are a leading cause of fridge failure. More on this: How to Keep Your Home Fresh by Replacing and Cleaning Your Filters.
The Microwave
Steam cleaning is the easiest method. Place a bowl of water with lemon juice or white vinegar inside, microwave for 3–5 minutes, then let the steam sit for 5 minutes before opening. The condensation loosens all dried splatter so it wipes away effortlessly. Don’t forget the exterior keypad and handle, touched constantly, rarely cleaned.
The Dishwasher
Yes, your dishwasher needs to be cleaned too. Remove and scrub the filter monthly. Run a cleaning tablet or a cup of white vinegar on the top rack with an empty machine. Wipe the rubber door gasket, which traps grease, food, and mold. Full guide in the Kitchen Cleaning Library.
The Coffee Maker
Scale buildup slows brewing, ruins the taste, and shortens the appliance’s life. Descale every 1–3 months. Full tutorial: How to Clean and Descale Your Coffee Maker with Vinegar.
The Crockpot & Slow Cooker
Never submerge the electrical base in water. The ceramic insert is usually dishwasher-safe, but for baked-on residue, soak in warm soapy water for an hour before scrubbing. A baking soda paste works well without scratching the glaze. Full guide: How to Clean Your Crockpot.
Cast Iron Cookware
Avoid soap when possible. Hot water and a stiff brush are usually enough. Dry immediately on the stove over low heat, then apply a thin layer of oil to protect the seasoning. Full tutorial including rust removal: The Best Way to Clean and Season Your Cast Iron Pan.
Countertops, Cabinets & the Sink
Kitchen Countertops
The cleaning method depends on your countertop material. The golden rule: avoid abrasive scrubbers and acidic cleaners on stone surfaces.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinets accumulate grease, fingerprints, and cooking residue, especially near the stove and handles. Mix 1 teaspoon of Dawn dish soap with 2 cups of warm water. Scrub with a Scrub Daddy, wringing it out between applications to avoid over-wetting the finish. For heavy grease, use Dawn PowerWash. Never use steel wool on cabinet surfaces. Full guide: How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets in 4 Steps.
Brandon’s Tip
Don’t forget the top of your cabinets! It’s one of the most neglected surfaces in any kitchen. Grease and dust combine to form a sticky film up there. Wipe it down every 2–3 months with a degreaser and a microfiber cloth.
The Kitchen Sink
Start with Dawn PowerWash to cut through grease, then use Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser for hard water stains and mineral deposits. Finish by buffing dry with a clean microfiber cloth to prevent water spots. For black composite sinks, a light coat of mineral oil restores the finish and repels water. Full routine: The Best Weekly Kitchen Cleaning Routine.
Hidden Kitchen Areas Everyone Misses
If your kitchen looks clean but still smells off, one of these hidden areas is the culprit. I cover all of them in detail here: How to Eliminate Mystery Kitchen Odors and 6 Things You Need To Clean In Your Kitchen.
For odors specifically: How to Eliminate Mystery Kitchen Odors and How to Make Your Home Smell Great.
How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen (Step by Step)
A kitchen deep clean goes beyond the weekly routine. Plan for 2–3 hours and work top to bottom so dust and debris don’t fall onto already-cleaned surfaces.
Want a printable version? Grab the Weekly Cleaning Checklist from the Clean That Up shop.
