The Ultimate Kitchen Cleaning Checklist (Printable)

We spend a lot of time in our kitchen between family life, recipe development, and entertaining. It’s the heartbeat of our home; it really sets the vibe. And there’s nothing more inviting than a freshly scrubbed kitchen.

While I do follow a cleaning routine, it’s my husband who delights in a clean space. Typically, I save the deep cleaning tasks for the Whole House Spring Cleaning Checklist.

General Tips For Kitchen Deep Cleaning

 No matter how you choose to clean, there are some simple tips for general cleaning.

• Start cleaning from the top of the room and work your way down. This will avoid dust and debris from falling onto your already clean surfaces.
• Move everything off the counters to another room. This will give you more space to work with.
• Don’t start with the hardest or most time-consuming project. Have a quick win or two and then tackle the bigger cleaning items.
• Dedicate a specific amount of time to cleaning.
• Stay in the kitchen!! Inevitably I find things that don’t go in the kitchen, and I get distracted as I put them away. Usually, I make a pile for those items as I am cleaning and then put them away later. This keeps focus.

Start By Clearing a Space

You need space to clean and move items around or set them down. Take a few minutes to clear the counters and desk area, if you have one. I don’t mean to start tediously organizing the bills pile, that will come later. Move them to another area, if needed, because this is just a quick once-over to get to the real projects.  

Supplies for Kitchen Deep Cleaning

I have never used many cleaners, but a basic kit including window cleaner, degreaser or dish soap, floor soap, a toothbrush, and wipes or sponges. I also use a stainless-steel cleaner. Since I have a granite and marble back splash with white grout, I also seal them every six months.

• Microfiber cloths
• A long-handled scrubber
• A toothbrush
• Touch-up paint
• Knife or pipe cleaners or something to get in crevices well
• Stainless Steel Cleaner (Optional, but this one is my favorite)
• Window Cleaner of your choice
• Degreaser or Dish Soap
• Floor Soap

Light Fixtures

• Replace any blown bulbs
• Wipe off light fixtures, fans, and bulbs. Make sure the bulbs are off and cool when wiping.

Tops of Cabinets

• If your cabinets stop short of the ceiling like mine, the tops are prone to collecting dust. Remove all items. I often use Press ‘n Seal on the tops and you can just change it out when it gets dirty. If you don’t have that, using a hand-held vacuum or duster, dry dust the tops of the cabinets to remove all dust and other loose particles. Spray with an all-purpose cleaner or degreaser and wipe down. Dust items as you put them away.
• Vacuum or dust down any cobwebs.

Cabinets

• Working from the top down, wipe down all cupboard doors and knobs.
• I find that using a toothbrush to get into the corners of cabinets works very well.
• Do the tops first and then the bottoms. The tops won’t need as much cleaning.

Countertops and Stove

• With everything removed, wipe the countertops and backsplash.
• This is an excellent time to seal the countertops if it is on your maintenance list.
• Once the counters are cleaned, wipe down items and return them to their spot.
• This is also a good time to evaluate if you really need the can opener, juicer, etc out to use. Is in more in your way that it is convenient?

Walls and Doors

• Working from the top down and one side of the room to the other, wipe down walls, trim, doors, light switches, and baseboards if you have them.
• This is also a great time to do any paint touch ups to scratches and dings.

Sink and Disposal

• Wipe down the kitchen sink and around the edges with a toothbrush. If you have a square sink, use the toothbrush to get into all of the little corners.
• To fight odor-causing residues in the drain and disposal, I use this disposal cleaner specifically for the job. It’s an easy-to-use tablet is designed for monthly use, or as needed, to scrub your disposal clean with a citrus scent. Works much better than lemons or ice!
• How to use:
  • TURN ON hot water to a low flow
  • PLACE 1 tablet in the disposal
  • TURN ON disposal for 15-30 seconds. Foam may rise.
  • TURN OFF disposal
  • RINSE away foam and any residue down the drain.

Garbage Can

• Pull out the trash can and empty. Using a hose, bathtub or whatever you have, clean out and degrease. If your garbage can is inside a cabinet, clean out the cabinet as well.

Appliances

• Clean the dishwasher, microwave, fridge, and oven as needed.
• If you have stainless steel appliances, use a polishing cloth and cleaner to remove fingerprints and streaks. I personally like this stainless-steel cleaner.
• To clean the microwave, add a bowl of hot water and microwave for 2 minutes. Allow the steam to sit in the closed microwave for a few more minutes to make it easier to wipe.
• Vacuum out the back of the refrigerator, where the coils are as directed with your unit.
• If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, there are many commercially available products.

Food Storage

• Clean out the refrigerator shelf by shelf. Toss any expired food and wipe shelves and drawers thoroughly.
• If you have a pantry or food cupboard, remove all food items. Throw out any expired food or items you no longer intend to use. Wipe off shelves and wash mats if you have them.

Windows

• Remove and wash any window treatments as necessary.
• Dust and wipe down blinds. If the blinds are really dirty, I have been known to take them down and spray them off with a hose and hang to dry outside However, don’t do this if you have real wood blinds.
• Clean glass inside and out.

Make Cleaning and Chores Fun

A thorough cleaning can be a chore, but it doesn’t have to be torturous. That feeling of a clean kitchen is a great motivator and a job well done.

In our kitchen, I enlist the whole family to help to cut down on the time and to make it fun. We play music and I even promise a pizza night. Hey, the kitchen should stay clean for at least one day, right?