When it comes to proper hygiene in your home, your kitchen should take precedence because almost everything you eat comes from there. You may already know how to clean your kitchen, but are you doing it in the most efficient and hygienic way possible? That is why we have put together this ultimate kitchen cleaning guide to set you up with the right tools and procedures for keeping your kitchen spotless and sparkling clean every day.
See also: How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen Cleaning Tools
Before you start any cleaning exercise, ensure you have all the required items readily available. These tools are helpful for daily, weekly or monthly cleaning, and they can make your task more efficient, so here is the list of kitchen cleaning tools you need.
- Old toothbrush.
- Mop bucket.
- Dustpan and brush set.
- Broom.
- Heavy-duty dish soap.
- Scrub brushes.
- Microfiber mop.
- Microfiber towels.
- Disinfecting surface cleaner.
- Microfiber duster.
- Oven cleaner.
- Natural everyday surface cleaner.
- Glass cleaner.
- Natural stain remover.
The Ultimate Kitchen Cleaning Guide
Your kitchen cleaning should be done in different phases, which are daily, weekly, and monthly; some people would also love to do a deep cleaning quarterly, which is fine. These different phases ensure you can clean every kitchen area, including the most hidden paces, at least 3 times yearly.
Daily Kitchen Cleaning Routine
- Spray and wipe down the countertops, stovetop and vent hood.
- Clean spills on appliances and door handles.
- Wash the dishes manually or with a dishwasher.
- Scrub the sink with disinfecting cleaner.
- Sweep the floor.
- Tidy up and remove any clutter.
- Take out the trash.
- Wash or replace the cleaning rag or dish towel.
See also: How To Get Rid Of Ants In The Kitchen
Weekly Cleaning Routine
This weekly cleaning routine will be more straightforward if you have done the daily cleaning consistently. It will also make the monthly cleaning task easier and keep your kitchen running smoothly.
- Follow the same routine for the daily cleaning.
- Mop the floor.
- Clean all appliances, such as toaster, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, etc.
- Dispose of leftover and expired food.
- Clean kitchen cabinets, including their handles.
- Disinfect and clean the sink, including the faucet handles.
- Disinfect or replace sponges.
- Run the self-cleaning setting on your oven.
- Wipe oven doors.
- Replenish all kitchen cleaning supplies.
Monthly Cleaning Routine
This cleaning routine is more detailed and very important, but thanks to your daily and weekly cleaning routines, this one will be easier and less time-consuming.
- Do the daily and weekly cleaning routines.
- Thoroughly clean the refrigerator in and out.
- Disinfect cabinets and clean in and out.
- Clean the tiles around the sink.
- Clean the tops of light fixtures, cabinets, and refrigerator.
- Clean windows.
- Declutter all drawers and cabinets.
- Launder rugs and carpets, if there are any.
- Take inventory of the freezer and pantry.
- Clean your dishwasher.
- Clean the coffee maker.
- Clean the trash can.
Quarterly Kitchen Routine
Monthly cleaning is excellent, but as the season changes, you may have specific needs in your kitchen. Hence, a quarterly cleaning routine is also necessary to clean even the most hidden places you can’t get to during your monthly cleaning exercise.
- Follow the regular monthly cleaning routine.
- Unplug the refrigerator and clean the coils.
- Clean the oven.
- Clean under the fridge, stove, cabinets and so on.
- Sort cooking tools and declutter.
- Wash walls and ceilings to remove grease or steam buildup.
- Take inventory of the spice rack and pantry.
- Clean and rearrange your cabinets.
- Do a routine check on all kitchen appliances to ensure they are still in perfect working condition, and clean them thoroughly.
Kitchen Cleaning Tips
Now that you know how to schedule your kitchen cleaning routine to ensure you always have a tidy and hygienic kitchen all year round, you may be wondering how to clean some particular areas and appliances in your kitchen without causing any damage.
Here are some tips you can follow to clean the following areas and appliances in your kitchen.
Blinds and Windows
This is relatively easy and requires just a microfibre cloth with a glass cleaner. You can use a duster to remove the dust first before cleaning but do not use a multipurpose soap.
Coffee Maker
Put a filter paper in place, fill the chambers with vinegar and water, start the machine, turn it off halfway through the brewing process and let the solution sit for 30 minutes. Then turn on the machine and continue the brew cycle till it is done. Replace the filter paper and replace the solution with a whole pot of water. Run another brew cycle and dispose of the water.
Trash Can
Mix 1 teaspoon of bleach with 24 ouches of water and use the solution with a soft sponge to scrub the inside of your trash can, then rinse off with clean water.
Fridge
First, get someone to help you pull the fridge away from the wall, then sweep and mop the area before putting the fridge back. Empty the fridge and use a non-abrasive sponge to remove all spills and debris. Remove all the shelves or drawers and wash them in the sink using warm, soapy water. Leave them to air dry while you clean the other parts of the fridge.
Now spray all parts of the fridge with a multipurpose cleaner and wipe the walls, doors, and seams; you can use a non-abrasive sponge to remove the remaining solution. Clean and disinfect the fridge handles and outer parts. Leave it to air dry, arrange the drawers, and turn on the fridge.
Cabinets
Remove all the items in the kitchen cabinets and dispose of all unwanted items, then use an all-purpose cleaner with a micro fibre cloth to wipe down every area of the cabinet until it is satisfactorily clean and replace all the items you removed.
See also: 15 Brilliant Kitchen Cabinet Designs You Will Love
Dishwasher
Use a multipurpose cleaner to clean the dishwasher, a non-abrasive sponge to scrub all areas, and wipe it with a damp cloth.
Hard Surfaces
Disinfect the surfaces using a spray bottle, and allow the disinfectant to sit on the surface for at least 10 minutes. Use a non-abrasive scrubbing pad to remove the dirt that is stuck on the surface, wash the surface in small sections, and wipe off excess liquid with a dishcloth.
Sink
The kitchen sink holds a lot of germs, so to clean it thoroughly, use a baking soda and water mixture to wipe all parts of the sink. Then, use an old toothbrush coated in the baking soda paste to drain the drain area. Spray distilled white vinegar over the baking soda solution to remove all extra gunk, let it sit for a few minutes and rinse it off with clean water.
Microwave
To effectively loosen the stains inside your microwave, place a bowl filled with water inside and turn it on. Let it run for 2 to 3 minutes, then use a multipurpose cleaning spray with a dry cloth to wipe the inside clean. You can also use the spray for the outer body of the microwave.
Oven
Create a paste with baking soda and water and apply it to the interior of your oven. Let it sit overnight, then apply distilled white vinegar and use a microfiber cloth to remove all the mixtures, giving it a perfect shine.
See also: How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet
Final Thoughts
Many activities happen in the kitchen, and it houses a lot of germs, but this is also where you eat. So, when it comes to keeping your kitchen clean, you should take this kitchen cleaning guide very seriously; every piece of information here will take you one step closer to having a constantly clean and healthy kitchen.
