For many of people, the kitchen is one of the most important rooms the home — a place to cook, eat and gather with loved ones. Kitchens can also get the most dirty, sticky and grimy — and daily wipe-downs and maintenance can only go so far.
“Kitchen deep cleans are essential because the kitchen is the heart of the home and one of the most used spaces,” says Dr. Nick Bach, therapist and CEO of Grace Psychological Services, who incorporates practical cleaning habits into his practice for clients who find home maintenance overwhelming.
Unlike the quick, surface-level cleaning most people do on a daily basis, “deep cleaning tackles hidden dirt and grime that can harbor bacteria and even pests,” Bach says. As you embark on a kitchen deep clean, it’s vital to have a solid plan in place. To that end, Bach and other cleaning experts helped come up with an essential kitchen cleaning checklist. Ready to get to work? Let’s dive right in.
Kitchen Cleaning Checklist
The experts we spoke to agree that the best way to deep clean a kitchen is to break the tasks up according to the different areas of the room. “Breaking it into sections makes the job more manageable,” offers Bach.
The kitchen areas that professional cleaners recommend you focus on are:
- Kitchen drawers and cabinets.
- Pantries and other food storage areas.
- Stovetops and ovens.
- Refrigerators and freezers.
- Sinks and dishwashers.
- Countertops and floors.
- Miscellaneous areas, such as inside of appliances.
Without further ado, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to tackle each of these areas.
Deep clean kitchen drawers and cabinets
- Remove everything from drawers and cabinets. Throw out anything broken and consider donating anything you don’t regularly use.
- Clean all surfaces. “Wipe them down with a mix of warm water and dish soap, then follow up with a disinfectant spray to kill bacteria,” Bach recommends.
- Remove old shelf or drawer liners. Replace with new, fresh liners.
- Wipe down handles and knobs. Don’t forget about these, as they collect dirt and grime too, Bach reminds.
Revamp pantry and food storage
- Start by removing everything from shelves.
- Wipe everything down. “Give the shelves a good wipe with an all-purpose cleaner and microfiber cloth, making sure not to forget the doors and handles,” suggests Angelique Kreller, interior designer at Yabby.
- Vacuum the floor.
- Trash anything expired.
- Use airtight containers to keep food fresh.
- Re-organize the pantry. Consider getting storage compartments, baskets or riser shelves to keep everything neat.
“Use a baking soda paste to clean spills and stuck-on messes — it’s non-toxic and absorbs odors.”
— Dr. Nick Bach, therapist and CEO, Grace Psychological Services
Clean stove and oven
- Remove all burners and other items from stovetop.
- Wipe down stovetop, clean burners and wipe the oven door. Use soap and water to clean off debris. For grease and other caked on gunk, consider a paste of baking soda and water, suggests Ashley Schuering, blogger at Confessions of a Grocery Addict. You can leave the solution overnight for best results, wiping it off in the morning.
- Remove anything inside the stove.
- Clean inside of the oven. Usually a degreasing product is best for cleaning the inside of the oven, especially if it isn’t wiped down regularly.
Refresh the refrigerator and freezer
- Remove all food from fridge and freezer. “I suggest doing this before grocery shopping, so it’s less crowded,” Bach says.
- Discard any expired or “questionable” foods.
- Pull out removable shelves and drawers and clean them. Bach recommends wiping shelves and drawers with warm, soapy water, finishing with a disinfectant.
- Wipe down all surfaces. “Use a baking soda paste to clean spills and stuck-on messes — it’s non-toxic and absorbs odors,” Bach suggests. Don’t forget to dry everything off when you’re finished.
- Place items back in the fridge and freezer. Reorganize items as you do this, placing opened items in front of newer items.
- Leave an open box of baking soda in the fridge when finished. This prevents future odors.
Deep clean the sink and dishwasher
- Remove all items from the sink.
- Wipe down the inside of the sink. “I typically use dish soap and a stiff scrubbing brush to scrub it, rinse it down with hot water, then use a microfiber towel and all-purpose cleaner,” Schuering says.
- Clean wire racks or rubber mats. Pay attention to joints and areas with rubber covers where grit and grime like to hide, Schuering recommends.
- Clean the water nozzle. “I use a zip-top bag filled with enough white vinegar to cover the entire spraying mechanism, and a rubber band to secure it in place,” says Schuering. She recommends leaving this overnight or for at least 30 minutes, followed by a scrub-off with a brush and water, then a wipe-down with a microfiber towel.
- Clean sink drains. You can use hot water with baking soda and/or vinegar. An all-natural enzyme cleaner can be used as a preventative measure.
- Clean the inside of the dishwasher. Consider using a dishwasher cleaning product. Alternatively, you can place about two cups of vinegar in a dish, put the dish in the bottom rack of the dishwasher and run the dishwasher for one cycle.
- Clean the dishwasher filter. Doing so will ensure that the dishwasher runs effectively.
Clean countertops and floors
- Remove appliances and other items from countertops.
- Wipe down countertops, removing any dirt, crumbs or debris.
- Clean countertops with appropriate cleaning solutions. “To deep clean laminate countertops, mix one cup of white vinegar, one cup of hot water and 15-20 drops of dish soap,” suggests Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids, a house cleaning service in Tennessee. “My suggestion for natural stone countertops is using a specialized granite cleaner plus polish.”
- Sweep and vacuum kitchen floor to remove any debris.
- Mop kitchen floor. “I recommend using a steam mop to remove the grease,” says Evans. If you don’t have one, you can use hot water, along with a simple cleaner. The following mixture is safe for most floor types, says Evans: two gallons of water, two cups of vinegar and five drops of dish soap.
Miscellaneous deep cleaning items
- Clean the inside of the microwave.
- Clean the toaster oven or air fryer. Empty out the crumb tray and wipe down surfaces.
- Wipe down “high touch” areas. These include cabinet knobs, fridge handles, stove handles and light switches.
- Sweep beneath the stove and fridge.
- Wipe the outside of cabinet doors and walls. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works great for this.
How often should you deep clean the kitchen?
“On average, I would recommend deep cleaning the kitchen after three months,” Kreller suggests.
Although most experts recommend doing a deep clean once every few months, it also depends on your habits. “How often to deep clean the kitchen will really depend on the amount of use the space gets,” Kreller says. You may need to clean more often if:
- You cook frequently.
- You don’t do as much regular maintenance cleaning.
- You have a large kitchen with multiple areas.
- The space is used by multiple roommates.
Kitchen cleaning supply list
As for deep cleaning supplies, it’s best to keep things simple. Have a few key products on hand rather than clearing out the entire cleaning aisle of your local hardware store — it will save you cash and streamline your cleaning process.
Evans recommends the following products for kitchen deep cleans:
- For granite or marble surfaces: Consider Method cleaning products. “The smell is not too penetrating and they are effective,” Evans says.
- For laminate and tile surfaces: Dish soap will work just fine. “This one by Ajax is super cheap and it works,” says Evans.
- For stubborn stains or water spots: Evan recommends combining a basic dish soap with baking soda.
- For a more sensitive, all-purpose soap: Try Dr. Bronner’s pure castile soap. “It’s great if you don’t know how sensitive the surface/item is and you want to take a safer route,” explains Evans.
“If you find the task overwhelming, you can break it up into more digestible pieces by approaching one task at a time. Just try to focus on the areas that you use the most often.”
— Angelique Kreller, interior designer, Yabby
More kitchen deep cleaning tips from the pros
Deep cleaning a kitchen is a lot of work, says Evans. Between decluttering, reorganizing and cleaning, it could easily suck up four or five hours — or more — of your time. Here are recommendations from the experts for making kitchen deep cleans less stressful:
- Gather all of your supplies before you start.
- Focus on one task at a time.
- Clean the most-used areas first.
- Leave the floors for last.
“If you find the task overwhelming, you can break it up into more digestible pieces by approaching one task at a time,” Kreller recommends. “Just try to focus on the areas that you use the most often.”
Read more:
Should you hire a professional cleaner?
Find a professional house cleaner.
Remember that you don’t have to do this yourself. According to Schuering, it’s a good idea to hire a professional if:
- You don’t have time to do a good quarterly deep clean.
- You feel overwhelmed by the prospect of deep cleaning.
- You don’t have the expertise to clean difficult spaces, such as inside the oven.
- You have physical limitations, such as knee issues, back issues or poor eyesight.
The good news is that hiring professional deep cleaners is surprisingly affordable. It’s not something that should break the bank, since it only has to be done once every few months.
“If you keep up with daily and weekly chores, you should be able to get away with just two to four paid sessions a year,” Schuering assures.
The bottom line
Deep cleaning your kitchen is something you should do every few months. Cleaning out areas that are often neglected — such as the inside of your fridge, stove, cabinets and pantry — won’t just reduce the build-up of dirt, grime and icky bacteria, but it can add to a renewed peace of mind.
“It’s amazing how a clean space can influence mental clarity,” Bach emphasizes.
Still, deep cleaning can feel daunting, and many people put it off simply because of how stress-inducing it is. That’s why having several tools at your disposal — including a kitchen cleaning checklist and even the help of a professional cleaner — can make all the difference.
