Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Using a Cleaning Checklist Helps Keeps Your Kitchen in Tip Top Shape.

Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

No matter where I serve my guests, it seems they like my kitchen best! What a nice thought about the heart of your home. Really, it all begins and ends with the kitchen. We have fond memories of good times, good food, the good old days, and a good loving family. The fact is that most kitchens are the center of the house, mine’s no more special than yours, it just seems to happen that way. So I made a kitchen cleaning checklist to keep me on track.

The kitchen is the place many people go to chat with family, pay bills, and make meals. But it’s also one of the messiest and most disorganized areas in the house. The most used room in the house demands respect -and constant care. A clean kitchen is a happy kitchen! So gather your supplies, and let’s get down to the basics of kitchen cleaning.

Supplies for Getting the Kitchen Sparkling Clean

Household sponges, cleaning rags, scrubbers
Liquid dish detergent or degreaser
Disinfectant cleaner or sanitizer
Soft Scrub®, Comet®, Cinch®
Window cleaner

Get Your Stove Shining

Drip Pans

Keeping your stove or kitchen range clean is one of the biggest jobs in the kitchen. Most burner drip pans are removable. If they aren’t, move the elements out of the way and spray the pans with a liquid detergent or degreaser.

If they are removable, place them in the sink with hot water and a squirt of dish soap. Let them soak until you can scrub them comfortably.

Surface Cleaning

Remove stove knobs and toss them into the sink with the drip pans. Spray the stovetop with a degreaser like Cinch®. Let sit a few minutes to soften grime. Use a sponge for stubborn areas, then follow with a window cleaner to buff to a shine.

Wipe down fixed drip pans with a sponge and cleaner. Scrub if necessary. Once clean, rinse and dry the knobs and drip pans before replacing.

Oven Cleaning

If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, spray the interior with a heavy-duty degreaser. Use a sponge for light messes and a scrubby for baked-on food. Rinse well and dry.

Range Hood

Wipe the exterior with window spray. Remove and soak the filter in hot water and a cup of ammonia. Swish it around and rinse well.

Clean & Disinfect the Dishwasher

If it smells musty, wipe around the door seals, then sprinkle a cup of baking soda inside and run a short cycle. Spray and wipe the exterior with all-purpose cleaner. You can do the same for your trash compactor.

Wipe Down the Microwave

Remove the turntable, wash and dry it, then clean the microwave interior with a soapy sponge. Rinse with clean water and dry.

For Tough Gunk

Fill a microwave-safe bowl halfway with water and add 1 tbsp white vinegar.
Microwave 1–2 minutes to steam the inside.
Wipe clean. Use a scrubby if needed.

Kitchen Countertops

Clear the counters completely. Wash, rinse, and dry thoroughly, using a scrubby if needed for grease or grime. If the counters look dull, use a little furniture polish to restore shine.

Wipe down appliances before putting them back. Window cleaner works well to make them shine.

Clean the Refrigerator

Outside Surface

If you have anything on top of the refrigerator, move it off while wiping it down.

For modern stainless steel finishes (including fingerprint-resistant), use a soft microfiber cloth dampened with warm water and a drop of dish soap. Wipe gently in the direction of the grain, then follow with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to prevent streaks. Do not use abrasive scrubbers or harsh cleaners, which can scratch or damage the protective coating.

For traditional stainless steel, you may use a stainless steel cleaner if needed, but always test in a small area first. Buff with a dry cloth for shine.

Don’t forget to wipe around handles where sticky fingerprints tend to build up.

Inside Surfaces

If necessary, clean the inside by removing everything and wiping down with a cloth dipped in a solution of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart of hot water.

Wipe down doors, edges, shelves, drawers, and bins. Dry thoroughly with a clean towel before replacing food. Discard any expired or spoiled items.

Additional Areas People Often Forget

Kitchen Cabinets (Interior and Exterior)

Wipe down cabinet doors with furniture polish or a mild cleaner. Open cabinets and drawers and clean inside – crumbs, spills, or stickiness often go unnoticed. Wipe down shelf liners if you use them.

Drawer Organizers

Remove utensil trays and drawer organizers. Wash with hot soapy water, rinse, and dry before putting back. Wipe the inside of the drawers.

Trash Can and Recycling Bin

Take out the bag and scrub the interior with a disinfectant. Rinse and let dry. Don’t forget the lid!

Backsplash and Walls

Wipe down the backsplash and spot-clean walls where grease and food splatter. A mix of vinegar and water works well.

Light Fixtures

Dust or wipe the light fixtures above your stove or kitchen island. Bugs and grease often collect there.

Behind and Under Appliances

If possible, pull out the refrigerator, stove, or microwave cart and clean underneath and behind. Vacuum dust and wipe down the surfaces.

Miscellaneous Reminders

Wipe around light switches and door handles with disinfectant.
Wash and store dishes promptly. If you’re short on time, rinse and load into the dishwasher.
Don’t let food scraps build up in the sink. Toss trimmings right away and give the sink a quick rinse.
Shine the faucet with cleaner or window spray.

Final Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Large appliances cleaned inside and out
Small appliances wiped down (including underneath)
Countertops scrubbed, rinsed, dried, and polished
Kitchen cabinets wiped inside and out
Drawer organizers cleaned
Trash can cleaned and disinfected
Sink cleaned, rinsed, and faucet polished
Kitchen floor swept and mopped
Light fixtures and backsplash cleaned
Refrigerator and microwave cleaned inside and out
Trash removed

This kitchen cleaning checklist covers all the usual tasks – plus a few forgotten spots that can make a big difference. Tackle one section at a time to avoid overwhelm. With a little effort, your kitchen will be refreshed, sanitized, and sparkling – just the way it should be.