Deep Clean Kitchen Checklist

Kitchens are typically some of the hardest-working rooms in a home, and they see a lot of action. You also end up with substances like grease, food debris, and other things that make it essential to clean your kitchen regularly. Quick cleanings daily and weekly are great, but go through a deep clean kitchen checklist at least a few times a year.

A kitchen deep clean includes cleaning out the freezer and fridge, vacuuming refrigerator coils, and organizing the pantry. Also, spot-clean grout, clean the oven, sort through utensils and other kitchen items, and go through cabinets. If you use your kitchen a lot, you should deep clean monthly. Otherwise, aim to give your kitchen a deep clean four times a year.

Staying on top of regular cleanings will help make deep cleaning your kitchen much more manageable. We’ll look at what should go on your deep clean kitchen checklist, plus daily and weekly maintenance tips.

It can get pretty grimy if you don’t stay on top of regular kitchen cleanings. But, even with routine cleaning, things can collect and build up over time, leading to hidden funk. So it’s essential to give your kitchen a deep clean at least four times a year. But this only works if you don’t cook frequently or always clean up exceptionally well after you cook.

But if you use your kitchen often (you cook and frequently bake, etc.), it’s a good idea to deep clean it monthly. As part of your deep clean, you’ll do some things you would normally do, like wipe down counters and mop the floor. But then you’ll also work through several special tasks.

When it’s time to roll up your sleeves and dig into a thorough cleaning, make sure you tackle the following 10 things.

Over time things accumulate, from extra coffee mugs to random plates and utensils. Suddenly, you realize you have 20 dish rags and a mish-mash of holiday serving ware that you never use. All this stuff takes up valuable space in your kitchen, leading to unnecessary clutter.

Plus, the more clutter you have, the harder it becomes to handle routine cleanings. So, pull everything from your cabinets and drawers and toss broken and unwanted items. Donate things that are useable and in good shape and pass along duplicate items.

When your drawers and cabinets are empty, this is the perfect time to clean them. Wipe down the insides and clean any organizers. Then, replace everything you’re keeping, organizing them in a practical way for your space.

Empty your fridge and freezer and give the shelves, drawers, and inside of the doors a thorough wipe down. Use a sanitizer to disinfect the inside of the appliances. Toss expired or rotting food, then put everything back in place, organizing it in a way that works for you.

Also, don’t forget about the door gaskets and seals. Wipe them down with mild soap and a sponge or soft cloth. Then, make sure to use a dry cloth or paper towels to dry all surfaces.

Wipe down the outside of the refrigerator and freezer with a damp cloth and mild soap. If your appliances are stainless steel, make sure to use a stainless steel cleaner and a microfiber cloth or paper towels.

If your freezer has an ice maker and your fridge a water dispenser, then the odds are good you have a filter. These filters typically must be replaced regularly, often every two to three months. If you deep clean your kitchen four times a year, this is a great time to remember to replace your filters.

However, if you only deep clean your kitchen once or twice a year, don’t forget to change your filters between deep cleans. You can tape a note inside a cabinet to remind you or even place a reminder sticker on your fridge. Some appliances feature a light that turns orange or red when you need a new filter.

If you use a filter on your sink for tap water, remember to change this out as well. These filters also typically need to be replaced every two to three months.

Another place that might have filters is your range hood, especially if you have a ventless model. Often, these filters can simply go in the dishwasher. Otherwise, wash them in the sink with warm, soapy water and let them dry thoroughly.

Dust bunnies and other unpleasantries can gather under your fridge, leading to your appliance working overtime. (Not to mention it gets gross under there). Use a long vacuum brush extension to vacuum underneath your fridge.

Have a buddy help you pull your fridge away from the wall a couple of feet. Unplug the refrigerator and vacuum the coils and behind the fridge. Then, plug the appliance back in and push it back into place.

Make sure to keep the freezer and fridge closed the entire time, so your food remains at a safe temperature.

Your oven likely has a self-clean option, so go ahead and use it when doing your deep clean. Make sure you start the oven cleaning a few hours before you need your oven, as this can sometimes take several hours.

If your oven does not have a self-clean feature, get a designated oven cleaner to wipe down the inside. Remove oven racks and wash them. If your oven has a self-clean feature, do NOT use an oven cleaner with it.

To deep clean your microwave, get it steamy first to loosen up built-up food and gunk. Put a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave with one cup of vinegar and one cup of water. A wooden spoon in the bowl can help prevent the mixture from bubbling over.

Microwave for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how dirty the micro is. Then, use a rag or sponge to wipe down the inside thoroughly and follow with disinfectant wipes. If there’s a turntable, remove it and wash it with dish soap.

Leave the microwave open slightly until everything is dry, then replace the turntable. Don’t forget to wipe down the door seal too.

Of course, many things influence how long your deep clean of your kitchen will take. You need to consider the size of your kitchen, how many cabinets and drawers you have, your pantry size, and if you have tile or not.

You also need to consider how much or little clutter there is in the space and how well you keep up with regular cleanings. But, on average, you can expect your deep clean to take a couple of hours.

If you have a lot of items to go through, you might want to break up your deep clean. You can declutter and organize one day, then do the cleaning another day.

It’s good to deep clean your kitchen monthly, or at least four times a year if you don’t cook often. It’s easier to handle deep cleaning if you maintain regular daily and weekly cleaning schedules. When you deep clean, your checklist should include cleaning and organizing kitchen cabinets, drawers, and the pantry.

Clean the garbage disposal. Disinfect and clean the inside of all your appliances and wipe down the outsides too. Wipe the outside of your cabinets and drawers as lots of funk builds up over time.

Spot clean stains on grout, clean or replace any filters, and vacuum under and behind your fridge, including the coils. Wash your trash can and toss out any expired or rotting food. Plus, do what you typically do with routine cleanings, like wash the dishes, mop the floor, disinfect counters, etc.

With regular daily and weekly cleanings and routine deep cleanings, your kitchen will continue to sparkle and shine.