When was the Last Time you Deep Cleaned your Kitchen?

We use the kitchen several times a day, and generally keep it clean by washing dirty dishes and cleaning up any spills, but when was the last time you deep cleaned your kitchen from top to bottom? Probably not very recently. As t can be a large undertaking, it's understandable if you can't remember the last time you gave the refrigerator a proper wipe down or cleaned the oven but it's a good idea to give your kitchen a good, deep cleaning once or twice a year. And while it might not be an ideal way to spend a day or weekend, it will be satisfying once done. There are two ways to go about deep cleaning the kitchen--doing everything in one day or splitting it up and focusing on one or two tasks per day or per week. 

It seems to make the most sense to start at the top of the room and work your way down to the bottom. So, starting with kitchen cabinets, if they reach the ceiling, then wipe them all down with a wet, soapy rag to remove any dust, spills, etc. If the top cabinets do not reach the ceiling, then dust or vacuum the space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling before moving on to wiping down the rest of the cabinets. 

The microwave may be the most used appliance in the kitchen as it gets used for everything from thawing meat to heating leftovers to popping popcorn and more. As much as it gets used however, few regularly clean the inside. To make sure you really get it clean, place a bowl with 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar in the microwave and turn it on for 3-5 minutes. Then, let it sit for another few minutes so that the steam can loosen any bits of food sticking to the walls. The vinegar should help eliminate any odors. Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and, if the turntable is removable, remove it and wash it. Take a damp sponge and wipe down the rest of the inside of the microwave before replacing the turntable. Don't forget to also give the outside of the microwave a wipe down!

These are probably the most used appliances in the kitchen behind the microwave, seeing use several times a week if not every day. If your oven has a self-cleaning function, you can utilize that and then wipe down the inside to remove any remaining stuck on spots or debris. If your oven does not have a self-cleaning function or you prefer not to use it, check out our post on how to clean your oven for other options. 

Using a soapy sponge and degreaser if necessary, clean the top of your stove, making sure to get the backsplash as well. If the stove is a gas model, you may need to remove the grates or griddle in order to really get to the burners. 

Depending on how recently you went grocery shopping, this might be the biggest bit to tackle of the whole kitchen as it involves removing everything in the fridge and freezer in order to give the inside walls and shelves a proper cleaning with a soapy sponge or disinfectant wipes. This is also a good time to go through the items in your refrigerator and freezer and get rid of anything really old or out of date. You never know what kind of forgotten leftovers you might find hiding in the back. If you have a built-in ice maker or water dispenser, don't forget to clean those out as well and check for any filters that might need changing. 

The countertops and backsplash probably get a regular wipe down as you clean up any spills made when making meals during the week but it's always a good idea to give them a thorough cleaning while you're tackling the rest of the kitchen. They don't require much--a quick scrub with a sponge, soap, and hot water should do the trick. The sink may take a bit more effort. Start by first removing any items in the sink, including the dish drain if you have one, before scrubbing it down. If you want to go the extra mile, you can fill the sink with hot water and half a cup of bleach and let the mixture soak for a bit before draining the sink and giving it a final wipe down. The bleach will help clean and disinfect the sink. 

If you have any windows in your kitchen--like above the sink for example--including them here would be ideal. Cleaning them with a rag or newspaper and sone window cleaning solution will make sure they are clean and clear. 

Toaster ovens, countertop appliances you leave on the counter like a regular toaster or a stand mixer, etc. are all considered "other appliances" in this case. Anything that you have not given a quick wipe down with a wet sponge or rag should be tackled here. 

The last thing that should be cleaned is the floor and baseboards. Start by sweeping up any dirt and debris. If there are any spots that have grease or caked on bits of food, tackle those first with water and soap or a degreaser before giving the baseboards a wipe down. Give the floor a good mopping and you're done! You can relax while the floor dries before moving any big pieces like a table and chairs or an island on wheels back into place.