The Ultimate Kitchen Cleaning Checklist for Sparkling Results

Kate Van Pelt is a contributing writer for The Spruce, based in the PNW. Kate has been a full-time digital content creator for nearly a decade, covering everything from home decor to personal finance.

For many families, the kitchen is the social hub of the home, so it's important that you clean often. Some areas of your kitchen will require consistent attention, such as the counters. Others, like larger appliances such as the refrigerator or oven, can be addressed on a weekly or perhaps monthly basis.

Below, you'll find daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal kitchen cleaning checklists to simplify your routine. These detailed guides will help you create and maintain a tidy kitchen space.

Supplies You'll Need

Before you get started, make sure you have the proper tools and cleaning solutions on hand. The following is a comprehensive list, detailing all of the supplies you need for the four kitchen cleaning checklists in this guide.

• Broom and dustpan
• Mop
• Vacuum
• Microfiber cloths
• Dishwasher detergent
• Dish soap
• All-purpose cleaner (or DIY all-purpose cleaner)
• Old Toothbrush
• Soft-bristled brush or abrasive sponge
• Duster
  
• Glass cleaner (or DIY glass cleaner)
• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda

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Daily Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

For your daily kitchen cleaning checklist, focus your attention on the counters and floors. Keeping these high-use areas clean will help you cultivate a more hygienic environment.

• Remove any decor, appliances, or clutter from the countertops.
• Wipe down the counters with a clean, damp cloth and an all-purpose cleaner or warm, soapy water. You can also use a DIY all-purpose cleaner, made of diluted vinegar. Consider wiping down high-use areas at this time as well, such as the drawer and cabinet pulls and the handle on your microwave.
• Sweep the floors.
• Return the items you moved to their proper homes on the countertop or elsewhere.
• Unload your dishwasher and tackle any dirty dishes by handwashing or loading the dishwasher.
• Wipe down the faucet and inside of your sink with an all-purpose cleaner. Pay close attention to any corners and crevices that may be collecting grime.
• Take out the trash and recycling.
• Put any cleaning rags or kitchen towels in the laundry and replace them with clean ones.
  

Weekly Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

In addition to your daily cleaning regimen, your weekly routine should include frequently used appliances like your microwave and refrigerator. Start your weekly cleaning routine with the steps below, then finish with your daily kitchen cleaning checklist above.

• Clean the interior and exterior of your countertop kitchen appliances, including your toaster, coffee maker, and microwave.
• Next, it's time to clean the refrigerator. You'll need to rearrange or remove items as you clean, so you're able to wipe down all of the shelf and drawer space. As you go, check for expired goods and toss them. Remember to wipe down the face and handles of your refrigerator too. (Save the freezer for your monthly kitchen cleaning checklist.)
• Wipe down your stovetop with a store-bought or DIY all-purpose cleaner. Don't forget to wipe down the face of your oven too.
• Next, wipe down additional high-use areas, such as light switches, drawer pulls, cabinet handles, and door knobs.
• Turn off (at the breaker box) and clean your garbage disposal, using distilled white vinegar and baking soda.
• Finally, you can move on to the daily cleaning checklist and finish your weekly routine by mopping your kitchen floors.

Tip

During your weekly kitchen cleaning routine, take a look at your supplies and see if any cleaning solutions or tools need to be replaced or replenished. Take this opportunity to add those items to your grocery list.

Monthly Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Your monthly kitchen cleaning checklist provides an opportunity to tidy and disinfect areas that are not frequently used, but still collect dust and grime over time. This includes cabinet and drawer faces, windows, and even the inside of your garbage can. Start with your daily kitchen cleaning checklist, then move onto the tasks below.

1. Complete your daily kitchen cleaning checklist.
2. Clean your kitchen range hood.
3. Replace the filter in your microwave.
4. Remove the contents of your cabinets and drawers to prepare for cleaning and organizing (we recommend following steps three and four for one cabinet or drawer at a time). This includes your pantry.
5. Wipe out the inside of your drawer or cabinet with an all-purpose cleaning solution, then move onto the cabinet or drawer face.
6. Return the contents of your cabinet or drawer, organizing as you go. Move onto the next drawer or cabinet and repeat steps three and four until you've tackled all of the storage space.
7. Wipe down any tiles and grout, such as a kitchen backsplash, with your all-purpose cleaner.
8. Next, wipe down areas that may be collecting dust, such as the tops of cabinets and light fixtures.
9. Clean the inside of your windows with a store-bought or DIY glass cleaner.
10. Vacuum or wash any kitchen rugs or runners.
11. Clean the inside of your dishwasher with a soft abrasive brush or sponge, distilled white vinegar, and baking soda. Be sure to wipe down the face of your dishwasher with an all-purpose cleaner when you're finished.

Seasonal Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

While the checklists above will help you maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen, there are a few leftover tasks you should complete every few months.

1. Set your oven to the self-clean setting. Keep in mind this process requires some prep (such as removing the racks and turning on the oven vent) and can take a couple of hours.
2. Clean your microwave filter.
   
3. Using a microfiber cloth and all-purpose cleaning solution, wipe down the ceiling and walls in your kitchen. When you complete this step, pay close attention to areas that may have gathered grease or steam, such as the wall behind your kitchen faucet and the ceiling area above your vent hood.
4. When you empty and deep clean the cabinets and drawers in your kitchen (during the monthly kitchen cleaning checklist), search for any kitchen tools and utensils you can donate or toss. For cabinets or drawers with food (as well as the pantry), see if there are any items that need to be replaced or replenished, such as expired goods or spices running low.
5. Sharpen your kitchen knives.
6. Deep clean your oven (rather than using the self-clean setting).
7. Unplug your refrigerator and pull it away from the wall. Clean the top of your fridge, the floor underneath it, and even the coils behind it. Use a microfiber cloth and all-purpose cleaner for the top of your refrigerator and the coils, then a broom, dustpan, and mop for the floor. Plug the refrigerator back into the outlet, then return it back to it's proper home.
8. Finally, clean out the inside of your garbage can and recycling bin. Wipe down the outside when you've finished.

Tips for Sticking to Your Kitchen Cleaning Schedule

Following the kitchen cleaning checklists above will take time and discipline, but there are several tips you can use to help you keep up with the chores.

• Schedule kitchen cleaning days in your calendar. This is especially important for your monthly and seasonal kitchen cleaning checklists.
• Keep your kitchen organized.Maintaining an organized kitchen will help prevent clutter, optimize your food storage, and notice and address any grease, spills, and other debris quickly.
• Store your cleaning supplies in bins. Keeping the supplies needed for each checklist in labeled plastic bins can help you grab what you need quickly when it's time to complete a cleaning checklist.
• Declutter often. Instead of waiting until it's time to complete your kitchen cleaning checklist, make sure you are frequently looking for and removing any expired products or tools/utensils that aren't being used.