Kitchen Cleaning Checklist to Reset Your Cooking Space

The kitchen is the epicenter of your home. It’s where you cook, share meals with your family, and grab a cup of coffee with a friend. But as a high-traffic spot, your kitchen is also a breeding ground for germs and dirt. Use our ultimate kitchen cleaning checklist for daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that’ll keep your kitchen fresh and germ-free.

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Click here to download Ultimate Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Cleaning Supplies You’ll Need

Before you can start cleaning, you’ll want to have a fully stocked cleaning caddy to carry around the kitchen while you tidy up. Here are all the items you should keep on hand for regular cleaning:

• Cleaning cloths, paper towers, and disinfecting wipes

• Soft-bristled brush

• All-purpose cleaner

• Glass cleaner

• Baking soda

• Distilled white vinegar

• Bleach

• Dish soap

• Broom, mop, and vacuum

Daily Kitchen Cleaning Tasks

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Wrap up your day by tidying up the kitchen. Think of how great it will feel to welcome your day in a clean kitchen the next morning. 

Here are the daily tasks for your kitchen cleaning checklist:

• Wipe countertops

• Sweep floors

• Wash dishes after use

• Run and empty dishwasher

• Wipe spills

• Toss dirty dish towels in the wash

• Clean the kitchen sink

• Declutter counters

• Empty trash can and recycling bin

• Disinfect fridge door and door handles

• Change kitchen towel(s)

Weekly Kitchen Cleaning Tasks

Tackling daily tasks helps keep the kitchen clean and organized, but you will need to dig a little deeper to ensure you keep on top of tasks that need to be performed every week. Pick a day to show your kitchen a little extra love, and ask the kids to join in on the weekly cleaning routine.

Here are the weekly tasks for your kitchen cleaning checklist:

• Mop floors

• Check cleaning supply inventory

• Clean appliance surfaces

• Disinfect sink

• Clean faucets

• Disinfect countertops and backsplashes

• Clean baseboards

• Change sponges

• Clean doorknobs and switch plates

• Run self-cleaning cycle of the oven

Monthly Kitchen Cleaning Tasks

Once a month, do a deep cleaning to help rid your kitchen of the dirt and grime that builds up over time. There are some notorious tasks, such as learning how to clean your oven, that are much easier if you check them off your life once a month instead of once a year.

"If time allows, wiping the exterior of cabinets and hardware will help keep the kitchen looking and smelling clean, as well as prolong the life of the cabinets," says Asya Biddle, Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dust Busters janitorial company in Williamsport, PA.

Here are the monthly tasks for your kitchen cleaning checklist:

• Take pantry inventory, toss expired products, and restock

• Clean coffeemaker

• Deep clean inside fridge

• Clean garbage can

• Wipe appliance exteriors

• Launder kitchen rugs

• Dust light fixtures

• Organize cabinets and drawers

• Clean kitchen cabinets inside and out

• Dump crumbs from toaster

• Deep clean oven

• Clean windows and window treatments

• Clean microwave interior

Seasonal Kitchen Cleaning Tasks

We all love a good spring cleaning checklist, but there are some tasks that require attention three to four times a year. Use the changing seasons as a reminder to tackle the chores that get overlooked with a busy schedule. 

Here are the seasonal tasks for your kitchen cleaning checklist:

• Deep clean garbage disposal

• Switch out seasonal decor

• Change HVAC filters

• Clean tile grout on floor, counter, and backsplash

• Sharpen knives

• Clean under appliances

• Replace or repair chipped dinnerware

• Clean refrigerator coils

• Donate unused items 

Kitchen Appliance Cleaning Tasks

Kitchen appliances need a little extra attention when it comes to cleaning. Their stainless steel surfaces may show fingerprints and grime more so than the countertops, and you also need to keep the inside of these appliances in mind. 

Some tasks, like wiping down the stovetop, require daily attention, while other chores, like deep-cleaning the inside of the fridge and fully cleaning the dishwasher, can be done monthly.

• Wipe microwave interior and exterior 

• Wash microwave plate

• Deep clean inside fridge, tossing out expired items as you go

• Use oven-cleaning setting once a week

• Deep clean oven monthly with baking soda paste

• Wipe down dishwasher face

• Run bowl of vinegar on top rack of dishwasher, then wipe down interior

• Clean dishwasher filter once per month

Kitchen Cleaning Organizational Tips

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Looking to streamline your kitchen cleaning routine? Jen Robin, founder and CEO of Life in Jeneral, a lifestyle organizational design firm, recommends getting on a schedule. "Once you’ve organized your kitchen, maintaining your systems on a schedule is the best way to ensure that the organization will last," says Robin. "Paying close attention to how you operate in your kitchen is key to adjusting your system to make sure it suits your daily schedule."

Here are Robin’s best tips for keeping your kitchen organized on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Use Containers and Baskets

"Make note of where you take an item from, and put it back in the same spot,” says Robin. “This should be easy with containers in play.” When organizing the bins on your shelves, place daily items at eye level or below and items infrequently used overhead. Be sure to label out-of-reach bins extra clearly so you don't have to go digging to find things later on.

Toss Unused or Expired Items

Make room by clearing out expired or unusable items on a regular schedule. Clean out the fridge before grocery shopping each week, and toss old pantry items at least once a month. Robin suggests restocking any items as you use them, like tea bags and coffee pods. She also recommends checking expiration dates on longer-lasting items like dressings and condiments.

Organize Your Food Storage

The cabinet that contains your food storage containers can quickly get out of control, especially as you toss to-go containers in with the mix. Keep containers to a minimum, and toss the ones that have lost their lids. Consider adding a storage container separator in a cabinet to avoid tossing them in there willy-nilly.

Make Use of Your Kitchen Island

Kitchen carts and islands are not just for chopping veggies or hosting friends for cocktails. Utilize the sides of your island for storing everyday items you need in a hurry. This is a great place for storing tea, coffee, spices, and even the silverware drawer.

Increase Shelving Space

Home chefs know that half of cooking is making sure your tools are ready when you need them. Hang a floating shelf or add a shelving unit to your pantry to increase easy-to-organize storage. Keep the salt, pepper, and other daily spices right where you can see them without creating clutter.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Clean Your Kitchen

If you're spending hours per week cleaning your kitchen, even with this checklist, maybe it's time to think about hiring a professional. Cleaning companies can do a deep clean, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time relaxing and enjoying your family.

Find house cleaners near you to get quotes (the average cost of a cleaning service is $170). It could change your life for the better.

Paige Bennett contributed to this piece.