Kitchen cleaning checklist

The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the home, so it’s no surprise that crumbs, grease, spills and clutter can quickly build up. When there’s a lot to tackle, knowing where to start can sometimes be the hardest part.

The trick is to clean in the right order. Start by decluttering, then work from the top of the room down. That way, any dust or crumbs you dislodge as you clean will eventually end up on the floor – which you’ll clean last rather than having to do it twice.

Whether you’ve got 15 minutes to spare or you’re planning a full kitchen deep clean, use this simple kitchen cleaning checklist to work through the room one job at a time.

Kitchen cleaning checklist: where should you start?

Before reaching for the cleaning products, get the room ready. A few minutes spent clearing the space will make everything that follows much quicker.

• Open a window for ventilation where possible.
• Put dirty plates, glasses and cutlery into the dishwasher or sink.
• Put away clean dishes and anything sitting on the draining board.
• Throw away rubbish, food wrappers and old packaging.
• Put food and ingredients back into cupboards or the fridge.
• Remove anything from the worktops that belongs elsewhere.
• Empty the kitchen bin if it’s full.
• Gather your cloths, cleaning products and equipment before you begin.

Don’t worry about crumbs falling onto the floor while you clear the worktops – you’ll deal with those at the end.

1. Start at the top

Before cleaning the worktops or floor, look up. Dust can settle on top of cupboards, shelves, light fittings and other higher surfaces before eventually making its way down into the rest of the kitchen.

• Dust the tops of kitchen cupboards.
• Wipe accessible shelves.
• Dust light fittings and lampshades where safe to do so.
• Clean the top of the fridge and other tall appliances.
• Remove cobwebs from ceiling corners.
• Dust the top of extractor hoods and other high-level surfaces.

Work your way down rather than worrying about any dust that falls onto the worktops or floor below.

2. Clean cupboard doors and handles

Kitchen cupboards are touched constantly and can gradually collect fingerprints, cooking residue and grease – particularly those closest to the hob.

Wipe cupboard doors from top to bottom using a cleaning method suitable for their finish. Pay extra attention to handles, knobs and the areas immediately around them.

• Wipe cupboard doors and drawer fronts.
• Clean handles and knobs.
• Pay extra attention to cupboards around the hob.
• Wipe around the edges of frequently used drawers.
• Spot-clean any visible splashes or sticky marks.

Always test a new cleaning product on an inconspicuous area first and follow the care instructions for your kitchen surfaces.

3. Tackle the hob, splashback and cooking grease

The area around your hob can be one of the hardest-working parts of the kitchen. Oil, sauce and food splashes can gradually build up on the hob, tiles and splashback.

• Remove loose crumbs and food debris.
• Clean the hob using a method suitable for its surface.
• Wipe the splashback and surrounding tiles.
• Clean knobs and controls carefully.
• Wipe the outside of the extractor hood.
• Check whether your extractor filter is due for cleaning or replacement.

Always make sure the hob is switched off and completely cool before cleaning it.

4. Clean the microwave and small appliances

Next, move onto the appliances sitting on your worktops. Crumbs can collect underneath toasters, kettles and coffee machines, while frequently used appliances can quickly pick up fingerprints and splashes.

• Wipe down the outside of the kettle.
• Empty the toaster crumb tray.
• Clean underneath small appliances.
• Wipe the outside of your coffee machine.
• Clean the inside and outside of the microwave.
• Wipe appliance handles, buttons and controls.

Switch off and unplug electrical appliances where appropriate before cleaning them, and always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.

5. Clean the fridge

You don’t need to completely empty your fridge every time you clean the kitchen, but it’s worth giving it a quick check while you’re working through the room.

• Throw away expired or spoiled food.
• Wipe up any visible spills.
• Clean sticky jars and containers before putting them back.
• Wipe shelves and drawers when needed.
• Clean the fridge door handle.
• Wipe the exterior and top of the fridge.

If you’re carrying out a deeper clean, remove food and clean the shelves and drawers according to the manufacturer’s instructions before drying them and putting everything back.

6. Clear and clean the worktops

Now that you’ve cleaned everything above them, it’s time for the worktops.

Move chopping boards, utensil holders and small appliances rather than simply wiping around them. Crumbs and sticky marks often collect underneath items that stay in the same place.

• Remove everything you can from the worktop.
• Brush loose crumbs onto the floor ready for vacuuming later.
• Clean underneath appliances and storage containers.
• Wipe the entire worktop.
• Pay attention to corners and the edges around the wall.
• Dry the surface if required.
• Only put back the things you actually use regularly.

7. Clean the sink and taps

Leave the sink until you’ve finished using it to rinse cloths and other items, otherwise you’ll only need to clean it again.

• Remove food debris from the plughole or strainer.
• Clean around the sink bowl.
• Pay attention to the area around the plughole.
• Wipe around the base of the taps.
• Clean the taps and handles.
• Remove visible water marks where appropriate.
• Rinse and dry the sink when you’ve finished.

Use cleaning products appropriate for the material your sink and taps are made from.

8. Don’t forget the dishwasher and washing machine

If your kitchen contains a dishwasher or washing machine, give the areas you regularly touch a quick clean too.

• Wipe appliance doors and control panels.
• Clean handles.
• Remove dirt from around accessible door seals.
• Check and clean dishwasher filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Check washing machine detergent drawers and filters when required.
• Wipe underneath and around the appliance where accessible.

9. Clean the kitchen table and chairs

Food, crumbs and spills can easily collect around dining tables, breakfast bars and kitchen chairs.

• Clear everything from the table.
• Wipe the tabletop and edges.
• Clean underneath the edge of the table where hands grip it.
• Wipe chair backs, legs and hard surfaces.
• Check underneath seat cushions for crumbs.
• Clean the feet of chairs before putting them back onto a freshly cleaned floor.

If you have suitable fabric dining chairs or bench seating, spills and stains can be tackled with a Vax SpotWash spot cleaner. Always check the furniture manufacturer’s care instructions before wet cleaning upholstery.

10. Empty and clean the bin

Before moving onto the floor, empty the kitchen bin so you can throw away anything you’ve collected while cleaning.

• Remove the bin bag.
• Wipe the inside of the bin if needed.
• Clean the lid and handle.
• Wipe the outside of the bin.
• Clean the floor underneath it.
• Replace the liner once the bin is clean and dry.

11. Vacuum the kitchen floor

Now that everything above floor level is clean, you can finally tackle all the dust, crumbs and debris that have fallen while you’ve been working.

Vacuuming before washing the floor removes loose debris rather than pushing it around when the floor becomes wet.

• Move lightweight chairs and bins out of the way.
• Vacuum around the edges of the room.
• Use a crevice tool around skirting boards and awkward gaps if needed.
• Vacuum underneath the table and chairs.
• Pay attention to underneath cupboard kickboards and overhangs.
• Vacuum underneath movable appliances where safe and practical.
• Finish with the main open areas of the floor.

A Vax vacuum cleaner can help pick up crumbs, dust and everyday debris before you move onto washing the floor.

12. Wash the floor last

The kitchen floor should be one of the final jobs on your checklist. There’s little point washing it first and then dropping crumbs, dust and cooking debris onto it while you clean everything else.

Once you’ve vacuumed, clean your kitchen floor using a method suitable for your flooring type. Vax hard floor cleaners can help tackle everyday dirt and mess on compatible sealed hard floors.

• Start at the furthest point from the door.
• Work backwards towards the exit so you don’t walk over areas you’ve just cleaned.
• Pay extra attention to areas around the sink, cooker and food preparation spaces.
• Clean underneath the kitchen table and around chair legs.
• Allow the floor to dry before replacing chairs, bins and other items.

Quick kitchen cleaning checklist for busy days

Don’t have time for a deep clean? You don’t need to do the entire checklist every time. If you’ve only got 10 or 15 minutes, concentrate on the jobs that make the biggest immediate difference:

• Put away dishes and clear the sink.
• Throw away rubbish.
• Put food and clutter away.
• Wipe the hob and obvious cooking splashes.
• Wipe the worktops.
• Clean the sink and taps.
• Empty the bin if needed.
• Vacuum or sweep visible crumbs from the floor.
• Spot-clean any spills before they become harder to remove.

Then save jobs such as cleaning cupboard tops, appliances and inside the fridge for your next deeper clean.

How often should you clean your kitchen?

Not every kitchen job needs doing every day. Breaking the cleaning into smaller tasks can make it much easier to stay on top of – particularly if you’re busy.

• Every day: wash dishes, wipe food preparation surfaces, deal with spills, clear obvious crumbs and take rubbish out when needed.
• Every few days: vacuum or sweep busy floor areas, wipe the hob and clean frequently touched handles.
• Weekly: clean the sink thoroughly, vacuum and wash the floor, wipe cupboard fronts and clean small appliances.
• Periodically: clean the fridge, oven, extractor, dishwasher, washing machine, cupboard tops and other easily forgotten areas.

The best routine is one that works for your household. A busy family kitchen may need cleaning more frequently than one that’s used less often.

The easiest thing to remember: top to bottom, floor last

If you forget everything else on this kitchen cleaning checklist, remember one simple rule: start at the top and finish at the bottom.

Clear the clutter first, clean higher surfaces, work your way down through cupboards, appliances and worktops, then vacuum and wash the floor last. It prevents you from cleaning the same area twice and makes a big kitchen clean feel much more organised.