Is your kitchen due for a thorough cleaning, but you don't know where to start? Don't worry – with this 5-step plan, you'll make your kitchen shine from oven to countertop again. We cover all the important parts: the oven, the refrigerator, the drain, the kitchen cabinets, and the countertop. Follow the steps one by one, and you'll be sure not to miss anything. Put on your cleaning gloves, play your favorite music, and get to work. Before you know it, your kitchen will shine as if it were new!
Step 1: Cleaning the oven
Ovens are notorious for baked-on food residues and grease, but with the right approach, you can get them sparkling clean again.
First, remove the oven racks and baking trays from the oven. You can let them soak in the sink or in a basin with hot water and a scoop of dish soap or soda. While the racks soak, focus on the oven itself. Remove crumbs and loose food residues with a damp cloth or kitchen paper. Then make a baking soda paste by mixing some baking soda with warm water into a creamy paste. Spread this paste on the baked-on dirt in the oven (avoid the heating elements). Preferably let this work overnight – the baking soda loosens the burnt-on dirt while you sleep.
The next day, wipe the oven clean with a damp cloth. Stubborn residue is now much easier to remove. If needed, use a soft scouring sponge or a Scrub Daddy sponge (this does not scratch) to scrub away baked-on spots. Rinse the sponge regularly. Are you dealing with really heavy deposits that still remain? Then use a secret weapon: The Pink Stuff cleaning paste. This miracle product is very effective against stubborn dirt, yet gentle on ovens and other surfaces. Spread a little Pink Stuff on the stain, let it sit briefly, and wipe it away – often scrubbing is hardly necessary. Finally, don't forget the oven racks: scrub them clean after soaking (for example with a dish brush) and dry them. Your oven is now clean and ready for use, without burnt smells or smoke when baking.
Step 2: Cleaning the refrigerator
A clean refrigerator is important for hygiene and keeps your food fresher longer. Preferably plan this task just before you go shopping, so the fridge is reasonably empty.
Turn off the refrigerator and remove ALL food items. Temporarily store perishable products in a cooler or insulated bag. Now you can remove the loose parts: take out shelves, glass plates, drawers, and racks from the fridge. Fill the sink or a basin with warm water and a splash of dish soap (or all-purpose cleaner) and let these parts soak. Use a soft sponge or cloth to clean them thoroughly.
**Note:** never clean glass shelves with boiling hot water if they are still cold, as the temperature difference can cause them to crack. Lukewarm water is fine, or let the glass shelves come to room temperature before cleaning. Rinse all parts and dry them well with a clean tea towel.
Then clean the inside of the refrigerator. Wipe walls, bottom, and door compartments with a cloth and a mild soapy solution (for example, a drop of dish soap in warm water). Don't forget the rubber door seals – dirt or mold often accumulates there, so give them a good scrub. Dry everything with a dry cloth. Also clean the outside of the fridge, including the handle (a breeding ground for fingerprints and bacteria). Put the dry shelves, drawers, and racks back. Turn the fridge back on and put all the food back in an organized way. A tip here: wipe the packaging with a cloth before putting it back, so jars and bottles are clean on the outside too. Your clean fridge is now a fresh environment for your groceries – food residues and odors are gone.
Step 3: Cleaning the drain and sink
The sink and drain are places that quickly get dirty from food residues and grease. A clean sink shines, and a clean drain prevents odor and clogging problems.
Start with the sink itself. Remove the sink strainer or stopper (if present) and remove all dirt and food residues. These loose parts can, as mentioned earlier, safely be put in the dishwasher for thorough cleaning. Clean the basin with the abrasive side of a sponge (or microfiber cloth) and a bit of scouring or cleaning agent of your choice. For stainless steel sinks, a paste of baking soda and water works very well: it cleans without scratching. Rinse the sink with warm water.
Then the drain. To prevent unpleasant odors and deposits in the pipes, you can use a home remedy that is surprisingly effective. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the drain and slowly pour a cup of warm cleaning vinegar over it. It will fizz and foam vigorously – this is good, as the fizzing reaction loosens baked-on dirt and grease in the drain. Let this mixture work for about 10 minutes (in the meantime, you can start step 4) and then pour a liter of boiling water down to flush. Your drain will flush cleanly and any beginning clogs will be resolved. Finally, if desired, you can use a special drain product for extra assurance, for example the Yugou Foam Drain Cleaner which foams in the drain neck and carries away all residues. Preferably use this once a month preventively. A clean drain smells neutral and ensures water flows away effortlessly.
Step 4: Cleaning kitchen cabinets
Grease and dust like to accumulate on and in kitchen cabinets, especially around the stove. Regularly wipe the cabinet doors to prevent sticky deposits.
First open all cabinets and take a critical look at the contents. Remove food or dishes that are in the way if necessary, so you can reach everywhere well. Use a soft, damp microfiber cloth with a degreaser (for example, an all-purpose cleaner or warm soapy water with dish soap) to wipe the outside of the cabinet doors. Don't forget the handles and edges, where a lot of grease and dirt from fingers accumulates. For stubborn grease, you can use a special kitchen degreaser or a splash of degreaser spray (such as Fabulosa kitchen cleaner) – spray it on the surface, let it sit briefly, and wipe clean. Wooden cabinets are better not made too wet; a lightly damp cloth with a drop of dish soap usually suffices to remove stains, then dry wipe.
The inside of the cabinets also deserves periodic attention, especially the pantry or spice cabinet. Once or twice a year you can do a big clean: remove all supplies and vacuum or wipe away crumbs. Possibly vacuum away loose crumb corners or sugar residues. Clean the shelves with a wrung-out cloth and mild cleaner, dry afterward, and put everything back in an orderly way. Check for expired products at the same time – two birds with one stone! For now, during regular kitchen cleaning, it is sufficient to clean the cabinet fronts and edges so everything looks neat. Clean cabinets are not only more hygienic (no stains that attract pests) but also immediately give your kitchen a refreshed look.
Step 5: Countertop, tiles, and finishing touch
In the final step, we make the countertop and backsplash shine and add the finishing touches so the whole kitchen feels fresh.
Start with the countertop. Clear all loose items from the counter (appliances, spice rack, etc.) temporarily so you can clean freely. Wipe the work surface with warm water and a splash of all-purpose cleaner or dish soap. Use a microfiber cloth for the best result: it picks up dirt and crumbs well. Are there still stains or baked-on spots? A drop of concentrated degreaser or some baking soda on a sponge can work wonders. Then rinse the surface with a clean, damp cloth and dry it completely with a dry cloth. A dry countertop stays cleaner and more hygienic longer, as moisture otherwise forms a breeding ground for bacteria.
Then continue with the backsplash and tiles above the countertop (if applicable). Kitchen tiles endure a lot of greasy steam. Spray a good degreaser on the tiles – for example a Fabulosa all-purpose cleaner spray or a vinegar solution – and wipe them clean with a sponge. Pay extra attention to the grout between the tiles. If discoloration (e.g., blackness or yellowish deposits) is visible there, you can apply a little cleaning vinegar or bleach on the grout. Let it sit for a few minutes and then scrub the grout clean with an old toothbrush. Then wipe the entire tiled wall again with clean water to remove cleaning product residues. A nice tip for shiny tiles: wipe them last with a bucket of warm water with a splash of fabric softener – this makes the tiles shine beautifully and the kitchen smells fresh too!
Finally, look around to see if you missed anything. Clean the sink and faucet (rubbing a lemon over the faucet removes limescale and adds shine), and empty the trash bin plus put in a new bag immediately. As the cherry on top, you can sweep and mop the kitchen floor for the completely clean feeling. Use a suitable floor cleaner – there are nice products like the Pink Stuff floor cleaner that removes dirt and leaves a fresh scent. Put back all items on the countertop that you had removed and admire your work: the kitchen now looks like new!
With this step-by-step plan, you can clean your kitchen thoroughly in a structured and efficient way. Take breaks between steps if needed, but make sure to do them all regularly. The more often you maintain, the less heavy each cleaning session will be. Good luck with your sparkling clean kitchen!