By Johnson 
Kitchens can quickly transform from clean to chaotic. Preparing just one meal often leaves behind smudges, grease, crumbs, and clutter. Without a regular cleaning routine, these small messes accumulate fast. Over time, what was once a functional space becomes harder to use and even more difficult to clean.
The good news is that staying ahead of the mess isn’t as hard as it seems. But first, you must know how to clean your kitchen correctly. By being strategic, you can keep the heart of your home neat and organized without feeling overwhelmed.
In this installment of our The 5 Pillars of Home Cleaning [insert link to the 5 Pillars of Home Cleaning blog] blog series, we provide practical kitchen cleaning tips to help you clean smarter. Each section of this guide includes a kitchen cleaning checklist for the five major areas of this space, from countertops to floors.
Pillar 1: Surface Sanitation
Pay Extra Attention to Areas You Use Most
Countertops, stove tops, and handles are the most frequently used. These areas come in contact with raw food, grocery bags, takeout containers, and busy hands that may or may not be clean. That makes them the top source of cross-contamination and buildup in the kitchen.
Clean surfaces help prevent foodborne illness and reduce the daily buildup of grime. They also set the tone for the rest of your kitchen. Everything else often feels harder to manage if your counters are greasy or cluttered. For this reason, surfaces should be at the top of your kitchen cleaning checklist.
Daily to Monthly Routines
Here are some kitchen cleaning tips to disinfect surfaces and make them sparkle:
Daily or Every Other Day
- Spray down counters and food prep zones using food-safe products like Method Antibac Kitchen Cleaner or Lysol Kitchen Pro.
- Wipe down countertops, stove tops, and cutting board areas.
- Disinfect high-touch zones like cabinet handles and appliance buttons.
- Use a dry microfiber cloth to finish, especially on high-shine or stone surfaces.
Weekly
- Clean under and behind countertop appliances.
- Scrub the backsplash and grout lines.
- Use Bar Keepers Friend on stainless steel, porcelain, and ceramic for spot cleaning.
Monthly
- Wipe down walls or any painted surfaces that show signs of splatter.
- Clean under the microwave and behind the toaster.
Tools and Supplies You’ll Need
- Food-safe disinfectant spray and kitchen cleaners*
- Microfiber cloths or reusable kitchen towels
- Scrubbing sponge or non-abrasive scrubber
*Read the label to make sure the product you’re using is safe for the type of surface you’re cleaning. It’s also recommended to do a spot test in an inconspicuous area, like under the lip of a countertop overhang, before using the cleaner on the entire surface.
Bonus Tip:
Spray surfaces and let the cleaner sit for a couple of minutes before wiping. This gives disinfectants time to work and removes sticky residue more easily.
Pillar 2: Appliance Care
Regular Upkeep Keeps Your Kitchen Essentials in Top Condition
Kitchen appliances that are used daily are often the last to be cleaned. Microwaves, toasters, and coffee makers accumulate stains and food debris. Meanwhile, fridges and ovens might not get cleaned until something goes moldy or starts to smell.
Here’s why it’s absolutely critical to include appliances in your kitchen cleaning checklist:
- Built-up grime can affect appliance performance and lifespan.
- Lingering food residue creates odor and can lead to bacterial growth.
- Regular maintenance reduces fire risk (especially in toasters and ovens).
Daily to Monthly Routines
Here’s how to clean your kitchen appliances:
Daily
- Wipe spills from the microwave and coffee maker with a clean cloth dampened with water.
- Shake out crumbs from toasters over the sink or trash.
Weekly
- Clean refrigerator shelves using warm water and baking soda. This removes food spills without leaving behind a scent.
- Steam-clean the microwave. Place water and some lemon juice in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for three to five minutes. This will loosen caked-on food debris and make stains easier to remove.
- Don’t forget to dust and wipe down appliance exteriors. Dust and grease can collect above the fridge or behind the oven, especially in smaller kitchens.
Monthly
- Use Easy-Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner or run the self-cleaning cycle on your oven.
- Empty and wash crumb trays in your toaster or toaster oven.
- Remove and rinse hood filters with warm, soapy water.
Tools and Supplies You’ll Need
- Baking soda and dish soap
- Microfiber cloths or reusable kitchen towels
- A microwave-safe bowl and lemon slices
- Oven cleaner or degreasing spray
- Soft sponge and detail brush
Bonus Tip:
Polish stainless steel appliances with a microfiber cloth and a stainless-safe cleaner like Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner. This cleaner keeps surfaces gleaming between kitchen deep cleaning sessions.
Pillar 3: Sink and Drain Maintenance
Keep Clogs and Weird Smells at Bay
You might think that the sink doesn’t need as much cleaning since it’s always soaked in hot water and soap. In reality, sinks need regular attention. Otherwise, you’d end up having to deal with caked-on food particles, grease buildup, soap scum and limescale.
What’s more, even if the basin is clean, the drain might tell a different story. Food residue, oil, and scraps collect quickly and can cause odors or clogs if ignored.
Daily to Monthly Routines
These simple kitchen cleaning tips keep your sink and drain fresh, functional and clog-free.
Daily or Every Other Day
- Rinse and scrub the sink with dish soap.
- Wipe down faucet handles and edges.
Weekly
- Pour half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar down the drain. Let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes to break down residue and neutralize odors. Flush with boiling water.
- Run a handful of ice cubes and garbage disposal pods or lemon peels through the garbage disposal to clean the blades and freshen the smell.
Monthly
- Remove and clean the faucet aerator.
- Use a small brush to clean around faucet bases and crevices.
Tools and Supplies You’ll Need
- Baking soda and white vinegar.
- Soft scrub brush or toothbrush
- Garbage disposal pods or citrus peels
- Sink-safe cleaners like Soft Scrub® with Bleach
Bonus Tip:
Use a flexible pipe brush to gently scrub inside the garbage disposal. It reaches spots your hand or sponge can’t, helps dislodge stuck-on debris, and reduces odor more effectively than rinsing alone.
Pillar 4: Trash and Recycling Areas
Keep Waste Areas Sanitary and Smell-Free
Trash and recycling bins are among the biggest contributors to kitchen odor. Food leaks, packaging stains, and missed crumbs can sit at the bottom of bins and go unnoticed until they start to smell or attract flies and rodents.
Daily to Monthly Routines
An important part of knowing how to clean a kitchen is remembering to take the trash out and clean waste bins. Build these habits to keep waste areas sanitary:
Daily or Every Other Day
- Don’t wait until the trash is full before you take it out. Removing it earlier helps prevent leaks, smells, and pest issues.
- Wipe the lid, rim, and any touchpoints on the bin using disinfecting spray or wipes.
- Check the floor around the bin for crumbs or residue and spot clean if needed.
Weekly
- Wash the inside of bins with warm, soapy water. Let them dry thoroughly before inserting new liners.
- Sprinkle a little baking soda or place an odor-absorbing packet at the bottom of the bin.
- Wipe down nearby floors or walls that might have caught splatter.
Monthly
- Move the bins and clean them underneath. Wipe down walls, baseboards, or cabinet edges nearby.
- Wipe bin lids, wheels, and handles with disinfecting spray or wipes.
- Deep clean recycling bins, especially if they’re uncovered. Use warm water, dish soap, and a scrub brush to remove residue and odor. If needed, add a splash of diluted bleach (one tablespoon per gallon of water) to disinfect. Rinse thoroughly and let air dry before replacing the liner.
Tools and Supplies You’ll Need
- Disinfecting spray or wipes
- Bleach
- Baking soda
- Scrub brush or sponge
- Trash bags with drawstring ties
Bonus Tip:
Add a dryer sheet to the bottom of your trash can before lining it. It helps absorb odor and keeps the bin smelling neutral longer.
Pillar 5: Floors and Cabinets
Clean Your Kitchen From the Ground Up
Your kitchen floor takes the brunt of spills, grease, and foot traffic. Meanwhile, cabinets — especially the lower ones — catch crumbs, cooking splatter, and dust. It’s also easy for cabinets and other storage areas to accumulate expired or unused canned goods, sauces, and dry pantry items over time.
Keeping these areas clean protects food, prevents pests, and makes your kitchen feel more functional.
Daily to Monthly Routines
Read on to learn how to clean your kitchen storage areas and floors. These habits help you maintain both hygiene and order in your kitchen:
Daily or Every Other Day
- Sweep the floor, especially around the sink, stove, and trash bin.
- Spot clean sticky areas and spills immediately using a damp cloth.
- Straighten the cabinet contents you use regularly to avoid overcrowding.
Weekly
- Vacuum floor corners with a crevice tool before mopping. It picks up dust bunnies and crumbs that mops often push around or miss.
- Mop floors using a surface-safe cleaner like Method Squirt + Mop or Bona Multi-Surface.
- Wipe lower cabinet fronts and hardware with warm, soapy water or a mild all-purpose cleaner.
- Dust open shelving or the top of upper cabinets if exposed.
Monthly
- Move furniture, bins, and storage carts to sweep and mop underneath.
- Deep clean floors, including corners, grout lines, and under appliances.
- Remove everything from your pantry or cabinet shelves. Wipe the interiors and toss expired goods.
- Consider hiring a trusted company like Maid Sailors for professional kitchen cleaning once a month or whenever you need help catching up on kitchen deep cleaning tasks.
Tools and Supplies You’ll Need
- Broom, dustpan, and vacuum with attachments
- Microfiber mop or spray mop
- All-purpose cleaner and cabinet-safe wood cleaner
- Shelf liner (optional) for easier monthly wipe-downs
Bonus Tip:
Use a flashlight or your phone’s light to check the back of cabinets or under appliances. Grease, crumbs, and spills can go unnoticed in these spots, leading to bigger problems later.
Keep Your Kitchen Spotless With Regular Cleaning
Maintaining a spotless kitchen doesn’t require perfection; it just takes structure. These five pillars offer a practical kitchen cleaning checklist to keep your space hygienic, efficient, and welcoming. For a deeper shine, explore our full guide on how to clean your kitchen or book a professional kitchen cleaning through Maid Sailors’ trusted team in NYC.