Is your kitchen in need of a thorough clean, but you don’t know where to start? Don’t worry—with this 5-step plan, you’ll get your kitchen sparkling clean again, from the oven to the countertop. We’ll cover all the key areas: the oven, refrigerator, drain, kitchen cabinets, and countertop. Follow the steps one by one, and you can be sure you won’t miss anything. Put on your cleaning gloves, play your favorite music, and get started. Before you know it, your kitchen will be shining like new again!
Step 1: Cleaning the oven
Ovens are notorious for baked-on food residue 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 soak them in the sink or in a tub of hot water with a little dish soap or washing soda. While the racks are soaking, focus on the oven itself. Remove crumbs and loose food residue with a damp cloth or paper towel. Then make a baking soda paste by mixing some baking soda with warm water until you have a smooth paste. Spread this paste over the baked-on dirt in the oven (avoid the heating elements). Preferably, leave it to 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 will now be much easier to remove. If necessary, use a soft scouring pad or a Scrub Daddy sponge (it won’t scratch) to scrub away baked-on spots. Rinse the sponge regularly. Dealing with really heavy buildup that still won’t come off? Then call in a secret weapon: The Pink Stuff cleaning paste. This miracle product is highly effective against stubborn dirt, yet gentle on ovens and other surfaces. Apply a little Pink Stuff to the stain, let it sit briefly, and wipe it away—scrubbing is often barely 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 to use again, without burnt smells or smoke while baking.
Step 2: Cleaning the refrigerator
A clean refrigerator is important for hygiene and keeps your food fresh for longer. Preferably plan this chore just before you go grocery shopping, when the refrigerator is fairly empty.
Switch off the refrigerator and remove all the food. Temporarily store perishable products in a cooler or insulated bag. Now remove the loose parts: take the shelves, glass panels, drawers, and racks out of the refrigerator. Fill the sink or a tub with warm water and a splash of dish soap (or all-purpose cleaner), and let these parts soak in it. Use a soft sponge or cloth to clean them thoroughly.
**Note:** never clean glass shelves with boiling-hot water while they are still cold, as the temperature difference can cause them to crack. Lukewarm water is fine, or let the glass shelves reach room temperature before cleaning them. Rinse all the parts and dry them thoroughly with a clean tea towel.
Next, clean the inside of the refrigerator. Wipe the walls, bottom, and door compartments with a cloth and mild soapy water (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 thorough clean. Dry everything with a dry cloth afterward. Also clean the outside of the refrigerator, including the handle (a hotspot for fingerprints and bacteria). Put the dry shelves, drawers, and racks back in place. Switch the refrigerator back on and return all the food in an organized way. One tip: wipe the packaging with a cloth before putting it back, so jars and bottles are clean on the outside too. Your clean refrigerator is now a fresh environment for your groceries—food residue and unpleasant odors are gone.
Step 3: Cleaning the drain and sink
The sink and drain quickly become dirty from food residue 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 plug (if present) and get rid of all the dirt and food residue. As mentioned earlier, you can safely put these loose parts in the dishwasher for a thorough clean. Scrub the basin with the abrasive side of a sponge (or a microfiber cloth) and a little scouring powder or cleaning product 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.
Now for the drain. To combat unpleasant odors and buildup in the pipes, you can use a surprisingly effective home remedy. Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of baking soda down the drain and slowly pour a cup of warm cleaning vinegar over it. It will fizz and foam vigorously—this is a good thing, as the bubbling reaction loosens stuck-on dirt and grease in the drain. Let the mixture work for about 10 minutes (in the meantime, you can start step 4), then pour a liter of boiling water down the drain to flush it through. Your drain will run cleanly, and any beginning blockages will be cleared. Finally, if desired, you can use a special drain product for extra assurance, such as the Yugou Foam Drain Cleaner, which foams in the drain opening and takes all the residue with it. Preferably do this once a month as a preventive measure. A clean drain smells neutral and allows water to flow away effortlessly.
Step 4: Cleaning kitchen cabinets
Grease and dust readily collect on and inside kitchen cabinets, especially around the stove. Wipe the cabinet doors regularly to prevent sticky buildup.
First, open all the cabinets and take a critical look at their contents. If necessary, remove food or dishes that are in the way so you can reach everything properly. 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 grime 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 onto the surface, let it sit briefly, and wipe clean. It’s best not to get wooden cabinets too wet; a slightly damp cloth with a drop of dish soap is usually enough to remove stains, followed by drying them thoroughly.
The inside of the cabinets also deserves periodic attention, especially the pantry or spice cabinet. Once or twice a year, you can do a deep clean: remove all the supplies and vacuum or wipe away crumbs. Use the vacuum cleaner to remove any loose crumbs or sugar residue. Clean the shelves with a wrung-out cloth and mild cleaning product, dry them, and put everything back in an organized way. Check for expired products at the same time—two birds with one stone! For now, during regular kitchen cleaning, it’s enough to clean the cabinet fronts and edges so everything looks neat. Clean cabinets are not only more hygienic (with no stains to attract pests), but they also immediately give your kitchen a refreshed appearance.
Step 5: Countertop, tiles, and finishing touches
In the final step, we’ll make the countertop and backsplash sparkle and take care of the finishing touches, so the entire kitchen feels fresh.
Start with the countertop. Temporarily move all loose items off the countertop (appliances, spice rack, etc.) so you have space to clean freely. Wipe the worktop with warm water and a splash of all-purpose cleaner or dish soap. Use a microfiber cloth for the best results: it picks up dirt and crumbs effectively. Are there still stains or baked-on spots? A drop of concentrated degreaser or some baking soda on a sponge can work wonders. Then wipe the surface with a clean, damp cloth and dry it completely with a drying cloth. A dry countertop stays clean and hygienic for longer, as moisture can otherwise create a breeding ground for bacteria.
Then move on to the backsplash and tiles above the countertop (if applicable). Kitchen tiles are exposed to a lot of greasy steam. Spray a good degreaser onto 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 (such as black or yellowish buildup) is visible, you can apply a little cleaning vinegar or bleach to the grout. Let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub the grout clean with an old toothbrush. Afterward, wipe the entire tiled wall again with clean water to remove any cleaning-product residue. A handy tip for shiny tiles: finish by wiping them with a bucket of warm water containing a splash of fabric softener—this will make the tiles shine beautifully, and the kitchen will smell wonderfully fresh too!
Finally, look around to see whether you’ve overlooked anything. Clean the sink and faucet (rubbing a lemon over the faucet removes limescale and adds shine), and empty the trash can and put in a new bag right away. As the finishing touch, you can sweep and mop the kitchen floor for that completely clean feeling. Use a suitable floor cleaner—there are great products such as Pink Stuff floor cleaner that remove dirt and leave behind a fresh scent. Put back all the items you removed from the countertop and admire your work: the kitchen now looks brand new!
With this step-by-step plan, you can clean your kitchen thoroughly in an organized and efficient way. Take breaks between the steps if necessary, but make sure you carry them all out regularly. The more often you maintain your kitchen, the less demanding each cleaning session will be. Good luck with your spotless kitchen!