How to Get Your Kitchen Sparkling Clean

For many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home — a room where you gather to cook, eat, and socialize. The kitchen is used daily, and the tasks you do there often create clutter and spills. To make it pleasant to spend time cooking, it’s important that the kitchen feels clean and tidy. It’s also smart to keep it tidy during everyday life so you don’t have to spend time and energy cleaning before you can even start cooking. Since the kitchen often becomes quite messy during use, it’s also important to give it a thorough cleaning every now and then.

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1. Load the dishwasher

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Start by putting all glasses, cups, plates, and cutlery in the dishwasher so they’re out of the way. Rinse off food residue lightly and place anything that needs soaking in hot water with a few drops of dish soap while you continue. If the dishes are fresh, an eco or short program is often enough. If the dishes have been sitting for a few days, it may be better to run a longer program to ensure everything gets fully clean.

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If you have a lot of dishes — for example, after a large dinner party — we recommend washing similar items together. For instance, wash glasses, plates, and cutlery in one load, and pots and pans in another, since heavier cookware needs higher temperatures and longer washing times.After a few minutes, rinse off the items soaking and put them in the dishwasher if there’s room. Make sure to organize the dishwasher efficiently so you don’t need to run multiple cycles. A good method is to group similar items together: large plates in the back, smaller ones in front, all milk glasses on one side and cups on the other, forks together in the cutlery tray, and so on. Sorting as you load can save space and time when emptying the machine later.

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Now that all the dishes are taken care of, you have more room to clean properly.

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2. Declutter and organize the kitchen counter

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Start by removing anything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen. Then put kitchen tools back in their places, remove empty bottles, spice containers, and similar items, and use this chance to clear out things you’ve been postponing. A tidy countertop prevents dust from settling on items inside cabinets and drawers and makes the cleaning much easier.

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3. Remove dust — start at the top

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Always start at the top and work your way down when dusting and cleaning. If you have upper cabinets that don’t reach the ceiling, begin there. Dust, grease, and grime from cooking gather on top of cabinets. If there’s a lot of dust, use a handheld vacuum or a regular vacuum with a small nozzle to remove the worst of it first.

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After removing the dust, use a cloth with dish soap or an all-purpose spray to clean the surfaces. Also clean lamps and window frames up high. Starting at the top ensures that any remaining dust falls downward and can be cleaned later when you wipe counters and floors. Don’t forget the underside of upper cabinets — they often collect grease and grime.

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4. Clean the kitchen hood/extractor fan

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Since the kitchen fan is above the stove, clean this next. Remove the filters and place them in the dishwasher with your pots and pans. If they’re very greasy, soak them in hot water with dish soap for about 10 minutes first. Don’t use dishwasher detergent or strong oven cleaners for soaking — dish soap is enough.

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Clean the outside of the hood with kitchen spray or all-purpose spray. Clean thoroughly from top to bottom, including the underside around the filters. Wipe off excess water and soap with a towel or glass cloth for a shiny, streak-free finish.

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5. Clean the microwave

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Remove the plate and soak it if needed, or place it in the dishwasher. Place a bowl of water with lemon juice inside the microwave and run it on high for 3–5 minutes. This loosens grease and makes it easier to wipe clean with a cloth.

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6. Clean the oven

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If you have a self-cleaning oven, remove racks and trays and run a cleaning cycle. While the oven is cleaning (which usually takes one or two hours), wash the racks and trays with hot water and dish soap. Letting them soak for 10 minutes makes it easier. If soaking, you can use regular dishwasher detergent to dissolve stubborn grease. When the self-clean cycle is done, wipe away the ash with a damp cloth.

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If you don't have a self-cleaning oven or want to clean a bit more thoroughly, you can scrub the oven with a cleaner designed for ovens and grills. There are also other, more eco-friendly cleaning products. For example, you can try this baking-soda trick:

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• Spray warm water inside the oven (a spray bottle helps)
• Spread baking soda on the surfaces and door
• Let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight
• Wipe clean with a cloth or paper towel
• Scrub any remaining spots with a cloth or steel wool

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7. Clean the fridge and freezer

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First, go through everything in the fridge and throw out food that is no longer edible. Use your senses — many foods last longer than the printed date. Remove everything from the fridge, including shelves. Wipe the inside with warm soapy water, then wash the shelves and put them back. Also remove and wash items from the door. Avoid strong chemical cleaners — stick to mild spray, dish soap, or lemon water.

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For the freezer, take out drawers and shelves, placing frozen food on the counter temporarily. Wash the interior and drawers with warm water mixed with 1–2 tablespoons of vinegar. Avoid too much soap, as residue can freeze. Cleaning with vinegar takes only a few minutes, so your food should stay frozen long enough.

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8. Clean the stovetop, sink, and faucet

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Use a grease-dissolving but food-safe spray for the stovetop. Spray and let it sit. Meanwhile, clean the sink and faucet with a cloth, steel wool, or a brush depending on your sink type. The faucet is often forgotten but collects a lot of bacteria.

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A stainless-steel sink that’s become dull can be revived by filling it with hot water and adding a dishwasher tablet or dishwasher powder. Let it sit, then scrub with a brush before placing the brush in the dishwasher as well — brushes collect many bacteria.After letting the stovetop sit for a few minutes, it will be easier to clean. For glass stovetops, finish by wiping with a dry cloth to avoid streaks.

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Also clean other kitchen appliances: coffee maker, stand mixer, toaster, etc.

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9. Clean walls, fronts, and splashbacks

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Fill the clean sink with hot soapy water if you haven’t already. Dish soap is great for dissolving grease. Soak a fresh cloth and clean the walls from top to bottom, paying extra attention to areas near the sink and stovetop. Clean cabinet fronts, handles, trim, and outlets. Then wipe the countertop and lower cabinets. Avoid too much water, especially on wood. Use a dry towel if needed. Finish by wiping baseboards.

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10. Finally: clean the floor

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You’re almost done with your deep kitchen clean. Finish by vacuuming to pick up crumbs, dust, and any ash from the oven. Then mop the floor to remove soap residue and any remaining dirt.

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Cleaning feels boring?

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If you like cleaning but find it boring alone, invite a friend and do it together! Help each other and make it a pleasant activity. Or swap kitchens — it’s often more fun to clean somewhere else, where you aren’t annoyed by the same old clutter.

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If you want to skip the whole cleaning process, you can book cleaning through Vaskehjelp — and a professional cleaner will do the job for you. Click the button below and you’ll soon have a sparkling clean kitchen!