How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen in Under an Hour

If you’re anything like most people, your kitchen can get messy faster than you can say “dinner time.” But the thought of deep cleaning it? That’s overwhelming. The good news? You can deep clean your kitchen thoroughly in under an hour if you have a solid game plan.

Let’s break it down, step-by-step. Here’s how you can have a sparkling kitchen without spending your whole day cleaning.

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1. Prep: Gather Your Cleaning Supplies (5 minutes)

Yes, getting all your supplies together is part of the hour! I like keeping them all in a caddy in the floor of the pantry.

Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

• All-purpose cleaner
• Dish soap
• Microfiber cloths or sponges
• Baking soda
• Vinegar (optional, for extra disinfecting power)
• Glass cleaner (for windows or any shiny surfaces)
• Scrub brush
• Broom or vacuum (for floors)
• Mop or steam mop

Having everything on hand will save you from running around, and trust me, it shaves off time!

2. Start with the Dishes and Sink (10 minutes)

Clear out your sink and counter space by tackling the dishes first.

• Load the dishwasher with all dirty dishes. If you don’t have a dishwasher, wash them by hand and let them air dry on a rack.
• Once the sink is empty, clean the sink thoroughly. Sprinkle baking soda in the basin, scrub it with a sponge, and rinse.
• Don’t forget to wipe down the faucet and handles to make them shine!

3. Clear and Wipe Down Countertops (5 minutes)

Next, move on to the countertops.

• Remove everything from your countertops””small appliances, utensils, and any clutter.
• Spray the counters with an all-purpose cleaner and wipe them down with a microfiber cloth or sponge.
• Pay special attention to corners and backsplash areas, where grime tends to collect.

4. Clean Appliances (15 minutes)

Your kitchen appliances are major dirt and grease magnets. But they don’t need to take forever to clean.

Microwave:

• Place a bowl of water with a few tablespoons of vinegar in the microwave and run it on high for 3 minutes.
• The steam will loosen any stuck-on food, making it easy to wipe out with a sponge.

Stovetop and Oven:

• Remove stove grates (if you have them) and wipe them down with a damp cloth.
• Use a mild cleaner or baking soda to scrub away any grease or food particles.
• If you have time, spray the inside of your oven with an oven cleaner or baking soda paste, let it sit while you clean the rest of the kitchen, and wipe it down before you finish.

Refrigerator:

• Quickly wipe down the refrigerator’s exterior, paying attention to the handles.
• You can clean the inside in more detail another time, but for now, focus on making the outside look good!

5. Tackle Cabinets and Drawers (10 minutes)

You’ll be surprised how much dust and grime can collect on your cabinets!

• Wipe down the outside of cabinets and drawers using an all-purpose cleaner or a damp cloth.
• Focus on the handles and areas around them, where grease from your hands builds up.

6. Sweep and Mop the Floor (10 minutes)

Finally, finish up by giving your floors some attention.

• Start by sweeping or vacuuming the entire kitchen floor.
• Follow up with a quick mop or use a steam mop for an easy and deep clean.
• Don’t forget to hit those corners and baseboards!

7. Final Touches (5 minutes)

You’re almost done! Now it’s time to make sure everything looks perfect:

• Empty the trash if it’s full and replace the bag.
• Wipe down any remaining surfaces like the kitchen table or bar area.
• Light a candle, burn some Japanese incense, or spray an air freshener for a fresh-smelling finish!

And There You Have It!

In just under an hour, you’ve deep cleaned your kitchen from top to bottom. Breaking it down step-by-step like this makes the process quicker and much less overwhelming. Plus, you’ll feel so much better cooking in a clean, clutter-free kitchen.

What Did We Leave Out?

While this is an excellent cleaning job, it didn’t cover every cleaning job in the kitchen. Every few months, you should also:

• Clean the refrigerator: remove spoiled and unwanted foods and clean shelves, racks and walls
• Clean the dishwasher: dishwashers can collect gunk, but it’s easy to help them clean themselves. You can follow our instructions for how to clean the dishwasher anytime.
• Clean the cabinets: get a good kitchen degreaser and clean the cabinets.