The Right Order (Top to Bottom, Dirty to Clean)

Always clean from top to bottom so crumbs and dust fall onto surfaces you have not cleaned yet. Leave the floor until last. Empty everything off surfaces before you start.

  1. 1

    Clear and declutter first

    Remove everything from countertops, clear out the fridge of old food, and put dishes away. You cannot deep clean around clutter.

  2. 2

    Clean the oven

    This is the biggest job so do it first. Apply oven cleaner or a baking soda paste (mix with water to a thick paste), coat all interior surfaces, leave for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for very dirty ovens), then wipe clean. Remove and soak oven racks in hot soapy water separately.

  3. 3

    Clean the rangehood filter

    Remove the metal grease filters and soak in very hot water with dish soap and baking soda for 15 minutes. Scrub and rinse. These are usually ignored but get surprisingly greasy.

  4. 4

    Microwave inside and out

    Microwave a bowl of water with lemon slices for 3 minutes. The steam loosens food splatter — wipe clean immediately. Clean the turntable in soapy water.

  5. 5

    Empty and clean the fridge

    Remove all food, take out shelves and drawers and wash in hot soapy water. Wipe the interior with a solution of bicarbonate soda and water (2 tablespoons per litre). This neutralises odours. Wipe the door seals — these collect mould.

  6. 6

    Wipe down cabinet doors and handles

    Cabinet handles are the highest-touch area in the kitchen and rarely cleaned. Use a degreasing spray on both the handles and the door fronts.

  7. 7

    Deep clean the sink

    Sprinkle baking soda in the sink, scrub with a brush, rinse. Pour boiling water down the drain. Clean the tap and basin with bathroom cleaner for a shine.

  8. 8

    Move appliances and clean underneath

    Pull out the kettle, toaster, microwave and any other appliances. Clean the surface underneath — these areas accumulate crumbs and moisture that you never see.

  9. 9

    Clean the floor last

    Sweep or vacuum thoroughly first, then mop. Pay attention to the area behind the bin and under the toe kick of cabinets.

Most missed areasThe top of the fridge and overhead cabinets collect thick grease and dust. The inside of the dishwasher (clean the filter). Behind the bin. The inside of the bin itself. The inside of toaster (empty the crumb tray).

Frequently Asked Questions

A thorough deep clean of an average kitchen takes 3–5 hours. Breaking it across two sessions (appliances one day, surfaces and floor another) makes it more manageable.
Every 3–6 months for most households. The oven and rangehood filter benefit from attention every 2–3 months. Regular maintenance cleaning (wipe down surfaces, clean spills immediately) reduces how intensive the deep clean needs to be.