How to clean a kitchen properly, step by step

To clean a kitchen properly, clear the surfaces, then work top to bottom, applying degreaser and limescale remover early so they can dwell, and finish with the floor. Tackle the hidden hotspots that build up grime, the extractor, bin, sink drain and behind appliances, and you will have a genuinely hygienic kitchen rather than just clear worktops. A few daily habits then keep grease and bacteria from building back up.

Why the kitchen needs a proper method

The kitchen is the busiest, messiest room, grease, food debris, spills and moisture combine to grow bacteria and grime fast. A quick wipe of the worktops is not the same as a clean kitchen. Doing it in the right order, and not skipping the hotspots, is what makes the difference.

Step 1: Clear and tidy

Start by clearing worktops, washing up or loading the dishwasher, and putting things away. You cannot clean surfaces buried under clutter and dishes. A clear kitchen also makes the whole job faster and more satisfying.

Step 2: Apply products and let them dwell

Spray degreaser on the hob, splashback and greasy areas, and limescale remover on the taps and around the sink, then leave them while you do other tasks. Grease and limescale dissolve with dwell time, so this saves serious scrubbing later, the same principle as cleaning a bathroom like a pro.

Step 3: Work top to bottom

• Wipe down cupboard fronts, especially above the hob where grease settles.
• Clean the splashback, tiles and any extractor hood.
• Wipe the now-dwelled hob, worktops and appliance exteriors.
• Clean and descale the sink and taps, then clear the drain.
• Do the floor last, including the gaps beside appliances.

Don't skip the hotspots

These are the spots a quick clean misses and where grime and smells build:

• Extractor and filters: they clog with grease and need regular degreasing.
• Bin: wash inside and out, not just change the bag, a major odour source.
• Sink drain and plughole: a common source of smells and bacteria.
• Behind and under appliances: food debris and grease collect there.
• Inside the microwave, oven and fridge: see cleaning an oven naturally.

Tackle grease and limescale

Grease responds to a good degreaser or hot soapy water with dwell time; avoid just smearing it around. Limescale on taps and around the sink needs a mild acid, as in our limescale guide. Together these two are what make a kitchen look dull and grimy, so dealing with them properly transforms the room.

Keep it clean day to day

A proper deep clean is easier to maintain with simple habits: wipe surfaces and the hob after cooking, wash up as you go, take the bin out before it overflows, and deal with spills immediately. Little and often keeps grease from building into a hard job.

Let us deep clean your kitchen

If your kitchen needs more than a wipe-down, our domestic cleaning service deep cleans kitchens across Derby and Derbyshire, hob, appliances, extractor, sink and all the hotspots, leaving it hygienic and genuinely clean.