BlogA proper kitchen deep clean doesn’t have to take an entire weekend. With the right plan, you can deep clean your kitchen in one afternoon and have everything looking, smelling, and feeling fresh again.
This guide breaks the job into clear, timed chunks so you know exactly what to do and in what order. You’ll:
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Cut through grease and grime
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Refresh your fridge and oven
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Clear out old food and clutter
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Finish with spotless benches, sinks, and floors
You can use this as your kitchen deep cleaning checklist, or save it for your next end-of-lease or pre-inspection clean. For bigger jobs or full property cleans, you can also combine this with a full House Cleaning Service or End of Lease / Bond Cleaning if you offer those on your site.
Step 0: Get Ready (10 Minutes)
Before you touch a sponge, set yourself up properly.
Supplies checklist:
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All-purpose cleaner
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Degreaser or dishwashing liquid
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Glass cleaner or vinegar spray
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Baking soda (great for stubborn stains and odours)
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Microfibre cloths and sponges
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Scrubbing brush / toothbrush for small areas
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Rubbish bags and recycling bags
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Mop, bucket, and floor cleaner
Quick prep:
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Open a window or switch on the exhaust fan.
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Put on gloves if you have sensitive skin.
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Start a “donate / throw / keep” box for pantry and cupboard items.
Step 1: Declutter Surfaces & Sink Area (20–30 Minutes)
A deep clean is easier when you’re not working around clutter.
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Clear benchtops: remove appliances you don’t use daily, mail piles, and random items.
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Empty the sink completely – no soaking dishes left behind.
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Toss obvious rubbish and expired snacks straight into the bin.
If you have a Cleaning Services page like Regular House Cleaning on your site, you can link this step as “what we do before every detailed kitchen clean”.
Step 2: Soak & Pre-Treat the Worst Spots (20 Minutes)
While you clean other areas, let tough grime soften on its own.
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Sink & oven trays:
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Plug the sink and fill with hot water.
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Add a squirt of dishwashing liquid.
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Soak oven trays, stove parts, and greasy items.
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Stovetop:
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Spray degreaser or soapy water across the cooktop.
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Leave it to sit for 10–15 minutes.
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Splashback & greasy tiles:
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Lightly spray with cleaner so oils start breaking down.
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Pre-treating saves you scrubbing time later and makes your “one afternoon” goal realistic.
Step 3: Deep Clean the Fridge (30–40 Minutes)
The fridge is one of the most important parts of a kitchen deep clean – and often the smelliest.
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Empty in sections
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Remove food shelf by shelf so you don’t overwhelm yourself.
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Toss anything expired, mouldy, or suspicious.
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Shelves & drawers
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Take shelves and drawers to the sink.
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Wash with warm soapy water, rinse, and air dry.
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Interior surfaces
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Wipe walls, door seals, and inner door with an all-purpose cleaner or a mix of warm water and a little vinegar.
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For stubborn stains, sprinkle a little baking soda on a damp cloth and gently scrub.
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Repack the fridge
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Put food back in neatly, group similar items together.
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Use this chance to create a “use soon” section for items close to expiry.
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If you do Commercial Cleaning, you can adapt this method for office or staff kitchenettes too.
Step 4: Oven, Microwave & Small Appliances (30–40 Minutes)
Oven
If you started soaking trays and racks in Step 2, they should now be easier to clean.
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Wipe inside the oven with a damp cloth to remove loose crumbs.
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For baked-on spills, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply on stains, and leave for 15–20 minutes before scrubbing.
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Rinse with a clean cloth and warm water.
Microwave
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Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and a few lemon slices or a splash of vinegar.
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Run the microwave for 3–5 minutes, then let it sit closed for a couple more minutes.
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Wipe inside with a cloth – the steam loosens all the grime.
Small appliances
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Wipe the exterior of the kettle, toaster, air fryer, coffee machine, and other benchtop appliances.
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Empty crumb trays and wipe around buttons and handles.
For clients who don’t want to tackle appliance cleaning themselves, this is an excellent “add-on service” you can mention next to your Kitchen & Oven Cleaning or similar page.
Step 5: Cupboards, Drawers & Pantry (30–40 Minutes)
This is where a lot of hidden dust and crumbs sit.
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Upper cupboards
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Start at the top so dust falls onto areas you’ll clean later.
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Empty one cupboard at a time.
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Wipe shelves with a damp cloth and mild cleaner, then dry.
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Group items together (spices, baking items, oils).
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Pantry
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Check expiry dates and toss old tins, cereal, and sauces.
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Wipe shelves, corners, and door frames.
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Use baskets or containers to keep similar items together.
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Drawers
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Remove cutlery trays and utensil organisers.
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Clean inside with a damp cloth.
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Wipe down the trays before placing them back.
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This step is perfect to highlight on your site as part of a detailed kitchen deep clean or move-out clean, with an internal link to End of Lease / Bond Cleaning.
Step 6: Benchtops, Splashback & Tiles (20–30 Minutes)
Now you can finally deal with all that grime you pre-treated earlier.
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Benchtops
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Wipe down with an appropriate cleaner for your surface (stone, laminate, timber).
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Pay extra attention to corners, behind appliances, and around joins.
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Splashback & wall tiles
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Use a degreaser or warm soapy water and a non-scratch sponge.
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Rinse with a clean damp cloth and dry to prevent streaks.
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Handles, switches & high-touch points
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Wipe cupboard handles, light switches, and appliance buttons.
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These areas hold a lot of fingerprints and germs but are easy to clean quickly.
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Step 7: Sink, Tap & Drains (15–20 Minutes)
By now, your sink has done a lot of soaking work – time to reward it.
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Empty the sink and rinse away dirty water.
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Scrub the bowl with cream cleanser or baking soda and a sponge.
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Pay special attention to around the drain and overflow area.
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Polish the tap and handles for a shiny finish.
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Pour hot water down the drain to flush out any lingering grease.
A sparkling sink makes the entire kitchen feel cleaner instantly.
Step 8: Floors – The Final Touch (15–20 Minutes)
Finish with the floor so you’re not walking dirt onto freshly cleaned surfaces.
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Sweep or vacuum
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Get right under the cabinets, along skirting boards, and around table legs.
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Mop
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Use a floor cleaner appropriate for your surface (tiles, vinyl, timber).
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Start from the farthest corner and work your way towards the exit so you don’t walk over wet areas.
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Let the floor dry – and take a well-deserved break!
Can You Really Deep Clean a Kitchen in One Afternoon?
Yes – if you stay focused and follow a sequence like this:
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Prep & declutter: 30–40 minutes
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Fridge, oven & appliances: 1.5–2 hours
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Cupboards, pantry, benches & sink: 1.5 hours
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Floors & finishing touches: 20–30 minutes
That’s roughly 3.5 to 4.5 hours, depending on the size of your kitchen and how long it’s been since the last deep clean.
If your property is larger, or you want a full top-to-bottom clean of the entire home, it might be more efficient to book a professional Deep House Cleaning or End of Lease / Bond Cleaning service instead.
You can also encourage readers to reach out via your Contact Page or Get a Free Quote if you offer kitchen deep cleaning as part of your business.
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