The kitchen is the heart and center of the home — but it gets dirty fast. (Cleaning up is the downside to cooking at home!) If neglected, aside from basic washing up and wiping down, the kitchen can get out of hand very quickly. But forget weekend cleaning marathons — you can deep-clean the kitchen from top to bottom (and keep it clean!) in only 20 minutes a day.
Here is a 30-day plan that will help you clean your kitchen in manageable chunks of time — and keep it gleaming clean without those hours of toil on the weekend. (We even have a handy PDF you can print out and tack on the fridge to remind you!)
A little while ago I shared my daily routine for keeping my entire house clean in 20 minutes a day. The whole house, folks. I've been using this method for a long time, and it keeps things manageable and easy. What I didn't mention though is that I allot the same amount of time for cleaning the kitchen. Even though it's only one room, it requires extra love and attention. So I thought I would take a moment to share with you my kitchen routine as well.
Twenty minutes a day isn't much time. It is however enough of a window during your day to tackle your kitchen from top to bottom. We're not talking about simple wiping down of surfaces, no sir, we're talking all out, dusting, de-greasing, baseboard wiping, oven cleaning goodness. In just 20 minutes a day? Sarah you must be crazy! Possibly, but when it comes to kitchen cleaning, I've got it down to an art. Want to see how it's done?
1. Adjust to Your Own Schedule: This method works wonders for a two-person household with a large amount of dishes and wear and tear in the kitchen. If you have eight kids, there's a good chance this number might need to go up a little; but then again, you have eight kids, so put them to work!
Likewise, if you don't have 20 minutes all together, break up the tasks so you can do things in parts. Maybe add 10 minutes to your morning routine and 10 minutes after your nightly meal.
2. Dishes + Sweeping + Surfaces = Given: The list below assumes that you'll be taking care of dishes, sweeping and giving things a quick wipe down every day anyway. These basic chores being done each and every day are essential to the plan (and your sanity) below. P.S. But give yourself a break when necessary; no one will know if you don't sweep your floor every single day.
3. Set a Timer: Everyone gets distracted easily. When you're at home there are doorbells ringing, text messages flying, kids calling your name, work emails winging in; it's no wonder we often feel buried under chores. Sometimes we just don't get to them. Set a time for 5 minutes. When it goes off, set it again. If you get derailed during that time, the ding! will help bring you back and refocus.
Day 1. Wipe down the fronts of appliances, large and small.
Day 2. Clean the inside and outside of your trash can.
Day 3. Tidy cookbooks, aprons and towel and linen drawers.
Day 4. Wipe down baking containers (flour, sugar, cornstarch).
Day 5. Clean out your refrigerator. Wipe down shelves and tidy freezer.
Day 6. Wipe down cabinet fronts (dust and polish) and range hood.
Day 7. Mop the floor.
Day 8. Wipe down the fronts of appliances, large and small.
Day 9. Clean the inside of your utensil holders and top of refrigerator.
Day 10. Clean under your refrigerator and stove.
Day 11. Clean the seal on your dishwasher and garbage disposal.
Day 12. Clean windows and sills (if you have them).
Day 13. Wipe down decorative accessories and pictures.
Day 14. Mop the floor.
Day 15. Wipe down the fronts of appliances, large and small.
Day 16. Tidy pantry, canned goods, boxes and bags.
Day 17. Clean cleaning items (clean the sponge, wash towels, etc.).
Day 18. Wipe down interior cabinet shelves.
Day 19. Wipe down walls.
Day 20. Wipe down cabinets (dust and polish) and range hood.
Day 21. Mop the floor.
Day 22 Wipe down the fronts of appliances, large and small.
Day 23. Organize pots, pans or other frequently used under cabinet drawer.
Day 24. Scrub out sink and wipe down faucet.
Day 25. Clean out your refrigerator, wipe down shelves and tidy freezer.
Day 26. Clean the inside of your microwave and set your oven to clean.
Day 27. Wipe down baseboards.
Day 28. Mop the floor.
Day 29. Wipe down the fronts of appliances, large and small.
Day 30. Dust light fixtures, clean switch plates, vent covers.
For the most part, these extra chores can be done in addition to your regular dishes and surface cleaning. That said, some tasks will require more time than others. Remember some nights you'll order in and dishes will be slim or you won't eat at home at all. Those are the nights to tackle large things if you need to swap out a chore.
If you like a whole day off from kitchen cleaning, check out the list and see if there's a few things you can do on the same day. If you have a large suburban or warehouse loft kitchen, this might be impractical, but if your kitchen is the size of a postage stamp, then there's a good chance you could do a week's worth of chores all together and knock them out.
Are you ready for 30 days of deep cleaning so you never have to freak out again? Since I've started using this method it has been nice to have company over and not worry whether they can see the pile of pet hair stuck against the air vent under my refrigerator, or whether they'll spy the stay onion peel below my prep table. Things just take care of themselves — imagine that!
Do you use a schedule like this for cleaning the kitchen? Any tips to add?
Related: How To Clean a Greasy Stovetop (with Just Soap & Water)
(Image of inspiringly clean kitchen from Jenny & Asmund's $4000 Renovated Kitchen & Garden by Leela Cyd Ross)
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Anyone have 20 minutes a day to spare
love this idea. i fortunately have a weekly cleaner, but this reminds me of the little things that i can do regularly to keep things in order. thanks!
This might be a good way to split up kitchen duties with the BF!
Love this! I also love that red kettle. Can anyone tell me what brand it is?
This is essentially how I approach all chores. I have one chore per card, customized to my house. Every day I do one chore. On weekends or if I'm at home, I do three. The deck is seeded with multiples of two cards: Sort papers (I keep a box for all incoming mail, bills,etc). and Shred papers. It works pretty well at maintaining order if not super cleanliness.
Rainypenguinvintage - it looks an awful lot like a red tea kettle I just got at Crate&Barrel (except on mine, the lid is flatter.)
I am definitely going to try this plan! I am awful at cleaning my kitchen.
How about carving 20 minutes out of your web-surfing time?
Great article; the kitchen won't clean itself and it's always nicer to deal with it in tiny little bites than blowing a whole precious weekend day on a deep-clean.
Great idea! I love it.
This is perfect timing, as the BF and I were just trying to work out a cleaning schedule. Printed out the PDF and putting it on my fridge tonight!
oops- I accidentally left these comments on the greasy stove post. Anyway- is there any chance we'll get a PDF of the "how to clean your house in 20 minutes"? And my only argument is that tackling my fridge/freezer is definitely more than 20 minutes, but I usually have to clean it out once every 2 weeks or so when we do a big shop for a dinner party or something.
I just clean my kitchen quick every weekend. Takes maybe 20 minutes once a week and I still manage to do most of these things. Spacing it out like this would drive me nuts.
I like this approach over spending a whole day on the weekend just to clean.
One of the bonuses of having a teensy kitchen: cleaning it never takes more than 5 minutes.
It's not quite a Le Creuset kettle, but it's darn close.
You're only mopping once a week? Maybe it's because I have a dark floor, but I find I need to mop every day.
Enginegirl - If you have time to mop everyday, there's no one stopping you!
Great ideas
Thanks very much for posting. This list helps you to keep a tab on things and you will not miss out on any areas.
You guys at Apartment Therapy and the Kitchn are the greatest. Keep up the very very good work
Love You
Great article Leela!
Having wood counters forces us to wipe down the countertops and around the sink and stove often. Our kitchen is heavily used so I typically sweep 2-3 times a week and then spot clean/mop the wood floors once a month or so.. Just find a routine that works. I typically try to tidy up in the evening after washing the dishes. I find that waking up to a clean kitchen starts the day off right.
Tea Kettle was purchased from Kitchen Kaboodle. Here is the link!
http://kitchenkaboodle.com/product_detail2.php?sku=37-1LB-GF%21145&multi=1
Like anyone else I have the time to mop every day, but that doesn't mean I necessarily want to. I'd love to do it less frequently but it always looks filthy.
Oops sorry, I meant great article Sarah!
And great photo Leela.
THANK YOUUuu! My kitchen is horrible, always a mess! I am definitely printing these tips out and having somewhere where everyone can see and follow! I bought a few of these "organizing products" and yet the kitchen still ends up in disarray :( Hope these tips help :)
One tip I learned from my dad "The Dishwasher" — after you wash your dishes, wash out your sink and wipe down all the counters with damp clean rag. Quick and easy.
Yes, this is the only way I can handle it- I get way too bored otherwise - and also I get micro focussed on one task - that's why I never achieved much on a weekend clean. Dishcloths [and teatowels if you use them] should be changed every few days in a busy kitchen but it's not exactly a big time activity. I'm too scared to move my fridge and clean under it though. There's a book about breaking down tasks to about 10 minutes each round the house to make sure you get around to everything - can't remember what it's called but it was a liberating idea for me.
@Emmy1218 - I actually will often wipe down my double sink (and the wash tub) BEFORE doing dishes. A lot of stuff gets rinsed in those sinks and a lot of hands washed between loads of dishes, so I find it more helpful (and nicer) to scrub down the sink before washing and then give a quick rinse-out when finished. I do wipe down counters and the stove top when I'm done with dishes.
Of course, this is only if I'm doing the dishes. If my boyfriend does them (which he usually does - our pact in exchange for me cooking), I'm lucky if he rinses out the wash tub before starting on dishes. *sigh* Of course, he never worked in food service, so that probably has something to do with it.
Sometimes I can't even get through the simple after-dinner clean up, so I'm not sure this 20 minute a day thing would work for me! Lol.
I am fortunate enough to have a small kitchen, LOL! So, that it doesn't need to take too long to clean and besides, I live by myself. I dedicate my Saturday mornings to clean, as it's my way to release a week-long stress. It's the rest of the house that I need a schedule with..
Clean the fridge in 20 mins? Once I empty it, remove and scrub the shelves and put them back, it takes the good part of a hour. Gotta learn to work faster!
I love this idea. My main problem is that I've had some back, knee and arm problems off and on. My kitchen is very small and the exhaust from my hood fan recycles right back into the kitchen. After a few years of neglect of cleaning properly because of pain, my ceiling, cabinet doors and window frame are very greasy. I've tried to clean them but can't get them clean enough. They still look grimy. The cabinets and window frame are wood painted white. Help!
The rest of the room is easier to clean but it's always depressing after everything else sparkles...it still looks dirty because of those areas where I can't cut through the grease.
I like this time management tip very much and plan to use it other rooms too. Thanks.
I've been thinking about doing this for housecleaning in general, take 30 minutes each day when I get home from work (or in the morning). I actually have a 1/2 hourglass, thinking of turning it over and going for it!
But on the weekends...I wish I could get away with 1/2 hour. I spend most of at least one weekend day sweeping, mopping, laundry, dusting, etc. Live in a dusty area and it is a never ending job keeping the allergies at bay.
Thanks! Will try this! I had a good system going for a while but it's starting to fall apart thanks to my younger child becoming more mobile and making it harder to get in longer stretches of cleaning. Also, I definitely have not been doing all of these monthly.
We have these awful black granite countertops that always look dull and dusty, no matter how often we scrub them. Until I can afford to swap them out for a better material, does anyone have tips for cleaning black granite? Thanks!
Cleaning EVERY DAY? No thanks. I'll take my one hour on the weekend while the coffee is brewing or something. Sorry but if you are not eating off of it, it doesnt need to be spotless.
The tea kettle is a Chantal Teakettle, if you happen to live in Kansas City near me, you can pick one up at Prydes!
You forgot a task: get rid of your messy roommates. My roommates (God love 'em for being wonderful people and making a HUGE dent in my rent) are the messiest people alive. If this were my list the house would be filthy on day 2. Maybe you could make suggestions of chore charts for the renters among us?
Merilynch, when it comes to years of kitchen grease, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and use an industrial grease cleaner or degreaser. You can usually find them at a Home Depot or etc.
I know they're not very "green" but most green options involve a lot of elbow grease, which obviously isn't an option for someone with mobility problems. If you can get someone else to scrub away for you, really hot water and a very good dish soap do a good job as well.
Worse case scenario, long term grime can soften and stain paint. In which case your kitchen might just need a new paint job. When painting older kitchens making sure you've done a reaaaally good job of degreasing everything is key! Otherwise the paint will eventually peel. And you'll probably have much better luck using an oil based paint.
My kitchen seems to turn into a disaster area on a nightly basis - it's where all of our coming home clutter seems to accumulate. I can clean it top to bottom in about a half hour once a week - it's the everyday stuff that piles up in there that drives me crazy.
Home Goods/Marshall's usually have a good selection of Chantal tea kettles for about 1/2 the price of other places.
This is great! I printed it out as well and will share it with my honey when I get home!
Great tips! Thanks!
HI \ RAINYPENGUINVINTAGE. I think that is a Chantal Teakettle, as seen here: http://www.everythingkitchens.com/chantal-tea-kettle-bridge-chili-red-37-1lb-re.html
I usually put 3 of my favorite CDs in my player--ya, I know, you could pick your favorite play list--and I clean until they are over...I enjoy the music and make an event of it. When they are done I am done.
Love this and that you gave us a PDF, but can I offer some constructive criticism? No blocks of color... I'm not crazy about that yellow on the printed sheet, used up my ink and is quite jarring... and, yes, I realize now I should have printed it in grayscale, but then I wouldn't have gotten that fun yellow punch in the new logo! :) (which i love!)
Hello everyone!
This is very helpful! I used to go crazy about deep-cleaning the kitchen (and also my house).
And I think I'll make some other plans like this to clean my whole house and ask my brothers and sisters to work with me, that'll be fun! ^^
Thank you very much!
setting a timer is a great idea! I need to do that!
@Kategal25, sounds like you need a landing strip!
I always think this -- cleaning a little bit every day -- is a great idea, but I'm never able to maintain it over time. It's not so much the lack of time every day (although it definitely is on some days) so much as the need for complete downtime in the evenings at home. Yes, that might mean surfing the web. Or whatever. But I always get excited by this idea and it never seems to work for me.
That said, I just cleaned my place this weekend and I so love having it clean and would love for it always to be that way. So, I second the motion for a pdf version of your daily (non-kitchen) routine list too.
You need to append the title with "...for the anal retentive person". Lordy! No way do most of these need doing on even a monthly basis.
I love it!!! Can we get a list like this for the whole house??
I like the idea of breaking cleaning down into small, manageable steps, but... 20 minutes every single day PLUS the time to wash dishes and sweep and wipe down surfaces adds up quickly -- and that's only the kitchen!!
What I find works for me is to wash dishes and wipe down counters every day, sweep maybe twice a week, and spend an hour each weekend on deeper cleaning. I do like that this list contains some of those kitchen tasks I tend to forget about or procrastinate on, and I will add them to my weekend clean, but following the list every day as written would drive me batty!
saw that there is one for the whole house on apartment therapy. seriously, i can't get over how great these posts are. Sure, I have time to clean all day on the weekend, but why would I want to?? It's the one time during the week that I have to do absolutely nothing if I want to or to go out and spend time with friends and family. Spending hours on Saturday or Sunday cleaning is like adding on another work day. No thank you!!
I found this stuff called water armour (www.waterarmour.ca) that does a great job of helping me to keep the kitchen clean. It makes everything so much easier and on many things, keeps them from getting dirty in the first place. It works fantastic!
This is pretty close to a comprehensive list! I'd add in vacuuming the dust off the coils on the back of the fridge on the same day as you clean under the fridge and stove, to keep it running efficiently. Probably doesn't need to be done once a month but otherwise when would anyone remember? :p
Also, it would skeeve me out a bit to only "clean the cleaners" once a month... my drying towels are around for a week at most, wet cloths get hung up to dry at the end of the day and then straight into the laundry, and I disinfect sponges daily in the microwave (in a bowl of water for 2 minutes - they catch fire if they're dry! Bonus, the steam loosens up the crud in the microwave) and toss them after a week. After a point, they spread more germs than they clean.
As for the bigger stuff, though, thanks for laying it all out like this; I'll give it a try for sure!
Very interesting as you explain the clean of the kitchen, in internet i find a article about that. http://www.janitorialweb.com/clean_the_kitchen.html
Sí, así es. Para esos 20 minutos, tenemos que tener en cuenta la calidad de los productos de limpieza. La calidad de la limpieza del equipo bajo, puede dificultar la limpieza.
we not let work accumulate, and make these small steps regularly, always keep the kitchen clean, without making hard work. But is important the janitorial supplies we use.