Ultimate Kitchen Cleaning Checklist: Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Tasks

The kitchen is the epicenter of your home. It’s where you cook, share meals with your family, and grab a cup of coffee with a friend. But as a high-traffic spot, your kitchen is also a breeding ground for germs and dirt. Use our ultimate kitchen cleaning checklist for daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that’ll keep your kitchen fresh and germ-free.

Cleaning Supplies You’ll Need

Before you can start cleaning, you’ll want to have a fully stocked cleaning caddy to carry around the kitchen while you tidy up. 

Here are all the items you should keep on hand for regular cleaning:

• Cleaning cloths

• Paper towels

• Cleaning brush

• Multipurpose or all-purpose cleaner

• Baking soda

• Distilled white vinegar

• Bleach

• Dish soap

• Broom

• Mop

• Vacuum

• Disinfecting spray or wipes

• Mopping solution

• Sponges

• Window cleaner

Daily Kitchen Cleaning Tasks

Photo: Maskot / Getty Images

Wrap up your day by tidying up the kitchen. Think of how great it will feel to welcome your day in a clean kitchen the next morning. 

Here are the daily tasks for your kitchen cleaning checklist:

• Wipe countertops

• Sweep floor

• Wash dishes after use

• Run and empty dishwasher

• Wipe spills

• Toss dirty dish towels in the wash

• Clean sink

• Declutter counters

• Empty trash can and recycling bin

• Disinfect fridge door and door handles

• Empty dishwasher and put away dishes

• Change kitchen towel(s)

Weekly Kitchen Cleaning Tasks

Tackling daily tasks helps keep the kitchen clean and organized, but you will need to dig a little deeper to ensure you keep on top of tasks that need to be performed every week. Pick a day to show your kitchen a little extra love and ask the kids to join in on the weekly cleaning routine.

Here are the weekly tasks for your kitchen cleaning checklist:

• Mop floor

• Check cleaning supply inventory

• Replenish cleaning supplies

• Clean appliance surfaces

• Disinfect sink

• Clean faucets

• Check and restock cleaning supplies

• Disinfect countertops and backsplashes

• Scour sink

• Wipe down baseboards

• Change sponges

• Clean doorknobs and switch plate

• Run the self-cleaning cycle of the oven

Monthly Kitchen Cleaning Tasks

Once a month, do a deep clean to help rid your kitchen of the dirt and grime that builds up over time. 

"If time allows, wiping the exterior of cabinets and hardware will help keep the kitchen looking and smelling clean, as well as prolong the life of the cabinets," says Asya Biddle, Angi Expert Review Board member and manager of The Dustbusters janitorial company in Williamsport, PA.

Here are the monthly tasks for your kitchen cleaning checklist:

• Take pantry inventory, toss expired products, and restock

• Clean the coffeemaker

• Deep clean inside of the  fridge

• Clean the garbage can

• Clean the interior of the microwave

• Wipe appliance exteriors

• Launder kitchen rugs

• Dust light fixtures

• Organize cabinets and drawers

• Dust and clean the fridge top

• Dump crumbs from toaster

• Deep clean oven

• Clean windows and window treatments

• Clean the interior of the microwave

Kitchen Appliance Cleaning Tasks

Kitchen appliances need a little extra attention when it comes to cleaning. Their stainless steel surfaces may show fingerprints and grime more so than the countertops, and you also need to keep the inside of these appliances in mind. 

Some tasks, like wiping down the stovetop, require daily attention, while other chores, like deep-cleaning the inside of the fridge, can be done monthly.

• Wipe interior and exterior of microwave

• Wash microwave plate

• Deep clean inside of fridge, tossing out expired items as you go

• Use oven-cleaning setting once a week

• Deep clean oven monthly with baking soda paste

• Wipe down face of dishwasher

• Run a bowl of vinegar on top rack of dishwasher, then wipe down interior

• Clean dishwasher filter once per month

Kitchen Cleaning Organizational Tips

Photo: onurdongel / E+ / Getty Images

Looking to streamline your kitchen cleaning routine? Jen Robin, founder and CEO of Life in Jeneral, a  lifestyle organizational design firm, recommends getting on a schedule. 

"Once you’ve organized your kitchen, maintaining your systems on a schedule is the best way to ensure that the organization will last," Robin says. "Paying close attention to how you operate in your kitchen is key to adjusting your system to make sure it suits your daily schedule."

Here are Robin’s best tips for keeping your kitchen organized on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Daily Kitchen Organizational Tip: Use Containers and Baskets

"Make note of where you take an item from and put it back in the same spot. This should be easy with containers in play. Pay attention to what you frequent and what you seldom use," advises Robin.

Weekly Kitchen Organizational Tip: Toss Unused or Expired Items

Robin suggests restocking any items as you use them, like tea bags and coffee pods. She also recommends cleaning out your fridge and checking expiration dates on longer-lasting items like dressings and condiments.

Monthly Kitchen Organizational Tip: Be Strategic

"Reevaluate how the system’s flow works in your daily life. If it’s complicated, rethink how you have items laid out," says Robin, who suggests moving frequented utensils and tools to easy access locations and purging any unused items.

Clean Kitchen, Happy Home

If you're spending hours per week cleaning your kitchen, even with this checklist, maybe it's time to think about hiring a professional. Cleaning companies can do a deep clean, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time relaxing and enjoying your family.

Find cleaners in your area to get quotes (the average cost of a single cleaning service is $170). It could change your life for the better.