The kitchen is the hardest-working room in your home — and the one that shows the most buildup when it hasn't been properly cleaned in a while. A surface wipe-down handles the day-to-day, but every few months your kitchen needs a real deep clean: inside appliances, behind equipment, under everything, and into every corner that your weekly routine skips.
This guide walks through every zone of the kitchen in the order that makes the most sense — top to bottom, so falling dust and debris doesn't land on surfaces you've already cleaned. If you don't have the time, learn more about our professional house cleaning services and get it done professionally!
Before you start: gather your supplies
- All-purpose spray cleaner
- Degreaser (for stovetop, hood, and cabinet doors near the stove)
- Baking soda and white vinegar
- Microfiber cloths and paper towels
- Scrub brush and old toothbrush (for grout and tight corners)
- Rubber gloves
- Mop and bucket
- Oven cleaner (if not using the self-clean function)
- Glass cleaner
Step 1: Start at the top — lights and ceiling
Dust and grease settle on light fixtures and the tops of cabinets and collect there undisturbed for months. Start here so any falling debris lands on surfaces you haven't cleaned yet.
- Wipe down light fixtures and bulb covers with a damp cloth
- Dust or wipe the tops of upper cabinets
- Remove any cobwebs from corners near the ceiling
Step 2: Range hood and exhaust fan
The range hood filter is one of the greasiest surfaces in any kitchen — and one of the most neglected. In Aurora homes where cooking is done year-round with windows closed for much of the year, grease accumulates fast.
- Remove the range hood filter — most pull out or twist out
- Soak the filter in hot water with dish soap and baking soda for 20–30 minutes, then scrub and rinse
- Wipe down the interior of the range hood with a degreaser
- Clean the exterior of the hood — pay attention to the underside near the burners
A Range hood or exhaust fan clean would be done in our deep clean services.
Step 3: Oven
The oven is where most people spend the least time cleaning and where buildup is most significant. There are two main approaches:
Self-clean function: Run the oven's built-in self-clean cycle the night before your deep clean. It burns off residue at very high heat, leaving ash that you wipe out in the morning. Note: this creates heat and some smoke — ventilate well and remove pets during the cycle.
Manual cleaning: Apply an oven cleaner to the cold oven interior, let it sit for the time specified on the product (usually 20–30 minutes for a lighter clean, longer for heavier buildup), then wipe out thoroughly. Baking soda and vinegar work as a gentler alternative for light buildup.
- Clean oven interior using your chosen method
- Remove and soak oven racks — scrub with a brush and dry before returning
- Clean the oven door interior and the seal around the door edge
- Wipe the oven exterior, including the door handle and control knobs
Step 4: Stovetop and burners
- Remove burner grates (gas) or lift coil elements (electric) and soak in hot soapy water
- Degrease the stovetop surface — let a spray degreaser sit for a few minutes before wiping
- Use an old toothbrush to get into tight spaces around burner bases
- Clean the knobs — remove them if possible and wipe both the knobs and the panel underneath
- Return cleaned and dried grates or elements
Step 5: Microwave
A bowl of water with a halved lemon heated for 3–5 minutes creates steam that loosens baked-on splatter and leaves a fresh scent.
- Run the lemon-water steam method or use an all-purpose spray
- Wipe down all interior surfaces, including the top, sides, and turntable
- Remove and wash the turntable plate in the sink
- Clean the microwave door — inside the window and the seal
- Wipe the exterior and the handle
Step 6: Refrigerator
- Remove all items from the fridge — this is a good time to check expiry dates
- Remove all shelves and drawers and wash them in the sink with warm soapy water
- Wipe down all interior walls, the bottom, and the door shelves
- Clean the rubber door seal — mould and mildew can hide in its folds
- Wipe the exterior, including the top and the handles
- Pull the fridge away from the wall and vacuum the condenser coils on the back
- Clean the floor underneath and the wall behind before pushing it back
Step 7: Dishwasher
- Remove and rinse the dishwasher filter — most twist out from the base of the interior
- Wipe down the door interior, especially around the seal where grime accumulates
- Run an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar on the top rack to descale
- Follow with a short cycle with baking soda sprinkled on the floor of the interior to deodorize
Step 8: Cabinets, pantry, and countertops
- Wipe down all cabinet door exteriors — use a degreaser on cabinet doors near the stove
- Clean cabinet hardware — handles and knobs collect grease and fingerprints
- Empty the pantry, check expiry dates, wipe shelves before restocking
- Clean the cabinet under the sink — check for leaks or moisture while you're in there
- Wipe down all countertops thoroughly, including the backsplash
- Clean small appliances on the counter — coffee maker, toaster (empty and shake out crumb tray), kettle
Step 9: Sink and faucet
- Scrub the sink with a non-abrasive cleaner or baking soda
- Clean the faucet and handles — descale with white vinegar if mineral deposits have built up
- Clean the drain and remove any debris from the strainer
- Wipe down the surrounding countertop area
Step 10: Floors
Save the floor for last — all the wiping, scrubbing, and moving of appliances will have dropped debris onto it.
- Sweep or vacuum thoroughly, including under the toe kicks of lower cabinets
- Mop with an appropriate cleaner for your floor type
- If you have tile, scrub the grout lines with a stiff brush and baking soda paste
- Clean baseboards along the kitchen floor
How often should you deep clean your kitchen?
For most Aurora households, a thorough kitchen deep clean every 3–4 months is appropriate. If you cook frequently, have young children, or have pets, more frequent deep cleaning keeps buildup manageable. Learn more about our deep cleaning services in Aurora, ON.
Between deep cleans, a regular maintenance clean covers the surface-level work — countertops, stovetop, sink, floors. The deep clean addresses what accumulates underneath and behind.
Don't have the time or energy for a full kitchen deep clean? Mayfair Home Cleaning includes deep kitchen cleaning as part of our deep clean service. We cover every step on this list.
Ready to book? Get an instant quote and book online at mayfairhomecleaning.com or call us at (289) 201-1873.
Published by Mayfair Home Cleaning — Aurora's locally owned residential cleaning service serving Aurora, Newmarket, and Bradford.