A thin film of grease on the cabinets. A sponge that smells. Handles that feel sticky, and a kettle furred with scale. Most kitchens are not dirty in an obvious way. They drift, because no one is sure what needs doing every week and what can wait a month. This checklist settles that.
Weekly tasks keep food surfaces safe, the sink hygienic, and the stove zone free of built-up grease. Monthly tasks cover the deep jobs most people avoid: the oven, hood filters, fridge interior, and descaling. Work through one section at a time and tick each task as you finish it. Your progress saves, so you can stop for a coffee and pick up where you left off. Times are honest, supplies are basic, and nothing weekly is padded with monthly work.
The short version: 68 tasks, about 9.3 hours in total if you do it in one go — and every task can be ticked off in the checklist above as you finish it. The full list is written out below, so the page still works printed or saved.
Every Week: Surfaces, Sink and Stove
- Clear all counters completely, then wipe and sanitize every surface with food-safe cleaner
~8 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Degrease the stovetop surface and burner caps until no sticky film remains under your fingers
~10 min · Medium · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths - Scrub the sink basin with dish soap, rinse clean, and dry the edges to stop water marks
~5 min · Easy · Needs: Dish soap, Scrub brush - Pour baking soda down the sink drain, follow with hot water, and flush for a full minute
~4 min · Easy · Needs: Baking soda - Wipe the faucet, handles, and sprayer head to remove grease spots and limescale splashes
~3 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Throw out the old kitchen sponge and open a fresh one
~2 min · Easy · Needs: Sponges (replace weekly), Trash bags - Soak the dish brush head in hot soapy water, rinse it, and stand it upright to dry
~3 min · Easy · Needs: Dish soap - Wash cutting boards in hot soapy water, rinse, and dry them upright so no moisture traps underneath
~6 min · Easy · Needs: Dish soap, Microfiber cloths - Wipe every cabinet handle and drawer pull in the stove zone until they no longer feel tacky
~4 min · Easy · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths - Wipe light switches and touch panels near the stove with a damp, well-wrung cloth
~3 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Empty the kitchen trash, wipe inside the lid and rim, and fit a clean bag
~5 min · Easy · Needs: Trash bags, All-purpose cleaner - Degrease the backsplash behind the stove, working grout lines with a brush where splashes have dried
~7 min · Medium · Needs: Degreaser, Scrub brush - Remove stovetop knobs if they pull off, wash them in hot soapy water, dry, and refit them
~6 min · Medium · Needs: Dish soap, Scrub brush - Wipe the outside of the kettle and toaster where cooking grease settles during the week
~4 min · Easy · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths - Lift out the sink strainer, clear all trapped food debris, scrub it, and replace it
~4 min · Easy · Needs: Rubber gloves, Scrub brush - Wash the sink drying mat in hot soapy water and hang it to dry fully
~4 min · Easy · Needs: Dish soap - Replace the hand towel by the sink with a clean, dry one and put the used towel in the wash
~2 min · Easy · Needs: Microfiber cloths
Every Week: Appliances and Floors
- Steam-clean the microwave: heat a bowl of water with vinegar for 5 minutes, then wipe all inside walls
~8 min · Easy · Needs: White vinegar or citric acid (descaler), Microfiber cloths - Wash the microwave turntable plate in hot soapy water, dry it, and refit it
~4 min · Easy · Needs: Dish soap - Wash the air fryer basket and crisper tray in hot soapy water and scrub stuck grease from the mesh
~8 min · Medium · Needs: Dish soap, Degreaser, Scrub brush - Empty the toaster crumb tray over the trash and brush loose crumbs out of the slots from above
~3 min · Easy · Needs: Scrub brush, Trash bags - Wipe fridge and freezer handles and the front door seals where hands leave daily grime
~4 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Do a quick fridge expiry scan: throw out spoiled food and wipe up any fresh spills on shelves
~7 min · Easy · Needs: Trash bags, All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Empty and wash the coffee maker drip tray, then wipe the machine exterior and hot plate
~4 min · Easy · Needs: Dish soap, Microfiber cloths - Wipe the oven door front, glass, and handle bar to remove the week's fingerprints and splashes
~3 min · Easy · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths - Wipe the blender base, buttons, and cord area where smoothie and soup splashes dry on
~3 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Wipe the dishwasher front, handle, and top edge of the door where grime collects unseen
~3 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Empty the recycling bin, wipe its rim, and replace the bag if your system uses one
~4 min · Easy · Needs: Trash bags, All-purpose cleaner - Wash food and water bowls for pets in hot soapy water and wipe the floor mat underneath them
~5 min · Easy · Needs: Dish soap, Scrub brush - Sweep the whole kitchen floor, including under table legs, chair feet, and the stove front
~6 min · Easy · Needs: Trash bags - Mop the hard floor with hot water, spending extra passes on the greasy zone in front of the stove
~10 min · Medium · Needs: All-purpose cleaner - Take kitchen mats outside, shake them hard, and vacuum or wipe their undersides before replacing them
~5 min · Easy · Needs: Microfiber cloths - Wipe the window sill above the sink and clear dead flies, dust, and splash marks
~3 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Wipe the fronts of small appliances left on the counter so the whole run of surfaces matches
~4 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths
Every Month: The Deep Jobs
- Apply oven cleaner inside the cold oven, leave it for the time on the label, then wipe out all residue
~30 min · Hard · Needs: Oven cleaner (monthly, optional), Rubber gloves, Microfiber cloths - Soak oven racks in hot soapy water for 20 minutes, then scrub off baked-on carbon with a brush
~20 min · Hard · Needs: Dish soap, Scrub brush, Rubber gloves - Remove range hood filters and soak them in hot water with degreaser for 20 minutes before scrubbing
~25 min · Medium · Needs: Degreaser, Dish soap, Scrub brush - Degrease the underside of the range hood and the fan housing while the filters are out
~15 min · Medium · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths, Rubber gloves - Clean the inside of the oven door glass, including the drip marks between the bottom edge and seal
~12 min · Medium · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths - Empty the fridge completely onto the counter and check every item's date as it comes out
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Trash bags - Remove fridge shelves and drawers and wash them in hot soapy water, then dry them fully
~20 min · Medium · Needs: Dish soap, Microfiber cloths - Wipe fridge interior walls, ceiling, and door seals with cleaner, paying attention to sticky spill trails
~10 min · Medium · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths, Scrub brush - Return fridge food with the earliest dates at the front and sauces grouped in one door section
~8 min · Easy · Needs: Microfiber cloths - Remove the dishwasher filter, rinse it under the tap, and scrub trapped grease and food from the mesh
~10 min · Medium · Needs: Scrub brush, Dish soap - Run the empty dishwasher on its hottest cycle with a bowl of vinegar on the top rack
~5 min · Easy · Needs: White vinegar or citric acid (descaler) - Take the trash can and recycling bin to a tub or outside tap and scrub them inside and out
~15 min · Medium · Needs: Dish soap, Scrub brush, Rubber gloves - Scrub stovetop burner heads with a baking soda paste to lift brown heat staining and blocked holes
~15 min · Medium · Needs: Baking soda, Scrub brush - Wipe inside the air fryer around the heating element with a damp cloth once it is fully cold and unplugged
~8 min · Medium · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths - Wipe the top of the fridge and clear the dust and grease film that builds up there in a month
~8 min · Easy · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths - Clean dishwasher door edges and rubber gasket folds with an old brush to remove black residue
~8 min · Medium · Needs: Scrub brush, All-purpose cleaner - Polish the sink and faucet dry after a baking soda scrub so limescale spots do not set in again
~8 min · Easy · Needs: Baking soda, Microfiber cloths
Every Month: Inside, Behind and Descale
- Descale the kettle: boil water with citric acid or vinegar, leave 20 minutes, empty, and rinse twice
~10 min · Easy · Needs: White vinegar or citric acid (descaler) - Descale the coffee maker with a vinegar cycle, then run two full cycles of plain water to rinse
~15 min · Easy · Needs: White vinegar or citric acid (descaler) - Degrease every cabinet front from top to bottom, including the greasy uppers beside the hood
~15 min · Medium · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths - Pull countertop appliances forward and wipe the counter, wall, and cords hidden behind them
~8 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Sweep and mop under the fridge after pulling it forward only if it moves easily on its wheels
~12 min · Hard · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Rubber gloves - Clean the narrow gap beside the range with a long brush wrapped in a cloth to pull out crumbs and grease
~10 min · Medium · Needs: Scrub brush, Microfiber cloths - Unscrew the faucet aerator, soak it in vinegar for an hour, rinse out grit, and refit it
~10 min · Medium · Needs: White vinegar or citric acid (descaler) - Soak the detachable faucet sprayer head in vinegar to clear blocked nozzles, then rinse and test the spray
~8 min · Easy · Needs: White vinegar or citric acid (descaler) - Empty the under-sink cabinet, wipe it dry, and check pipes and the trap for drips or damp patches
~10 min · Medium · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths, Trash bags - Wipe the kitchen-facing pantry shelves and cabinet shelves where flour and oil bottles leave rings
~10 min · Easy · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Microfiber cloths - Inspect fridge door seals all the way around, clean mold spots from the folds, and check the seal closes tight
~8 min · Medium · Needs: All-purpose cleaner, Scrub brush - Check dishwasher spray arms, poke blocked holes clear with a toothpick, and spin them by hand to test movement
~10 min · Medium · Needs: Scrub brush - Degrease the range hood light cover, wash it in hot soapy water, dry it, and refit it
~8 min · Medium · Needs: Degreaser, Dish soap - Wipe the oven door seal, check it for cracks or flat spots, and note any damage for repair
~5 min · Easy · Needs: Microfiber cloths - Vacuum dust from the fridge front grille and any exposed coils you can reach without moving heavy parts
~7 min · Easy · Needs: Scrub brush - Empty the cutlery drawer, wash the organizer tray, and wipe crumbs from the drawer base
~10 min · Easy · Needs: Dish soap, Microfiber cloths - Wipe the tops of wall cabinets with a damp cloth to remove the sticky dust layer, if you can reach safely
~12 min · Medium · Needs: Degreaser, Microfiber cloths
Pro Tips
- Work the stove zone last in the weekly clean. Grease transfers to cloths, so doing it first spreads a thin film over every counter you wipe next.
- Judge degreaser by touch, not looks. Run a dry fingertip over the backsplash and hood underside — if it drags instead of gliding, the grease is still there.
- Replace the sponge on a fixed day, not when it smells. By the time a sponge smells, bacteria are already established deep inside it.
- Descale on the same date each month as the deep clean. Kettle scale insulates the element, so a scaled kettle uses more energy and boils slower.
- Photograph the fridge before the monthly empty-out. You will put everything back faster, and the photo doubles as a shopping list of what you actually own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the weekly and monthly kitchen tasks?
Weekly tasks keep food-contact surfaces hygienic: counters, sink, stove top, handles, and floors. Monthly tasks go deeper and take longer, like the oven interior, hood filters, fridge shelves, and descaling. Doing the weekly list properly makes the monthly jobs noticeably shorter.
How often should I really replace my kitchen sponge?
Replace it every week if you cook daily, and sooner if it smells or stays slimy after rinsing. Sponges hold food bacteria in their pores even after washing. Between replacements, wring it out fully and stand it somewhere it can dry completely.
Can I use vinegar to descale both a kettle and a coffee maker?
Yes. Use a half-and-half mix of white vinegar and water, run or boil it, leave it for 20 minutes, then rinse with two cycles of plain water. Citric acid works the same way and leaves less smell, which many people prefer for coffee makers.
Do I need oven cleaner, or will baking soda work for the monthly oven clean?
A thick baking soda paste left overnight lifts light to medium grease and is fine for regular monthly cleaning. Heavy, baked-on carbon from months of roasting usually needs a dedicated oven cleaner. Never mix the two approaches in the same session.
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