Kitchen Spring Cleaning Checklist

When it comes to doing a deep clean of your kitchen, you need help. Lots of it. “It all comes down to involving your kids,” advises Laura Wittmann, author of Clutter Rehab: 101 Tips & Tricks to Become an Organization Junkie and Love It! and a mother of three. Wittmann gives her kids regular cleaning assignments in the kitchen, but for a more thorough job, she suggests breaking down tasks around the kitchen and giving each child different responsibilities.

Here’s another idea from Wittmann, who also blogs at I’m an Organizing Junkie: when in doubt, throw it out. Or at least stow it away. Go through your kitchen and any piece of equipment you haven’t used for the year, throw it out or store it.

“Spring is a good time to get rid of those things you don’t use,” suggests Wittmann. “I don’t have a pantry so I have to limit what I have.” You can do the same by sorting through each cupboard and tossing as you go and reorganizing what remains. This is a good job to do with a crew of little assistants.

Ready to make your kitchen shine? This cleaning checklist can help you get started:

1. Remove all items from your refrigerator; toss any food items you no longer need or that have gone bad.
2. Reorganize all food items.
3. Wipe down the inside and outside of the refrigerator.
4. Dust or vacuum behind the refrigerator and the refrigerator coils (make sure the refrigerator is unplugged).
5. Degrease the cooking hood and stovetop.
6. Remove food debris from the stovetop and wipe down the surface.
7. Clean the oven using either the self-clean function or by hand.
8. Remove all items from your pantry and cupboards; toss any food items you no longer need or that have gone bad.
9. Reorganize all food items in your pantry and cupboards.
10. Wash exterior surface of kitchen cabinets.
11. Clean the sink.
12. Take down light fixtures and wash (you may be able to do this in the dishwasher).
13. Use cleaner to wipe down tables and chairs.
14. Dust and polish wood surfaces.
15. Dust and clean glassware.
16. Wash the baseboards, door ceilings, windowsills, doors, and walls
17. Vacuum and wash vents
18. Wash windows on the inside and out
19. Launder any window treatments you may have
20. Dust any decorative items you may have in your kitchen
21. Sweep and wash floor
22. Remove any cobwebs in the ceilings or in corners
23. Order takeout for dinner and eat in your squeaky clean kitchen!

Once the kitchen is clean, tackle the bedroom, living room or bathroom. Check out our spring cleaning checklists for those rooms to help get you started.

This post is updated regularly.