How to Clean your Kitchen

The kitchen is known as the heart of the home – but it can also be a popular place for germs and bacteria to be found. Knowing how to properly clean and disinfect the different parts of your kitchen can help stop it from becoming a hotbed for germs. Here, we share kitchen cleaning tips to help keep your kitchen clean.

Equipment you will need

Cleaning cloths
Cleaning brush
Detergent
Disinfectant cleaner
Floor cleaner
Bin liner
A broom or vacuum cleaner
Mop, water bucket and floor cleaning product

How to clean kitchen checklist

To help you get started, we've created a printable kitchen cleaning checklist that you can use as a guide

Clear all kitchen surfaces

Return any food to the fridge or cupboard
Return any kitchen utensils to where they belong

Wash the dishes

Load the dishwasher or wash by hand

Clean the stove and microwave

Clean and disinfect the stovetop
Clean and disinfect the microwave
Clean the kitchen exhaust fan/rangehood

Clean the refrigerator

Clean and disinfect the inside of the refrigerator
Wipe down the door seals and fridge handles
Allow to dry before restocking

Clean kitchen cupboards and appliances

Wipe down the exterior surfaces
Deep clean: remove everything and clean and disinfect shelves
Allow to dry before restocking

Clean the benchtop

Clean and disinfect the surface
Rapidly dry afterwards

Clean the sink

Clean with a brush and detergent
Disinfect and wipe down

Clean the rubbish bin

Empty the bin
Wash and disinfect
Allow to dry and put in the bin liner

Clean the floor

Sweep or vacuum the floor
Use a mop, water bucket and floor cleaner

Step 1: Clear all kitchen surfaces

To begin, organise your kitchen by returning any items that don’t belong on the kitchen surface, such as food items that should be in the fridge/cupboard or cooking utensils, to their rightful place. This will reduce clutter in the kitchen and make the cleaning process much easier.

Step 2: Wash the dishes

Wash any dishes in the sink. If you have a dishwasher, load all the dirty dishes; otherwise, use detergent and hot water, followed by rinsing with clean water.¹ Keeping your kitchen utensils, equipment and dishes hygienically clean is important to help prevent them from becoming a source of bacteria that could contaminate your food.²

Pay particular attention when washing your chopping boards. Because chopping boards get damaged through use, they are able to harbour dirt and moisture that can encourage bacterial growth.¹ It is therefore recommended that on top of scrubbing and cleaning, chopping boards also be disinfected (for example, with an antibacterial detergent) or run through a dishwasher cycle that’s at least 60°C.¹ Try to also replace your chopping boards regularly and use separate chopping boards for raw meat or fish and for fresh fruit and vegetables.^1,2

Step 3: Clean the stove and microwave

Clean your microwave and stovetop by using a detergent first, followed by an antibacterial product – though you should check the manufacturer’s manual for their advice first. If you are looking for instructions on how to clean a kitchen exhaust fan or rangehood, check the manufacturer’s manual. In general, wipe down the outside of the rangehood and clean away any stains or grease build-up under the hood. The manufacturer’s manual will have instructions on how to take out the filter and clean it.

Step 4: Clean the refrigerator

Clean your fridge and freezer with detergent as well as disinfect with an antibacterial product.^1,2 Try Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser with Fresh Lime & Mint fragrance, which has a non-bleach formula that’s great for kitchen surfaces.³ Remember to also disinfect and clean the fridge handle and door seals, and don’t forget to dry your fridge before restocking. Before cleaning any kitchen appliances, it’s a good idea to check the manufacturer’s manual for their advice on cleaning before you start.

Step 5: Clean kitchen cupboards and appliances

The exterior surface of cupboards and appliances can gather fingerprints, food splatters and other stains. Clean with a multipurpose cleaner, such as Dettol Healthy Clean Multipurpose Trigger Crisp Apple to effectively kill germs* and power through grease, grime, and soap scum.⁴

*Includes Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus.

For a deep clean, empty out the cupboards and clean the shelves with a detergent as well as disinfectant. Remember to wipe down the inside and outside of the door as well. Allow the cupboards to completely dry before restocking.

Step 6: Clean the benchtop

A big part of keeping a clean kitchen is cleaning the food preparation surfaces. Your kitchen benchtops should be cleaned and disinfected both before and immediately after handling food, particularly raw meat and poultry.^1,2 Clean using a detergent to remove any organic matter, then disinfect with an antibacterial product like Dettol Healthy Clean Kitchen Spray to help effectively kill germs^†.^1,2 Dry the surface rapidly afterwards.^1,2 Use this same cleaning method for other hand and food contact surfaces in the kitchen, like taps and drawer handles.^1,2

†Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Step 7: Clean the sink

Compared to other spots in your kitchen, the risk of infection from your sink is relatively low, however, regular disinfection is still important to prevent the build-up of bacteria.¹ Start by cleaning with a brush and detergent to physically remove germs.⁵ Follow this up by disinfecting with Dettol Healthy Clean Multipurpose Trigger Crisp Apple, which powers through both grease and soap scum.⁴

Step 8: Clean the rubbish bin

Rubbish bins inside the house should be kept clean and washed out regularly to stop germs from breeding and discourage pests.⁶ Wash your bin after emptying it.⁶ Let it dry and then you can put in a bin liner. Using a bin liner not only helps make it easier to take out the rubbish but also stops the bin from getting too dirty.⁶

Step 9: Clean the floor

It’s important to clean the kitchen floor regularly to prevent the build-up of dirt, dust and germs, especially if any food accidentally drops or spills.¹ To clean kitchen tiles, sweep or vacuum, then wash with water and detergent.¹ Make sure to properly disinfect your mop afterwards if you use it to clean your floor.¹ Alternatively, you can try the Dettol Antibacterial Floor Wipes which provide tough cleaning action on hard surfaces to remove grease and dirt.⁷

RB-M-104886.

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

References:

Beumer R, et al. Recommendations for selection of suitable hygiene procedures for use in the domestic environment. Milan (IT): International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene; 2001 Apr. 36p. Available from: https://ifh-homehygiene.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IFH-Guidelines-2002_last.pdf
Beumer R, et al. Guidelines for prevention of infection and cross infection in the domestic environment. Milan (IT): International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene; 2002 Mar. 44p. Available from: https://www.ifh-homehygiene.org/sites/default/files/publications/IFH-Guidelines%202002_last.pdf
Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleanser with Fresh Lime & Mint Product LabelDettol Healthy Clean Multipurpose Spray Crisp Apple Product Label
Rossvoll E, et al. The effects of different hygiene procedures in reducing bacterial contamination in a model domestic kitchen. J Appl Microbiol. 2015;119(2):582-593.
Australian Department of Health. Rubbish bins [Internet]. Canberra ACT: Australian Department of Health. [updated Nov 2010; cited Aug 2020].
Dettol Healthy Clean Antibacterial Floor Wipes Product Label

First published:

15th February 2021

Last updated:

30th September 2024