General kitchen cleaning tips
Make sure to wear protective clothing when cleaning, particularly if you’re using chemical products
Always read and follow the instructions on any chemical cleaning products you buy
Keep the area you’re cleaning well ventilated by turning on the extractor fan or opening a window
If you’re using a new cleaning product for the first time, test it on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure it won’t cause discolouration or damage
How to clean a kitchen sink
The way you clean your sink will depend on what type of sink you have. Check below for instructions for each.
How to clean a stainless steel sink
Before you start, dampen the sink
Coat evenly with bicarbonate of soda
Scrub gently but firmly with an old toothbrush
Rinse
How to clean a ceramic sink
Prepare the sink by washing it with with washing up liquid, warm water and a clean cloth
Rinse
Spray the sink with a bleach based cleaner and leave it to sit for a few minutes
Rinse
Apply Barkeepers Friend or a similar product to scratched, scuffed or stained areas
Scrub gently in circular motions with a soft kitchen scrubber or sponge
Rinse
How to deep clean a dishwasher
Remove the filter and soak it in warm, soapy water
Give it a quick scrub with a toothbrush to remove any residue then replace it in the dishwasher
To remove limescale, put a cup full of white vinegar in your otherwise empty dishwasher and run a full clean cycle
Coat the bottom of the dishwasher evenly with bicarbonate of soda
Leave the bicarbonate of soda overnight and then run a full clean cycle in the morning
How to clean an oven
In a bowl, mix bicarbonate of soda with water to make a paste
Coat the inside of your oven with the paste and leave overnight
Once the mixture has dried, use a spray bottle to spritz the bicarbonate of soda with white vinegar
Leave for a further four hours
Scrub thoroughly with a scrubbing brush or textured sponge
Rinse
How to clean a stove top or hob
As with sinks, the best way to clean a hob will depend on what type of hob you have. Read below for further details.
How to clean a glass top stove
First of all, remove any loose debris that may have been left
Coat the hob in a non-abrasive, cream cleaner and leave for 10 minutes or as instructed
Use a microfibre cloth to scrub the hob. If you find tough areas, try a textured sponge, but don’t use anything too abrasive
Rinse
How to clean an electric stove top
If your hotplates can be removed, take them off the hob
Follow the steps detailed above for glass stove tops
To clean the hotplates, you can use a stronger cleaner and brillo pads to scrub off any burnt on food
Rinse the hotplates and put them back on the hob
Cleaning a gas stove top
Lift off the gas rings and place them in a mixture of detergent and warm water
Rub with a clean cloth to remove dirt. For tougher areas an old toothbrush works well
If your burners can be detached, remove those and clean them using a specialised hob spray and a sponge or small scrubbing brush. Avoid using water as this can saturate the burners and prevent them from working
Wipe the burners with a damp cloth to remove any excess cleaner
Coat the hob in a cream cleaner and leave for 10 minutes or as directed
Scrub with a soft cloth or sponge to remove any dirt and stains, then wipe with a clean damp cloth
If you have carbon or paper filters in your extractor fan, these will need to be replaced rather than cleaned
If you have a metal mesh filter, remove this from the cooker hood, place it in hot, soapy water with a mugful of white vinegar and leave it to soak overnight
Wipe down the filter to remove any lingering grease
For stainless steel surfaces around the mesh filter, make a paste using bicarbonate of soda and water
Apply this to the extractor hood and scrub with a toothbrush
Wipe down the hood with a clean damp cloth then replace the filter
How to deep clean a fridge
Remove everything from the fridge before cleaning it - shelves, trays and attachments that can be taken out
Soak these items in a food-friendly antibacterial cleaner, then rinse them under the tap
Spray the interior of the fridge with the disinfectant and leave for as long as instructed
Wipe clean using a damp cloth
Return the parts of the fridge you cleaned earlier and leave a cup full of bicarbonate of soda in the fridge for a day or two to absorb any strong leftover food odors
How to clean kitchen cabinets
First, empty the cabinets and hoover inside them
Mix together washing up liquid and warm water, then use the solution to clean the cabinets, inside and out, using a clean, soft cloth
Wipe down with a clean, damp cloth then leave the doors open while the cabinets dry
How to deep clean the kitchen floor
As with other parts of the kitchen, the way you clean your floor will depend on what type of floor you have. Read on for how to clean different types of flooring.
How to clean vinyl linoleum floors
First of all, hoover the floor to make sure there’s no debris
Mix a cupful of white vinegar with a tablespoon of washing up liquid in a large bucket
Use a mop with nylon scrub bristles and the cleaning mixture to scrub the floor
Empty the bucket and then fill it again using warm water
Wring out the mop and use it to rinse the floor
Wring out the mop again and use it to soak up any excess water
Use a little jojoba oil or WD-40 on a soft cloth to buff away any scuff marks
How to clean hardwood kitchen floors
First of all, hoover the floor to make sure there’s no debris
Choose a specific wood cleaning product and dilute it following the directions provided
Saturate a rag mop or sponge in the mixture and then wring it so that it is only damp
Mop the floor, being careful not to leave any puddles of the solution
Only rinse the floor if the cleaning product requires it
Wipe up any excess liquid so as not to damage the floor
How to clean tiled floors
Hoover the floor to make sure it’s clear of any debris
Lightly spritz the floor using white vinegar
Mop the floor using a damp mop
If stains persist, particularly in the grouting, use a steam cleaner
How do you clean your property after tenants move out? Let us know in the comments.