Weekly Kitchen Cleaning Checklist For Busy Homes

The kitchen gets used constantly, so trying to keep it clean can feel like another full-time job. A weekly kitchen cleaning checklist gives you a simple way to stay on top of the jobs that often get missed.

This is just one reason why I have created this kitchen cleaning checklist. It’s designed so you don’t have to remember everything you need to do.

Having a list there so you can check off the tasks that you need to do each week means there is less information to store in your brain.

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Why You Need a Weekly Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

This is really simple. It’s a physical list that you can check off every time a task is done. This makes your kitchen cleaning easier because the planning is done for you. Just fit it into your week and start cleaning.

This is just one reason why I have created this kitchen cleaning checklist. It’s designed so you don’t have to remember everything you need to do. Having a list that you can check off each week means there is less information to store in your brain. It’s also a simple way to build a home management routine that helps you stay on top of everyday tasks without feeling overwhelmed.

What Should You Clean in Your Kitchen Every Week?

Now this is where we talk tasks and what you should be trying to clean every week. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You might skip some tasks one week and catch up the next.

The idea is to make the system fit you and your life and not the other way around.

Kitchen Counters and Surfaces

I personally think these are the top areas in your kitchen to keep clean. They are often used daily for preparing meals, and it’s important to keep them ready for use.

The focus of this list is weekly tasks, and that means moving everything off the counters to do a proper clean. This is more detailed than a daily wipe-over.

I use my Ecloth’s because I know they pick up germs and bacteria with just water.

Sink and Faucets

If you don’t clean your sink weekly, it’s going to start smelling. Use a cream cleaner and get into all the areas to remove any dirt and germs. Don’t forget the plughole and any plug, as these can get gross very quickly. For stubborn marks around the sink, a small amount of a cleaning paste can help lift the build-up.

Rinse off the cream cleaner and buff dry.

Kitchen Appliances

Now, I don’t expect you to clean your appliances every week. That is too much for most people.

But setting up a system where you tackle one appliance a week means that your appliances stay clean and you don’t have to spend hours cleaning them.

Always read the instructions on any appliance before attempting to clean it.

If your washing machine is in your kitchen, adding it to your weekly appliance cleaning routine makes it much easier to stay on top of. You can find my step-by-step guide on how to clean your washing machine here.

Fridge and Food Storage

Ideally, clean your fridge when there is the least food inside. Generally, this is just before a food shop.

Other food storage areas include the freezer and your pantry. Go through these regularly to ensure you are using up food stocks before they expire.

Cabinets and Drawers

Now again, I don’t expect anyone to remove everything from their cupboards every week to clean the inside. You can do this on a rotating scale, doing one per week.

But you do need to wipe over the cupboard doors and handles weekly.

This reduces the chances of a sticky residue building up. After all, this is where you cook, and grease and food residue can quickly build up around the kitchen.

Kitchen Floors

I am a floor person. If the floor is dirty, then the whole room is dirty.

So, cleaning the floor is a minimum weekly chore.

It doesn’t take long to clean your kitchen floors. Even a basic sweep and wipe-down will help keep them looking clean.

A cordless handheld vacuum can make it easier to quickly deal with crumbs between your weekly floor cleans.

Trash and Recycling

I have found that the simplest way is to get rid of these as often as possible. So while, at a minimum, this task needs doing weekly, you might find that this task becomes a couple-of-times-a-week job.

Keeping on top of your trash and recycling can also help you reduce waste in your home.

Often-Forgotten Kitchen Cleaning Jobs

This is simply an easy way to add in tasks that don’t fall into any of the other categories. We all have different homes, so there will always be those little jobs that are specific to your kitchen.

If you’re trying to stay on top of more than just your kitchen, having a home management system can make all the difference. My Home Management Binder includes planning pages to help you organize cleaning routines, household tasks and more.

How to Fit Your Weekly Kitchen Cleaning Into a Busy Schedule

There are many different ways you can approach your kitchen cleaning. You could tackle it all in one go. This would mean that it’s done for the week and you don’t have to think about it again for the whole week.

For me, I don’t have the attention span for doing all the cleaning in one session, so I like to break things down into bite-sized chunks and tackle something every day.

But if there are other people living in the home with you, make sure you are splitting the tasks. Cleaning is part of adult life, and unless they are paying for someone to do their tasks, they need to clean too.

Don’t wait until the kitchen is filthy. Start now, and the more you do, the easier it will become.

Don’t Try to Deep Clean Every Week

This isn’t about doing a deep clean of your kitchen. That would make the tasks less appealing.

You are just cleaning the basics of your kitchen.

There is a difference between daily maintenance, weekly cleaning and deeper cleaning. Don’t get the tasks mixed up.

Make Cleaning Easier With a Checklist

Want the complete list of the tasks you need to do each week?

Download my free weekly kitchen cleaning checklist. Keep it handy so you don’t have to remember what needs cleaning each week. Just tick it off the list and move on.