Kitchen deep cleaning: a complete guide for landlords

General kitchen cleaning tips

1. Make sure to wear protective clothing when cleaning, particularly if you’re using chemical products
2. Always read and follow the instructions on any chemical cleaning products you buy
3. Keep the area you’re cleaning well ventilated by turning on the extractor fan or opening a window
4. 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

1. Before you start, dampen the sink
2. Coat evenly with bicarbonate of soda
3. Scrub gently but firmly with an old toothbrush
4. Rinse

How to clean a ceramic sink

1. Prepare the sink by washing it with with washing up liquid, warm water and a clean cloth
2. Rinse
3. Spray the sink with a bleach based cleaner and leave it to sit for a few minutes
4. Rinse
5. Apply Barkeepers Friend or a similar product to scratched, scuffed or stained areas
6. Scrub gently in circular motions with a soft kitchen scrubber or sponge
7. Rinse

How to deep clean a dishwasher

1. Remove the filter and soak it in warm, soapy water
2. Give it a quick scrub with a toothbrush to remove any residue then replace it in the dishwasher
3. To remove limescale, put a cup full of white vinegar in your otherwise empty dishwasher and run a full clean cycle
4. Coat the bottom of the dishwasher evenly with bicarbonate of soda
5. Leave the bicarbonate of soda overnight and then run a full clean cycle in the morning

How to clean an oven

1. In a bowl, mix bicarbonate of soda with water to make a paste
2. Coat the inside of your oven with the paste and leave overnight
3. Once the mixture has dried, use a spray bottle to spritz the bicarbonate of soda with white vinegar
4. Leave for a further four hours
5. Scrub thoroughly with a scrubbing brush or textured sponge
6. 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

1. First of all, remove any loose debris that may have been left
2. Coat the hob in a non-abrasive, cream cleaner and leave for 10 minutes or as instructed
3. Use a microfibre cloth to scrub the hob. If you find tough areas, try a textured sponge, but don’t use anything too abrasive
4. Rinse

How to clean an electric stove top

1. If your hotplates can be removed, take them off the hob
2. Follow the steps detailed above for glass stove tops
3. To clean the hotplates, you can use a stronger cleaner and brillo pads to scrub off any burnt on food
4. Rinse the hotplates and put them back on the hob

Cleaning a gas stove top

1. Lift off the gas rings and place them in a mixture of detergent and warm water
2. Rub with a clean cloth to remove dirt. For tougher areas an old toothbrush works well
3. 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
4. Wipe the burners with a damp cloth to remove any excess cleaner
5. Coat the hob in a cream cleaner and leave for 10 minutes or as directed
6. Scrub with a soft cloth or sponge to remove any dirt and stains, then wipe with a clean damp cloth

How to clean an extractor fan

1. If you have carbon or paper filters in your extractor fan, these will need to be replaced rather than cleaned
2. 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
3. Wipe down the filter to remove any lingering grease
4. For stainless steel surfaces around the mesh filter, make a paste using bicarbonate of soda and water
5. Apply this to the extractor hood and scrub with a toothbrush
6. Wipe down the hood with a clean damp cloth then replace the filter

How to deep clean a fridge

1. Remove everything from the fridge before cleaning it – shelves, trays and attachments that can be taken out
2. Soak these items in a food-friendly antibacterial cleaner, then rinse them under the tap
3. Spray the interior of the fridge with the disinfectant and leave for as long as instructed
4. Wipe clean using a damp cloth
5. 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

1. First, empty the cabinets and hoover inside them
2. Mix together washing up liquid and warm water, then use the solution to clean the cabinets, inside and out, using a clean, soft cloth
3. 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

1. First of all, hoover the floor to make sure there’s no debris
2. Mix a cupful of white vinegar with a tablespoon of washing up liquid in a large bucket
3. Use a mop with nylon scrub bristles and the cleaning mixture to scrub the floor
4. Empty the bucket and then fill it again using warm water
5. Wring out the mop and use it to rinse the floor
6. Wring out the mop again and use it to soak up any excess water
7. Use a little jojoba oil or WD-40 on a soft cloth to buff away any scuff marks

How to clean hardwood kitchen floors

1. First of all, hoover the floor to make sure there’s no debris
2. Choose a specific wood cleaning product and dilute it following the directions provided
3. Saturate a rag mop or sponge in the mixture and then wring it so that it is only damp
4. Mop the floor, being careful not to leave any puddles of the solution
5. Only rinse the floor if the cleaning product requires it
6. Wipe up any excess liquid so as not to damage the floor

How to clean tiled floors

1. Hoover the floor to make sure it’s clear of any debris
2. Lightly spritz the floor using white vinegar
3. Mop the floor using a damp mop
4. 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.