A good weekly kitchen cleaning checklist covers the surfaces you use every day and the spots where grease and limescale build up without you noticing. Once a week, degrease the hob and splashback, clean the sink and tap, and wipe the cupboard fronts and handles. Then sort out the fridge, clean the microwave, wash the bin and mop the floor. If you do this regularly, the monthly jobs stay small and quick.
Below you will find the weekly list, a monthly kitchen cleaning checklist, and some notes for typical German rental kitchens. That means hard water marks on the tap, a greasy extractor hood filter and rubber fridge seals that get grubby in the folds. Everything here works with normal household products.
Your weekly kitchen cleaning checklist
Work from top to bottom and from dry to wet. Crumbs and dust fall down, so the floor always comes last. Clear the worktop first. It is much faster to clean an empty surface than to lift every jar and bottle one by one.
- Clear the worktops, put things away and wipe the surfaces with warm water and a little washing-up liquid.
- Degrease the hob, the splashback and the wall tiles behind the cooker.
- Clean the outside of the appliances: fridge door, oven door, dishwasher front, kettle and coffee machine.
- Wipe the cupboard fronts and handles, especially near the bin and the cooker.
That is the dry and greasy half. The second half is about the sink, the fridge and the floor.
- Clean the sink, the tap and the plughole strainer, then dry the tap so water spots cannot form.
- Check the fridge, throw away old food and wipe the shelves where something has spilled.
- Clean the inside of the microwave and empty the toaster crumb tray.
- Empty the bin, wash it out, let it dry and then vacuum and mop the floor.
Imagine a small rental flat in Bilk with a galley kitchen. On a normal week, most of the work is the hob, the sink and the floor. The rest is a quick wipe. The point of a weekly list is not perfection. It stops dirt from settling in until it needs scrubbing.
Dish cloths and sponges
Change your dish cloth and sponge often. Cloths can go in the washing machine at a high temperature, and sponges are cheap enough to replace regularly. A clean cloth is the simplest way to avoid spreading grease and bacteria around the kitchen you just cleaned.
Monthly kitchen cleaning checklist: the jobs that sneak up on you
Some parts of a kitchen get dirty slowly. You do not see it from week to week, and then one day the extractor hood drips grease or the kettle is white inside. Once a month is a sensible rhythm for these tasks. If you cook a lot or fry often, some of them may need doing more often.
| Task | Weekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Hob, splashback, worktops | Degrease and wipe | Clean the tile grout and silicone joints |
| Sink and tap | Clean and dry | Descale the tap aerator and base of the tap |
| Fridge | Throw out old food, wipe spills | Empty fully, wash shelves, clean door seals |
| Extractor hood | Wipe the outside | Clean or change the filter as the manual says |
| Oven and microwave | Microwave inside, oven door outside | Clean the oven inside, trays and racks |
| Dishwasher | Wipe the front, check the filter | Clean the filter, spray arms and door rubber |
| Kettle and coffee machine | Wipe the outside | Descale following the product instructions |
| Cupboards and drawers | Wipe fronts and handles | Clear out one or two and wipe inside |
| Floor | Vacuum and mop | Pull out movable appliances and clean behind them |
You do not have to do the whole monthly column in one afternoon. Many people split it into four small jobs, one per week. For example, the fridge in week one, the extractor hood in week two, the oven in week three and cupboards plus descaling in week four.
Limescale, extractor hood and fridge seals in a rental flat
These three come up again and again in German rental kitchens. They are also the things people often notice at the end of a tenancy, when the kitchen is checked before handover.
Limescale on the tap and sink
If your tap water is hard, white marks appear quickly around the tap, on the stainless steel sink and inside the kettle. The easiest fix is prevention. Dry the tap and sink with a cloth after cleaning, and the marks stay small. For existing limescale, use a descaler or diluted vinegar or citric acid, leave it for a short time and rinse well. Unscrew the aerator at the end of the tap now and then and soak it. Be careful with natural stone worktops and some sensitive surfaces, because acids can damage them. Always check the product label and test on a hidden spot first.
Extractor hood and grease filter
The metal grease filter catches more than you would expect. Many metal filters can go in the dishwasher or be soaked in hot water with washing-up liquid, but check the manual for your model. If your hood recirculates the air, it may also have a carbon filter. These usually need replacing rather than washing, again according to the manual. Wipe the underside of the hood too, because grease collects there and drips onto the hob.
Fridge door seals
The rubber seal folds collect crumbs and moisture, and mould can start in the grooves. Use warm water with a little washing-up liquid and a soft cloth or an old toothbrush, then dry the seal well. Avoid sharp tools and strong cleaners that could damage the rubber. A clean seal also closes better.
If you rent, the condition of the kitchen at move-out usually matters. Landlords commonly expect it to be clean, including appliances that belong to the flat. What exactly is required depends on your rental contract and the handover agreement, so check your own documents rather than guessing.
A quick kitchen clean up checklist for busy evenings
On weekdays you will not run through the full list. A short kitchen clean up checklist after dinner keeps things under control until the weekly clean.
- Load or run the dishwasher, or wash up and leave dishes to dry.
- Wipe the hob while it is still slightly warm, once it is safe to touch.
- Clear the worktop and give it a quick wipe.
- Rinse the sink, take out the bin if it is full.
This takes a few minutes and makes the weekly clean noticeably easier. Grease that has been wiped the same evening comes off with water. Grease left for a week needs a degreaser and more effort.
Common mistakes that make kitchen cleaning harder
The most common mistake is cleaning the floor first and then dropping crumbs on it from the worktop. Always finish with the floor. Another is using too much product. A lot of cleaner leaves a sticky film that attracts new dirt, especially on cupboard fronts. Rinsing with a damp cloth helps.
People also tend to mix products to make them stronger. Never combine different cleaners, especially anything with chlorine and anything acidic, because this can release harmful fumes. Use one product, rinse, then use the next if you really need to. Open a window while you clean.
Finally, many kitchens are cleaned on the visible surfaces only. The handles, the bin lid, the light switch and the front edge of the worktop are touched most often and are easy to forget. Add them to your weekly round and the kitchen feels cleaner straight away.
Handing the weekly part to a recurring cleaner
If you work long days or have children or pets, the weekly list is often the part that slips. The monthly jobs can wait for a free Saturday, but the weekly round needs to happen every week. This is exactly the kind of routine a recurring cleaner can take over.
With recurring home cleaning from Spotless, you get the same cleaner every visit. Over time they get to know your kitchen, where things go and what needs extra attention. For recurring cleaning we use the products you already have at home. If you would rather have a different cleaner at some point, you can ask for that. Appointments can be early, late or at the weekend. Our insured team works in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area, for example in Oberkassel, Pempelfort, Flingern and in the rest of the city. Neuss, Ratingen and Meerbusch are part of our area too, and we agree dates with you when you get in touch.
Keep this checklist somewhere visible, for example inside a cupboard door. Split the monthly jobs across the month so none of them grows too big. If you would like someone to handle the weekly round, have a look at our regular house cleaning in Düsseldorf. Private cleaning starts from €33.90 per hour as a final price; as a small business under § 19 UStG we do not charge VAT. Just tell us briefly what should be cleaned and you will get a quote with a final price.
Questions about kitchen cleaning routines
What should a weekly kitchen cleaning checklist include?
Worktops, hob and splashback, appliance fronts, cupboard handles, sink and tap, a quick fridge check, the microwave, the bin and the floor. Work from top to bottom and finish with the floor.
How often should I clean the extractor hood filter?
Monthly is a good rhythm for most households, more often if you fry a lot. Metal filters can often be washed, carbon filters usually need replacing. Check the manual for your model.
How do I remove limescale from a kitchen tap?
Use a descaler or diluted vinegar or citric acid, leave it briefly and rinse well. Soak the aerator separately. Drying the tap after each clean prevents new marks. Avoid acids on natural stone.
How do I clean mouldy fridge seals?
Use warm water with a little washing-up liquid and a soft brush, then dry the seal completely. Avoid sharp tools and harsh cleaners that can damage the rubber.
Can a regular cleaner take over my weekly kitchen cleaning?
Yes, the weekly kitchen round is the kind of routine a recurring cleaner can take over. Tell us which kitchen tasks matter to you when you ask for a quote. With Spotless, the same cleaner comes each visit and uses the products you have at home.