Keep your kitchen in top shape with our complete Kitchen Maintenance Schedule, featuring weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual tasks. Don’t miss these easy and effective tips for a clean and efficient kitchen that will last for years.
The kitchen is seriously the workhorse of the house. Not only does it get used so many times a day, but it is also used hard.
You’re getting hot temperatures, steam, grease, and stains all over this space. Plus, walking, opening and closing doors, and other normal wear and tear.
So, it makes sense that your kitchen can get worn out quicker than other areas in your home.
But, kitchen stuff is expensive. Tile, cabinets, counters appliances – you definitely want to take care of them so they last as long as possible!
Dividing tasks into manageable weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual checklists is a great way to stay on top of it – before a small maintenance issue becomes a big, expensive problem!
Kitchen Maintenance Tasks
Here are the most important kitchen maintenance tasks, broken down by how often they need to be completed!
Weekly Kitchen Maintenance
There are several small tasks that you should do every week to keep your kitchen in top shape.
Wipe Down Surfaces
The easiest thing to do is to wipe your countertops and stove top off after each use.
Spray out your sink and never leave food or pooled liquids sitting in it overnight.
Wash and put away all dirty dishes.
Wipe any spills or splatter off the front of the cabinets or vent hood. Focus on high-touch areas like handles and knobs.
Empty and Clean the Trash Bin
Take out your trash whenever it is full and if you fill it with stinky food scraps.
When you empty the trash, take a quick glance into the empty can. If there are spills, wipe them out with a clorox wipe or spray it out with the hose before adding a new bag.
Sweep and Mop the Floors
Regular floor cleaning is super important to avoid buildup of dirt and grime.
Sweep your floors after each meal, paying close attention to the toe kick area under the overhang of lower cabinets.
If there are sticky spills, mop or wipe them up quickly before they can get super gross!
Check for Expired Foods
Go through the fridge and pantry to remove expired items. I usually do this when I sit and make the grocery list for the week – I check what we have and toss anything old.
Remember to take out the trash after throwing away a bunch of old foods!
Monthly Kitchen Maintenance
Here are the maintenance tasks I suggest doing in your kitchen once a month!
Deep Clean Appliances
Always wipe up spills as soon as they happen, but once a month, take an extra 5 minutes to deep clean your appliances. I like to do one a week to keep it a manageable, 15 minute task!
Consider cleaning your microwave, oven, fridge, and coffee maker.
Remove items in the space and wipe down all surfaces before putting things back!
Organize Pantry and Cabinets
Once a month, I look through our pantry for anything expired, unwanted, or out of place and tidy it up.
I donate any unwanted, not-expired food to our local blessing box.
Expired food is trash, though I do try to recycle packaging whenever possible.
Inspect Plumbing
We once had a leak under a sink that leaked for…. a long time before anyone noticed. That can lead to mold, water damage, and a mess.
Once a month, take thirty seconds to stick your head under the sink, rub your finger along the pipe and make sure there’s no leakage.
Super easy, but can save you big in the long run!
Clean Range Hood Filters
Did you know that your range hood filter can be cleaned? I did not know this for an embarrassingly long time.
They can get built up with oil and gunk which is pretty gross!
Usually, they pop out and can be rinsed in the sink. Your hood may vary, but it’s actually pretty simple to do!
Quarterly Kitchen Maintenance
Here are the home maintenance tasks in the kitchen that we tackle once a season.
Clean Light Fixtures
If you have pendant lights in your kitchen, they need to be wiped down and dusted periodically.
We had these clear glass pendants in our last kitchen, and they would get so very dusty, it was gross!
Just use a slightly damp cloth to wipe them down. Don’t pull hard or knock them around! Be a bit delicate.
Check and Clean Refrigerator Coils
There are coils coming out of the back of your fridge! They can get dusty and linty, which can lead to energy waste and potentially dangerous.
A few times a year, pull the fridge out, wipe down the coils, and vacuum behind the fridge!
How to safely clean refrigerator coils for efficiency.
Clean Oven and Stovetop Thoroughly
Take the grates and shelves out of your oven and stove and scrub them well in the sink.
Wipe down all surfaces.
You can use an oven cleaner product inside your oven, and then wipe it out completely.
It’s not recommended that you use the CLEAN function on an oven, which basically runs the hottest setting for several hours and could possibly be a fire hazzard.
Check out our complete guides:
Inspect Kitchen Hardware
Your cabinet knobs and hinges can loosed over time. Take a few minutes to tighten loose screws and check drawer and cabinet door alignment!
Annual Kitchen Maintenance
Here are tasks to do once a year in your kitchen.
Seal Countertops and Backsplashes
Depending on the materials of your counters and tile, they may need to be sealed once a year. Typically this is just brushed on and air dries. Super easy, but can keep your surfaces from getting stained!
Repaint or Touch Up Cabinets
Refresh the look of your kitchen with a coat of paint or touch-ups. Check for any damage and repair it. For minor dings or scratches, I like to use these repair sticks. For minor paint touch ups, these pins are clutch!
Remember – by staying on top of your regular kitchen maintenance, you will save a ton of time and money in the long run! I hope that this schedule will help you to maintain a functional and beautiful space!
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Hello, I’m Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I’ve transformed three homes and now I’m dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let’s turn your house into a home together!