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Set Yourself Up for a Productive Afternoon

There is a particular satisfaction in finishing a proper kitchen deep clean in one go rather than spreading it over several weekends. The secret is sequencing. Start the jobs that need soaking time, then move on to the surfaces you can scrub while the oven paste and the kettle descaler quietly get on with their work behind you.

Gather everything before you begin, so you are not rummaging through cupboards with wet hands halfway through:

• Bicarbonate of soda, white vinegar, lemon juice or citric acid
• A cream cleaner for ceramic hobs and a non-scratch pad
• Rubber gloves, an old toothbrush, a pin or cocktail stick
• Microfibre cloths, a couple of old towels and a washing-up bowl
• Soda crystals or a washing machine drum cleaner
• A bin bag for anything past its date

Aim to start by early afternoon. That gives you three or four hours of relaxed work with a tea break in the middle, which is plenty for the average UK kitchen.

Soak Everything That Comes Apart First

Fill the sink or a large bowl with hot water and a generous squeeze of washing-up liquid. Into it go the gas hob burner caps and pan supports, the metal extractor filter, the washing machine detergent drawer and any stray oven knobs. Leave them for twenty to thirty minutes while you tackle something else entirely.

A few specifics make a real difference here. Gas burner caps need to dry completely before they go back on, because trapped water stops the flame lighting evenly. Clear the little gas ports with a pin once the caps are out. If your extractor filter is metal mesh, soak it in hot water with two tablespoons of soda crystals, then rinse until the water runs clear. Charcoal filters cannot be washed, so replace those instead.

For the kettle, fill it halfway with water, top up with white vinegar or a tablespoon of citric acid, bring it to the boil and leave it for twenty minutes. Rinse twice and boil a fresh batch of water before you use it again.

Degrease the Hob and Splashback

With the removable parts soaking, turn your attention to the hob itself. On a gas model, wipe the base with hot soapy water, then work a thick paste of bicarbonate of soda and water into any baked-on patches and leave it for ten minutes. Keep liquid away from the ignition area.

Ceramic and induction hobs respond best to a cream cleaner and a non-scratch pad, worked in circles until the rings lift. Buff dry with a clean cloth so you are not left with streaks. For the splashback and tiles, start with hot water and washing-up liquid, then use the same bicarbonate paste on greasy spots.

Two safety notes worth remembering: never mix bleach and vinegar, as the fumes are harmful, and keep acidic cleaners away from natural stone and aluminium, which they will dull and pit.

Give the Oven, Grill and Extractor a Workout

Spread bicarbonate paste over the oven's interior walls and floor, avoiding the element and the fan housing, and leave it for twenty to thirty minutes. Spray it lightly with white vinegar to fizz, then wipe. For heavy build-up, a proprietary oven cleaner works well if you wear gloves, open a window and follow the label exactly.

Oven shelves, trays and the grill pan are best soaked in the bath or a large bowl with a dishwasher tablet and hot water. An hour of soaking saves a great deal of scrubbing. While those sit, wipe down the extractor hood with hot soapy water, inside and out.

Run a Cycle Through the Washing Machine

Before you run anything, deal with the parts that cause smells. Pull back the rubber door seal and wipe out the trapped debris and grey gunk with a cloth dipped in hot soapy water. Clean the detergent drawer housing, not just the drawer itself. Then find the filter behind the kickboard panel, lay a towel underneath and empty it, because it will release water and it will smell.

Now run the machine on its hottest cycle with soda crystals or a drum cleaner, and no laundry inside. This flushes limescale and residue from the drum and pipework. If your machine is prone to odours, add a cup of white vinegar to the drum instead, but use it sparingly, as repeated use can affect rubber seals. Leave the door ajar afterwards to let it dry.

Refresh the Fridge and Finish the Room

Pull the fridge away from the wall and vacuum the coils at the back or beneath it, since dust there makes the motor work harder. Wipe the shelves and drawers with hot soapy water, and use a bicarbonate solution to neutralise any lingering smells. Check the door seal by trapping a piece of paper and pulling it out: if it slides free with no resistance, the seal is failing.

Finish with a quick sweep of the room: worktops, cupboard fronts, the bin and the floor. Open the windows, put the kettle on and enjoy the fact that your kitchen appliances are working the way they should, at least until next Sunday's roast.