The kitchen is the heart of every home and, without a doubt, one of the hardest rooms to keep clean. Grease builds up on stovetops, bacteria hides in sink drains, and grime accumulates in every corner. At Now It’s Clean, we’ve cleaned hundreds of kitchens across Toronto, North York, Mississauga, and the greater GTA, and we’ve developed a professional process that delivers results every single time.
In this guide, we share our full professional kitchen cleaning process as part of our house cleaning services. Our trained cleaning teams use this same process on every job. From the tools we carry to the order in which we work, this is the real deal.
Why Deep Cleaning Your Kitchen Is Essential
Most people wipe down counters and scrub the sink regularly, but a truly clean kitchen goes much deeper.
Grease and food residue don’t just look bad; they can also be harmful. They harbour bacteria, attract pests, and cause lingering odours. A professional deep clean removes what daily cleaning can miss. It clears buildup behind appliances. It removes grime from cabinet fronts. It cuts grease on range hoods. It helps remove bacteria from tile grout.
This level of detail is exactly what our clients notice immediately after a Now It’s Clean service.
“Very satisfied overall with the cleaning services. Few spots were left out but nothing major. The major pain area for us was the kitchen which was handled very well by the team. Worth the money spent overall. Recommended if you want a proper clean of your place and are okay spending a little bit extra for it.” — Manas, verified customer
Our Professional Kitchen Cleaning Tools
Before we ever begin cleaning, our team arrives fully equipped. Every cleaner on our team brings the following tools on every kitchen job:
- Microfibre cloths – The ultra-thin fibres trap grease, bacteria, and dust without spreading them around. We use separate cloths for different surfaces to avoid cross-contamination.
- Scrub brushes – For tile grout, drain edges, and around faucet bases where cloths can’t reach.
- Sponges with a scrubbing side – Used on stovetop grates, sinks, and surfaces with baked-on residue.
- Spray bottles – Labelled and pre-filled with our cleaning solutions for fast, efficient application.
- Microfibre mop with washable pads – For a streak-free kitchen floor finish without disposable sheets.
- Detail brushes – For hard-to-reach areas like oven knobs, cabinet hinges, and faucet crevices.
- HEPA vacuum – We vacuum before mopping to capture fine dust and allergens rather than just pushing them around.
Pro tip from our team: Everything is stored in a portable caddy so we move efficiently from one area to the next without backtracking.
Why Kitchen Cleaning Requires More Than Just Wiping Counters
Surface wiping only removes visible dirt. Grease, bacteria, and food residue continue building up in hidden areas like cabinets, sinks, appliances, and food prep surfaces. Over time, this buildup can affect hygiene, air quality, and the overall cleanliness of your kitchen.
Hidden Grease and Bacteria Build Up Faster Than Most People Think
Kitchen sinks are one of the biggest germ hotspots in a home because they constantly collect food particles, moisture, and bacteria. Grease from cooking also settles around cabinets, backsplashes, and appliances, trapping dust and creating sticky buildup that regular wiping cannot fully remove.
Areas Homeowners Commonly Miss During Cleaning
Many kitchens collect hidden buildup in areas that are rarely cleaned, including:
- Behind small appliances
- Cabinet handles and drawer pulls
- Refrigerator handles and seals
- Vent covers and range hoods
- Baseboards and floor edges
- Around stove burners and backsplash areas
Why Professional Kitchen Cleaning Improves Hygiene and Air Quality
Professional kitchen cleaning removes deep grease, sanitizes food prep areas, and cleans overlooked surfaces that standard cleaning often misses. This helps reduce bacteria, eliminate odours, improve indoor air quality, and leave the kitchen healthier and fresher overall.
Step-by-Step: How We Clean a Kitchen Professionally
This is our exact process.
Step 1: Prep and Declutter
Before any cleaning product touches a surface, we prep the space:
- Clear countertops of items that don’t belong in the kitchen
- Remove dishes from the sink and load the dishwasher
- Move small appliances to one side so surfaces can be accessed
- Open a window for ventilation, especially if using any cleaning products with fumes
This step prevents us from cleaning around clutter — and it’s where most DIY kitchen cleaning goes wrong.
Step 2: Start at the Top — Light Fixtures and Cabinet Tops
We always work top-to-bottom. Dust and debris fall downward, so cleaning from the top ensures we never contaminate a surface we’ve already cleaned.
We start with:
- Overhead light fixtures and pendant lights (dusted and wiped down)
- The tops of upper cabinets (often forgotten, often dusty)
- The top of the refrigerator
Step 3: Deep Clean the Appliances
Refrigerator: We remove all items from the fridge, discard expired food, wipe down every shelf and drawer with an all-purpose cleaner, and clean the door seals where mould commonly builds up. The exterior gets a full wipe-down, and if it’s stainless steel, we polish it streak-free.
Oven and Stovetop: This is often the most labour-intensive part of a kitchen clean:
- Stovetop grates are removed and soaked in a degreaser solution
- The stovetop surface is sprayed with degreaser and scrubbed
- The oven interior is treated with baking soda paste, left to dwell, then wiped clean
- Oven racks are soaked in hot water with degreaser if heavily soiled
- The range hood and filter are degreased — these are commonly overlooked and among the greasiest surfaces in any kitchen
Microwave: We fill a microwave-safe bowl with water, white vinegar, and a slice of lemon, then heat it on high for five minutes. The steam loosens baked-on grime so the interior wipes clean effortlessly. The turntable is washed separately.
Dishwasher: We wipe around the spray arms, clear the drain trap, and run a cleaning cycle if needed.
Small Appliances: Coffee makers, toasters, air fryers, and stand mixers all get wiped down inside and out. Toaster crumb trays are emptied and cleaned. We do not deep-clean every small appliance on a standard visit, but all visible surfaces are addressed.
Here is what one of our clients had to say about our intensive deep cleaning services:
“I hired these guys for deep clean of a dirty house. Two ladies came for 6 hours and I was quoted 400$ for 5 hrs and any extra hours were 40$ per person/ per hour. The ladies did an amazing job from what the eye level can see. They finished 1.5 bathrooms and 90% of the kitchen where inside of the shelves was already done by me.” — Avi Arora
Step 4: Clean the Sink and Drain
The kitchen sink is one of the germiest spots in any home or condo. Our process:
- Scrub the basin with a baking soda degreaser paste using a non-scratch sponge
- Address all crevices around the faucet base with a detail brush
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water
- Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar — let it fizz for 10 minutes, then flush with hot water
- Run ice cubes and lemon peel through the garbage disposal to deodorize and clean the blades
- Polish the faucet and any soap dish or sponge holders
Step 5: Wipe Down All Surfaces — Countertops, Backsplash, Cabinet Fronts
Once appliances are cleaned, we tackle all horizontal and vertical surfaces:
- Spray countertops, backsplash tiles, and cabinet fronts with all-purpose cleaner
- Allow the solution to dwell for 1–2 minutes to break down grime
- Wipe clean with a dry microfibre cloth, working in sections
- Pay special attention to edges, corners, and the area between the counter and stove — a notorious crumb trap
For clients with natural stone countertops (granite, marble), we use a pH-neutral cleaner rather than vinegar, which can etch and damage the surface.
Step 6: Soak and Tackle Tough Stains
For any tough stains our team finds—baked-on residue, mineral buildup around faucets, or old grease—we use our soak-and-wait method:
- Apply a degreaser or baking soda paste directly to the stain
- Cover with a hot, damp cloth to hold in moisture
- Wait 5–10 minutes to loosen the residue
- Scrub and wipe clean
This method avoids excessive scrubbing force that can scratch surfaces, and it’s far more effective than immediate wiping.
Step 7: Wipe Down Cabinet Fronts, Handles, and Knobs
Cabinet fronts accumulate grease and fingerprints — especially the ones closest to the stove. We wipe every cabinet door front with an appropriate cleaner, plus every handle and knob. These are commonly skipped in routine cleaning but make a noticeable visual difference.
Step 8: Empty and Sanitize the Garbage Area
We take out the trash when it is full, vacuum crumbs from inside the bin, and wipe both the inside and outside with a disinfecting solution. Recycling and compost bins are treated the same way.
Step 9: Vacuum and Mop the Floor
The floor is always last:
- We vacuum first to capture crumbs, dust, and fine debris (including along baseboards and under appliances)
- We then mop with a solution suited to the floor type. Ceramic tile, hardwood, and vinyl each need a different method
- The floor is dried to prevent streaks and slip hazards.
Another customer shared their experience regarding our basement and kitchen cleaning services:
“They did a great job cleaning my basement and kitchen, very efficient and hard working. Zubair was also very responsive and helpful. I would use their services again in the future.” — Andy Chung
Common Kitchen Cleaning Challenges and How We Handle Them
Heavy Grease Buildup
Mix one tablespoon of mild dish soap with two tablespoons of baking soda and warm water to form a paste. Apply to greasy surfaces, wait five minutes, then scrub and wipe. For very heavy buildup, a commercial degreaser is more effective.
Burnt-On Oven Residue
Apply baking soda paste, close the oven door, and wait 30 minutes. The alkaline paste breaks down grease and softens the carbonized residue so it wipes away without heavy scrubbing.
Hard-to-Reach Areas
Wrap a microfibre cloth around a butter knife to get between oven knobs, faucet bases, and cabinet hinges. A detail brush handles tile grout lines and drain edges. These are also covered in our maid cleaning services.
Lingering Odours
A bowl of baking soda left open in the fridge absorbs odours within a few hours. For general kitchen odours, grind ice cubes with lemon or orange peel in the garbage disposal while running cold water.
Mineral Deposits on Faucets
Apply undiluted white vinegar to the affected area, let sit for 15–20 minutes, then scrub gently with a detail brush. Rinse clean. For stainless steel, always finish with a stainless steel polish wiped in the direction of the grain.
Why Toronto Homeowners Choose Now It’s Clean for Kitchen Cleaning
Our team has cleaned kitchens across Toronto, North York, Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, Scarborough, Etobicoke, and Richmond Hill. What sets us apart:
- Fully trained and uniformed cleaners — Every team member is background-checked and trained in our proven cleaning process
- Eco-friendly and family-safe products — We use cleaners that are safe around children and pets
- Top-to-bottom thoroughness — We don’t just clean what’s visible; we address the overlooked areas that accumulate the most bacteria
- 100% satisfaction guarantee — If you’re not happy, we come back
- Transparent pricing — No hidden fees or unexpected charges
“We found Now It’s Clean on Google two years ago, and we’re really glad we did. I travel frequently between New York and Toronto and manage a few properties. Having a reliable cleaning company makes all the difference.” — Verified customer, Trustpilot
Ready to Have a Professionally Cleaned Kitchen?
If you’d rather leave the deep cleaning to the experts, our team at Now It’s Clean is ready to help. Whether you need a one-time deep clean, a recurring service, or a move-in or move-out clean, we have you covered.