How often should different items in the kitchen be cleaned?

We've all experienced that it's gone a bit too long between cleanings of various things. Some forget to clean the coffee maker, others miss the microwave.

In these cases, it's of course fairly easy to notice when it's time to clean. But for some other things it can be difficult to know how often to clean.

For example, how often do you need to clean the dish brush? And when is it time to replace the kitchen cloth?

We decided to compile a list of how often you should clean different things in the kitchen so you don't have to wonder anymore.

How often should you wash or replace the kitchen cloth?

Kitchen cloths are known to be breeding grounds for bacteria. Make sure to rinse it thoroughly and hang it on a hook so it can dry between uses.

You should wash the kitchen cloth once a week. You can wash it in the washing machine at 60 degrees. This is also possible with Wettex cloths and similar cloths. Some of them can be composted when they are worn out.

– Kitchen cloth – once a week.

Do you need to clean the dish brush?

How dirty the dish brush gets depends a lot on what you've used it to wash. Usually, it's enough to run it through the dishwasher or boil it for a few minutes with some soap once a month. Remember not to let the dish brush soak unnecessarily. Rinse it with cold water after use as bacteria prefer warm environments.

– Dish brush – once a month.

How often should you clean the fridge?

How often you need to clean in the kitchen varies from family to family. Most fridges need cleaning roughly once a month. But if you notice a strange smell or something has leaked, you can of course clean it as needed. When you clean the fridge you notice how dirty it really gets. It's smears from packaging and crumbs from all sorts of things.

If you want to know how to best clean the fridge, read the post How to clean the fridge.

– Fridge – once a month.

When should you clean the freezer?

The freezer generally doesn't get as dirty as the fridge. Often you can take the opportunity to clean the freezer when you defrost it. A couple of times a year is usually enough unless something leaks or the like.

But how do you do it then? Read the post How to clean the freezer easily.

– Freezer – twice a year.

How often should you clean the kitchen extractor fan?

The kitchen extractor fan needs cleaning at least once every six months. You might need to do it more often if you fry often and there is a lot of cooking smoke.

It's easy to clean the kitchen extractor fan. You learn exactly how to do it in the post With these tips you can clean the kitchen extractor fan like a pro!

– Kitchen extractor fan – once every six months.

How often should you clean the microwave?

If you use a lid when heating food in the microwave, you dramatically reduce the amount of splatter and therefore need to clean it less often. But for a family that uses the microwave every day, it needs cleaning at least once a week.

Don't despair – it only takes a few minutes to get the microwave clean again! Read the post How to clean the microwave in five minutes – literally!

– Microwave – once a week.

When should the dishwasher be cleaned?

Although you might think the dishwasher keeps itself clean, it needs a bit of help from time to time. The handle and buttons should be wiped every week to prevent bacteria from thriving there.

At the bottom of the dishwasher there is a filter for food scraps that needs to be emptied now and then. If you are careful to scrape off and rinse plates before placing them in the dishwasher, it's usually enough to empty it once a month. Then wipe the outside and the rubber seal with a damp cloth dampened with washing-up liquid.

Once you've emptied the filter, it's time to use a cleaning tablet. It cleans the machine and removes grease and limescale. Some can be used while running a wash cycle. This way you save water.

– Dishwasher – once a month.

How often should you clean the coffee maker?

The coffee maker runs literally hot in most Swedish kitchens, so it needs descaling quite often.

How often you should clean your coffee maker depends on how hard the water is where you live.

Usually, descaling every two or three months is sufficient, but in some places it may need to be done once a month.

But how do you know if you have hard water in the kitchen then?

If you need to ask that question, the water probably isn't very hard. You usually notice an accumulation of deposits around taps, in the kettle, and of course in and on the coffee maker itself if you live where there is hard water.

It's easy to descale the coffee maker. There are special products you can use, but water and vinegar also work well. You can also use citric acid or a descaling product.

But how often should you wash the coffee pot and filter holder then?

Well, opinions differ. Coffee connoisseurs argue that you should never wash them with washing-up liquid as it can negatively affect the taste. But it’s important that you always rinse them after use to keep them fresh.

– Coffee maker – Once every two months

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When do kitchen bins need cleaning?

The rubbish bin and sorting containers in the kitchen need cleaning from time to time. But how often depends on how much they are used and how dirty they get.

Most families need to clean them at least once a month, but if the rubbish bag has leaked it may need to be more often.

There’s a lot you can do to prevent dirt. Make sure the rubbish bags you use are intact and cover the entire opening of the bin so that rubbish cannot spill outside.

Rinse packaging to be sorted and let dry before placing it in the sorting bins. If you put food waste in paper bags, you can put a little kitchen paper under the bag in case moisture seeps through.

Let potato peelings and other wet things dry a bit in the sink before putting them in the paper bag.

– Rubbish bins – once a month or as needed.

Hope you have become a bit wiser about how often you should clean the kitchen. Are you itching to get started, or far from keen on cleaning the kitchen at home?

We offer home cleaning in Stockholm so you don't have to worry about how often things need cleaning and can enjoy your free time.

Contact us for a free home visit and we'll tell you more about how we can make your everyday life easier.