Cleaning Appliances: Kitchen Appliance Checklist for Oven, Fridge, Washer and More

Cleaning appliances well comes down to three habits: wipe spills as they happen, clean filters and seals monthly, and give the oven, extractor and fridge freezer a proper deep clean every few months. Always switch off and unplug first, and use the product that suits each surface. This checklist covers ovens, hobs, extractor hoods, fridge freezers, washing machines, dishwashers and microwaves, with how often to clean each one, the safety points that matter, and when it’s worth calling in a professional.

The appliance cleaning checklist

Work from the top of the kitchen down and do the greasiest appliances first, so that drips and splashes land on surfaces you haven’t cleaned yet.

Oven and grill

• Switch off at the wall and let the oven cool completely.
• Remove racks, trays and side runners and soak them in hot water with a degreaser or dishwasher tablet.
• Clean the oven cavity, including the roof, back panel and around the fan cover.
• Clean the door glass inside and out, and between the panes if the inner glass lifts out.
• Clean the grill element area and the grill pan.
• Wipe the door seal gently, without pulling it out of place.
• Wipe the controls, handle and front panel.

For a heavily burnt-on oven, our step-by-step guide to cleaning a filthy oven goes into more detail.

Hob

• Gas: lift off the pan supports and burner caps, soak them, and clear any blocked burner holes with a soft brush. Dry them fully before refitting.
• Ceramic or induction: let it cool, scrape off burnt-on spills with a hob scraper held flat, then use a hob cream and a soft cloth.
• Clean the splashback and the wall behind the hob.

Extractor hood

• Remove the metal grease filters and soak them in hot water with degreaser, or put them through the dishwasher if the manual allows.
• Replace charcoal (recirculating) filters in line with the manufacturer’s guidance. Most can’t be washed; a few “regenerative” types can be refreshed in the oven, but only if the manual says so.
• Degrease the underside and outside of the hood, and the light covers.

Fridge freezer

• Empty it and switch it off. Defrost the freezer at least 24 hours before, with towels down to catch the water.
• Wash shelves, drawers and door racks in warm soapy water.
• Wipe the inside with a mild solution of bicarbonate of soda and warm water rather than strong chemicals.
• Clean the door seals, where mould and crumbs collect.
• Clear the drainage hole at the back of the fridge compartment.
• Dry everything and leave the doors open for a while before switching back on.

If you’re moving out, our article on whether the fridge is included in end of tenancy cleaning explains what agents usually expect.

Washing machine

• Pull out and wash the detergent drawer, and clean the housing it sits in.
• Wipe inside the folds of the door seal and remove hair, coins and debris.
• Clean the drain filter, usually behind a small panel at the bottom. Put a shallow tray and towel underneath first.
• Run an empty hot wash or the drum-clean programme.
• Leave the door and drawer open between washes to let it dry out.

Dishwasher

• Remove and rinse the filter at the bottom of the tub.
• Check the spray arms and clear any blocked holes.
• Wipe the door seals, edges and the bottom of the door, where food collects.
• Run an empty hot cycle with a dishwasher cleaner.

Microwave

• Heat a bowl of water with a squeeze of lemon for a few minutes, then leave the door shut for five minutes to let the steam soften the grime.
• Wipe the inside, including the roof, and wash the turntable and roller ring.

Small appliances

• Kettle: descale with a descaler or citric acid, especially in hard water areas such as London and the South East.
• Toaster: unplug and empty the crumb tray.
• Coffee machine: descale and clean in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.

What should you use for cleaning appliances?

Most damage to appliances comes from using the wrong product on the wrong surface. A quick guide:

Surface	Use	Avoid
Stainless steel fronts	Warm soapy water or a stainless steel cleaner, wiped along the grain, then buffed dry	Scourers, bleach and chlorine-based sprays, which can scratch or mark
Enamel oven interior	Bicarbonate of soda paste, or a caustic oven cleaner suited to your oven	Metal scrapers that chip the enamel
Catalytic or pyrolytic oven	The oven’s own cleaning programme, as the manual describes	Oven sprays and abrasives
Ceramic and induction hobs	Hob scraper held flat, hob cream, soft cloth	Abrasive pads and powders
Fridge interior	Warm water with a little bicarbonate of soda or washing-up liquid	Strong-smelling or bleach products near food
Rubber seals	Warm soapy water and a soft cloth	Pulling seals out of place, harsh solvents
Glass (oven door, microwave)	Bicarbonate paste for marks, then a glass cleaner	Anything that scratches, such as steel wool

If you’re unsure, the manual (or the manufacturer’s website, searched by model number) always has the final say, especially for integrated appliances and anything under warranty.

How often should you clean each appliance?

Appliance	Light clean	Deep clean
Oven	Wipe spills once cool, weekly	Every 3–6 months
Hob	After each use	Monthly
Extractor filter	Monthly	Every 3 months
Fridge freezer	Wipe shelves monthly	Twice a year, with a defrost
Washing machine	Wipe seal weekly	Monthly filter clean and hot wash
Dishwasher	Rinse filter weekly	Monthly
Microwave	Weekly	Monthly

A busy family kitchen will need the shorter end of each range.

Safety tips before you start

• Switch off and unplug appliances before cleaning, and let ovens and hobs cool completely.
• Open a window when using oven cleaner, wear gloves and follow the label.
• Never mix cleaning products, particularly bleach with ammonia-based or acidic cleaners, as this can release harmful gases.
• Don’t use oven sprays or abrasives on catalytic liners. AEG’s guidance on catalytic cleaning, for example, says these liners clean themselves at high temperature and are damaged by oven sprays and cleaning agents.
• For pyrolytic ovens, use the self-clean programme as the manual describes and don’t use chemical cleaners inside.
• Keep children and pets out of the kitchen while strong products are in use.

Which appliances do you need to clean when moving out?

If appliances are listed on your check-in inventory, they should be handed back as clean as they were at the start, allowing for fair wear and tear. Check-out clerks usually open the oven, fridge freezer, washing machine drawer and dishwasher, and look under the extractor hood. A dirty oven is one of the most common cleaning deductions, so leave enough time for it, and defrost the freezer the day before so it isn’t dripping at the inspection. Our end of tenancy cleaning checklist lists every appliance point.

When is it worth using a professional?

• The oven has thick carbon build-up that shop-bought oven cleaner won’t shift.
• You’re moving out and the appliances are listed on the inventory.
• You’re a landlord getting a property ready for a new let.
• You’d rather not spend an evening on your knees with oven cleaner and rubber gloves.

Our oven and appliance cleaning is priced per appliance, so you only pay for what you need. It can be added to an end of tenancy clean or a deep clean, and studio flats booked for an end of tenancy clean include all appliances as standard.

Appliance	Fixed price as an extra
Single oven	£35
Double oven	£45
Range cooker	£60
Fridge freezer	£40

From our own booking records between March 2023 and September 2026, about 21% of end of tenancy cleans included an oven clean and about 5% included a fridge. Oven cleaning booked on its own is busiest in February and November, when people are either recovering from Christmas cooking or getting ready for it. Full details are on our prices page.

Frequently asked questions

Want the appliances done for you? Add an oven or fridge freezer to your clean when you book online, or read what’s covered on our oven and appliance cleaning page. We have vetted local teams in London and across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and you can call 020 8146 0266 if you’d rather talk it through.