The kitchen, as one of the most used spaces at home, needs to be thoroughly cleaned. This doesn't need to be on a weekly or monthly basis, but every quarter or so it's important to ensure a deep clean  of your home.

A clean kitchen will mean you can save on food costs, keep your family healthy and help your kitchen appliances last longer... so how can you manage it? 

1. Start with the difficult tasks

Always make sure you begin your deep clean with the most difficult tasks - like the oven. Tackling the hardest cleaning tasks first will mean you have used your time and energy wisely. With your oven clean - first make sure to disconnect it from the electricity. Then, remove all the racks and interior tools and make a homemade detergent of hot water, baking soda, dish-washing detergent and white vinegar. Put the mixture in a medium sized bowl and stir well, then apply the solution all over the interior parts of the oven via sponge or a towel.

Let the solution to soak up and dissolve the dried grease for a couple of hours or so then clean with towels and cloths, paying attention to the vents and the lights. In the meanwhile, soak the racks in the kitchen sink in a mixture of hot water and dish-washing detergent. If you have a metal brush, use it to clean the metal parts of the oven, as this will help remove the heaviest stained or rusty spots.

Tackling other hard tasks, like the extractor fan and the vaccuum is the best way to begin your deep clean.

2. Clean the fridge inside & out.

Often overlooked for it's hardworking nature, the fridge is one of the most important appliances in the kitchen - especially in terms of hygiene and health. A deep clean of the fridge is one of the most important tasks - and, like the oven, you need to first disconnect it from the electricity. Whilst the fridge is defrosting, make sure to remove all food and place on the bench. Throw away anything past it's expiration date, and check the state of all other food in the fridge. Wipe down jars, bottles and containers to make sure that when you restock the fridge, you do not dirty your clean fridge shelves.

Then, clean the outer coils with a sponge and a de-greasing detergent, then wipe off the excess with a clean paper towel. Then wipe off the dust and blemishes within the pump compartment to reduce noise. Once the fridge is completely defrosted - remove the racks and leave them to soak in the kitchen sink. Clean the interior of the fridge with a solution of hot water and dish-washing detergent, then wipe with a soft clean cloth.

3. Don't forget the cupboards

Whilst it's important to clean the exteriors of the cupboards on a weekly/bi-weekly basis, cleaning the insides of cupboards, and cleaning all shelves, is crucial to completing a thorough clean of the kitchen - it will also help you declutter and reorganise. To start, empty out the pantry. This is the biggest job and, as we mentioned, it is always important to start with the most difficult tasks. Then, clean the shelves with disinfectant and a damp cloth, then wipe over with a dry microfibre cloth to be sure all the food stains are removed and then, restock. Throw out any food that is out of date and be sure you move all food that is close to expiry to the front, to save you from food wastage later down the line. Once the pantry is done, repeat the process with the other cupboards in your kitchen - checking that all crockery and cutlery is sparkling.

4. Hire help if you need

A deep clean of the home is a difficult task - so it is important not to overextend yourself, or take on more than you can physically (or mentally) handle. There are a few options when it comes to hiring help, you can either hire a home cleaner to give you a hand, or hire some specialist cleaning equipment, like a floor scrubber - to help you clean the tiles in your kitchen. This type of machine will give you a professional clean of the floors, costs around £40 per day, and is the best way to get rid of the darker areas, while sanitizing the floor. Another great tip to ensure a longer lasting clean is to seal the tiled surfaces with a protective spray solution, which also acts as the perfect polishing finish. 

5. Clear out all unnecessary items

The kitchen can be a place full of missing tupperware lids, forgotten cereal and odd bits and bobs, so it is crucial when you begin a deep clean of the kitchen that you remove all unnecessary rubbish. There is no use hanging on to tupperware containers with no matching lids, and similarly there is no use holding on to old appliances - like the coffee maker you received for your birthday that you have never used and that they now no longer make the coffee pods for. Get rid of anything you do not use, regardless of whether you think you may use it in 5 years time. As the saying goes: "You can't reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterdays junk"