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Countertops

  1. Spray countertops with an all-purpose cleaner.
  2. Wipe away with a clean microfiber towel.
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What we use: Method All-Purpose Cleaner, Grapefruit and a microfiber towel — the cleaner cuts through everyday grime without leaving a chemical smell behind, and microfiber won't leave lint or streaks the way paper towels can.

Sink

  1. Wet the sink down completely by spraying water all around it.
  2. Apply Bar Keeper's Friend Soft Cleanser to a damp non-scratch sponge and scrub the entire sink.
  3. If the sink is heavily stained: use Bar Keeper's Friend Powder Cleanser instead — apply it to the damp sponge the same way.
  4. Let it sit for 5–10 seconds.
  5. Rinse thoroughly and buff dry with a microfiber towel.
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What we use: Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge (Scotch-Brite), Bar Keeper's Friend Soft Cleanser, Bar Keeper's Friend Powder for tougher stains.

Stovetop

The steps differ depending on whether you have a gas or electric range — treating them the same way risks damaging either one.

Gas Stovetop

  1. Turn off the stove and let it cool completely. Take a photo before removing anything, so you know how everything goes back.
  2. Remove the grates, burner caps, and burner heads.
  3. Put the grates in a garbage bag and spray with an oven cleaner/degreaser; let them soak.
  4. Soak the burner caps and burner heads separately in warm water with a small amount of dish soap.
  5. Vacuum any loose crumbs or debris off the stovetop surface.
  6. Spray the stovetop surface with a degreaser.
  7. Scrub with a non-scratch sponge; use a toothbrush for tight spots around the igniter and edges.
  8. For stuck-on grease, a razor scraper can help — spray first, never scrape a dry surface.
  9. Rinse with clean water and a damp microfiber towel, removing all soap residue.
  10. Dry completely with a microfiber towel.
  11. Scrub the soaked grates, caps, and burner heads with a non-scratch sponge; rinse and dry completely — this matters most for cast iron, which can rust if left damp.
  12. Reassemble using your reference photo.
Two things to avoid: never spray directly into the gas holes or openings, and never use a scouring stick on the burner heads themselves — only on grates or caps, always keeping both the stick and the part wet to avoid scratching.
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What we use: All-purpose degreaser, Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge, a toothbrush for tight areas.

Maintenance tip: wipe the stovetop with a damp microfiber cloth after every use, and clean spills before they bake on. A full deep clean of all removable parts every 3–6 months keeps grease from building up between visits.

Electric Stovetop

  1. Dust the stovetop and clear away loose debris.
  2. Spray with a degreaser (Dawn Powerwash or regular dish soap both work).
  3. Scrub the entire surface with a non-scratch sponge.
  4. Wipe away the soap/degreaser with a damp microfiber cloth — leave the surface slightly damp for the next step.
  5. For baked-on grease that's still there after scrubbing: apply Bar Keeper's Friend Cooktop Cleaner to the damp surface in small circles, focusing on the burner areas. Dwell time: light stains scrub right away, moderate stains need 30–60 seconds, tough stains up to a minute. Never let it dry on the stovetop.
  6. Wipe with a dry microfiber towel to finish.
Razor blade note: only use one as a last resort on stuck-on residue, always on a wet surface with a fresh (non-rusted) blade, held at a low angle with light pressure.

Oven

This is the part most people skip at home — and where a deep clean makes the biggest visible difference.

Before you start: never preheat the oven — it needs to be completely cold before you apply any cleaner. Never spray directly into the oven fan, onto electrical connections, lights, switches, the thermostat, or the heating element.
  1. Remove the oven racks. Lay them outside on a garbage bag (not in the bathtub — grease will transfer and create a second cleanup job) and spray with an oven cleaner. Let them soak for 30 minutes.
  2. While the racks soak, vacuum loose crumbs and debris out of the oven interior, then wipe out any remaining residue with a paper towel.
  3. Leave the oven door open and lay a garbage bag or covering at the base of the door opening to catch drips.
  4. Spray the oven interior with your cleaner. If any lands on the fan, electrical connections, thermostat, or heating element, wipe it off immediately with a damp towel.
  5. To treat the fan itself: spray the cleaner onto a paper towel first, then wipe the front of the fan with the towel. Never spray directly into it — if chemical gets inside, the fan has to be disassembled to clean it out.
  6. Let the interior sit for 30 minutes — don't let it dry out.
  7. Scrub the soaked racks with a non-scratch sponge, rinse thoroughly, and set aside to dry.
  8. Wipe the oven interior — paper towel first (it lifts the heaviest grease), then a microfiber towel.
  9. For charred spots that won't budge: use a razor blade scraper with cleaner or water as a lubricant, never dry. Go slow with a fresh, rust-free blade.
  10. Clean the top heating coils with a non-scratch sponge and water only — no chemical cleaner on this part.
  11. Dry the interior completely, then replace the racks.
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Self-Cleaning Ovens

Only use a fume-free cleaner, and only if you won't run the self-cleaning cycle while any residue remains. Never heat the oven during cleaning.

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Blue Enamel Interiors

Skip heavy-duty chemical cleaner entirely — the caustic lye formula can permanently etch the porcelain finish. Use the natural method instead.

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What we use: fume-free oven cleaner (safer around strong smells, safe for self-cleaning ovens under the conditions above) — Easy-Off Fume Free. Heavy-duty oven cleaner (for tougher buildup — not for self-cleaning ovens or enamel interiors) — Easy-Off Heavy Duty. Plus a Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge.

Natural Alternative (for allergies, asthma, or chemical sensitivity)

Everything above stays the same — racks, prep, wait times, rinsing — only the cleaning agent changes.

Never mix baking soda and vinegar together. Combined, they neutralize into salt water and lose their cleaning power. The baking soda paste does the scrubbing; the vinegar comes in afterward to cut any remaining grease.
Baking soda in a glass bowl before mixing with water

1. Start with baking soda in a bowl

Mixing baking soda and water into a thick, spreadable paste

2. Mix to a spreadable paste

Applying the baking soda paste to a greasy oven glass surface with a non-scratch sponge

3. Apply and scrub in

  1. Make a paste: start with baking soda in a bowl and mix in water a little at a time until it's thick and spreadable — no dry clumps, not runny.
  2. Apply the paste to the oven surface with a brush or tool and scrub it in with a non-scratch sponge.
  3. Let it sit — 15–20 minutes for light grease, 30 minutes for moderate (recommended for most cleanings), 45–60 minutes for heavy or baked-on grease.
  4. Wipe away the paste with a damp paper towel or microfiber towel.
  5. Spray vinegar onto the surface to cut through any remaining grease, then wipe clean.

Oven Liner Placement

Oven TypeWhere the Liner Goes
Gas ovenBottom rack — never directly on the oven floor
Electric, exposed elementDirectly on the oven floor, underneath the element, lying flat
Electric, hidden/concealed elementLowest rack instead — not on the floor

Either way: never let the liner touch a heating element directly, and trim it to leave about an inch of space around the edges for air circulation.

Refrigerator (Interior)

  1. Remove all items from the fridge.
  2. Vacuum out or pick up any small debris.
  3. Mix a bucket of water with 1–2 drops of dish soap.
  4. Dip a non-scratch sponge in the solution and clean all interior surfaces.
  5. Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth (rinsed in clean water) to remove soap residue.
  6. Finish with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.

Appliance Exteriors (Stainless Steel)

  1. Apply Bar Keeper's Friend Liquid Cleanser to a damp non-scratch sponge.
  2. Scrub the stainless steel exterior — refrigerator, dishwasher, etc. — in a circular motion.
  3. Let it sit for 5–10 seconds.
  4. Wipe down with a damp microfiber towel.
  5. For a polished, streak-free finish: spray a stainless-steel-safe polish onto a dry microfiber towel and rub it into the surface.
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What we use: Bar Keeper's Friend Liquid Cleanser, Orange Glo Wood Furniture 2-in-1 Cleaner & Polish for the finishing polish.

What's Included in a Professional Deep Clean vs. an Add-On

Standard Part of a Deep CleanPriced as an Add-On
CountertopsCabinet interiors
SinkInside the oven
StovetopInside the fridge
Appliance exteriorsDishes

These take meaningfully longer than a standard pass and aren't needed at every visit, which is why they're priced separately.

For more on how often a full deep clean makes sense for your home, see our guide: How Often Should You Deep Clean Your Home?

kitchen deep cleaning checklist deep clean oven checklist clean stovetop kitchen cleaning products
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MDT Cleaning Services

Family-owned and operated, MDT Cleaning serves residential and commercial clients across Conroe, The Woodlands, Spring, Tomball, Magnolia, and Montgomery. We believe clean spaces create better lives — and better businesses.