The kitchen is the greasiest zone of an apartment: grease and burnt-on residue settle on the stove, in the oven and on the hood, and odors build up in the refrigerator. We'll go through kitchen cleaning appliance by appliance, step by step and without harsh chemicals.
Stove and cooktop
Remove the grates and burners and soak them in hot water with dish soap for 15–20 minutes: dried-on grease will come off by itself. Sprinkle baking soda on the stove surface, spray it with water and leave for a few minutes.
Then rub with a soft sponge and wipe dry. Baking soda removes burnt-on residue gently and doesn't scratch the surface, which is safer than harsh abrasives and caustic chemicals.
If the residue is ingrained and a sponge no longer lifts it, cooktop polishing will help, and detailed instructions for glass-ceramic are in the article how to clean a glass-ceramic stove.
Oven
Steam works best for the oven. Put a heat-resistant container with water and a little baking soda inside and heat at 120–150 °C for about 20–30 minutes. The steam softens the grease and burnt-on residue on the walls, and then a sponge removes it easily. Wipe the door glass with baking soda paste and dry it.
Range hood and filters
Remove the metal grease filters and soak them in hot water with dish soap: grease dissolves in 20–30 minutes. Add baking soda only for stainless steel filters: aluminum ones darken from it. Degrease the hood housing with a soapy solution, paying attention to the buttons and the grille. Dry the filters and put them back.
We explained which filters can be washed and which can only be replaced in the article how to clean grease off a range hood. If you don't have time, order oven and range hood cleaning.
Refrigerator
Turn off the refrigerator and take out the food. Wash the shelves and drawers with a warm baking soda solution: it removes both dirt and odor. Wipe the walls and the rubber seals, where moisture collects. To keep the inside smelling fresh longer, leave an open box of baking soda on a shelf.
Cabinet fronts, sink, backsplash
Wipe cabinet fronts with a soapy solution from top to bottom, especially the handles and the area by the stove. Degrease the backsplash and sink, and remove limescale from the faucet with a mild citric acid solution. During deep cleaning we clean all the kitchen appliances (stove, oven, range hood and refrigerator) for free as part of deep cleaning, whereas at most companies in Aktau this is a separate paid option.