Have you ever started Chinese New Year cooking and felt the kitchen turn messy within hours?
Greasy handles, smoky smells, and crowded counters tend to show up fast when the kitchen has not had a proper reset.
Deep cleaning the kitchen for CNY works best when clutter is cleared first, because it becomes easier to reach the greasy corners and hidden spots that regular cleaning often skips.
This guide explains why preparing early makes a real difference, what to declutter before CNY begins, and which kitchen areas need the most attention. It also helps you decide when professional deep cleaning is worth considering.
Why Kitchen Preparation Matters Before the Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year 2026 falls on Tuesday, 17 February, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Horse.
For many families, the festive season is not just one day. It turns into a full stretch of cooking, visiting, and hosting, and your kitchen feels it first.
Here is why kitchen preparation matters before the Chinese New Year:
- It supports heavier cooking over several days: Chinese New Year meals often involve frying, simmering, steaming, and preparing many dishes back-to-back. A ready kitchen helps you move faster and avoids small messes turning into big ones.
- It helps you stay hygienic when the kitchen is in constant use: Grease, crumbs, and spills build up quickly during festive cooking. A cleaner setup lowers the risk of cross-contamination, especially when raw meat, seafood, and ready-to-eat food sit close together.
- It follows the tradition of “sweeping away the dust” (扫尘, sǎo chén): Pre-New Year cleaning is not just tidying. It is a way of clearing out the old year’s “dust” and making space for a fresh start. That is why many families take it seriously, even today.
- It gives you more space to cook without feeling stressed: Decluttering clears your counters, frees up drawers, and makes room for ingredients you only buy during this season. It also stops you from digging through piles just to find one ladle.
- It respects the “finish cleaning before the new year begins” habit: Many families prefer to finish the big clean before New Year’s Day. Some also avoid sweeping or taking out rubbish during the first days, because it is believed to sweep away good luck that has just arrived.
- It makes hosting easier: Guests always end up in the kitchen, even when you tell them not to. A clean kitchen feels more welcoming, and you will feel less self-conscious when someone offers to help.
- It saves you from last-minute panic: When you leave it too late, you end up wiping surfaces while cooking or cleaning the sink at midnight. Doing it earlier gives you breathing space when the busy days finally come.
Declutter First: Preparing the Kitchen for Effective Cleaning
Decluttering needs to come before deep cleaning. This step saves time and makes the cleaning more effective.
Here is how to declutter each kitchen area in a simple, practical way.
Decluttering Pantry and Dry Food Storage
Start with your pantry because it affects what you buy and what you cook.
- Take everything out in one go if possible.
- Wipe the shelves to remove dust and crumbs.
- Check expiry dates, especially on sauces, spices, oils, and baking items.
- Group items by type so you can find them fast:
- cooking essentials (oil, salt, sauces)
- noodles and rice
- canned food
- snacks
- baking supplies
If you see opened packets, transfer them into airtight containers. It keeps things fresher and reduces pests.
Decluttering Fridge and Freezer Before CNY Shopping
Your fridge will fill up quickly before CNY, so you need space early.
- Throw away expired items and leftovers that are past their safe window.
- Clear out sauces and condiments you no longer use.
- Check vegetables and fruits for soft or mouldy spots.
- Remove freezer items you forgot about and will not realistically cook.
A simple rule helps here: if you would not serve it to guests, do not keep it.
Sorting Utensils, Cookware, and Small Appliances
This is the part that makes cooking feel easier right away.
- Pull out all utensils and keep only what you actually use.
- Remove duplicates, broken tools, and items missing parts.
- Keep your “CNY essentials” easy to reach, like:
- wok tools and ladles
- strainers and colanders
- chopping boards
- serving platters
- steamer trays
What to Keep, Discard, Recycle, or Replace Before CNY
Use this simple sorting system so you do not overthink it.
Keep
- items you use weekly
- tools you need for CNY cooking
- cookware in good condition
Discard
- expired food and spices
- cracked containers
- mouldy cutting boards
- broken tools and appliances
Recycle
- clean plastic and glass containers (where accepted)
- cardboard packaging
- metal tins
Replace
- old sponges and dishcloths
- worn scrub pads
- damaged bin liners
- rusted or warped bakeware
Deep Cleaning the Kitchen for CNY: Key Areas to Clean Before CNY
Deep cleaning the kitchen for CNY feels much easier after you declutter first. You can finally reach the greasy corners, sticky spots, and hidden mess that a quick daily clean usually misses.
Here are the key areas to focus on before CNY:
Cabinets, Drawers, and Storage Interiors
These areas often look clean until you open them and find crumbs, dust, or old spills. Wipe the shelves and corners, then clean the doors and handles since you touch them constantly while cooking.
Cooking Appliances: Hob, Oven, Microwave
These appliances work the hardest during CNY, so they need more than a surface wipe. Clean the hob and knobs, tackle the oven racks and glass, then wipe the microwave inside, including the turntable and door seal.
Range Hood, Filters, and Ventilation Areas
If you fry or stir-fry, this area builds up grease fast, and you will smell it when it gets bad. Wash the filters and wipe the hood properly, then check nearby surfaces for oil mist so the kitchen does not feel stuffy.
Use MaxClean Degreaser for stubborn film, as it is a powerful, biodegradable, and non-toxic cleaner designed for rapid grease removal.
Sink, Tap, and Drainage Areas
The sink gets used all day during CNY, so it can start to smell if you ignore it. Scrub the basin and tap handles, then flush the drain to clear grease and bits of food.
Kitchen Floors, Walls, and Backsplash
Splashes and oil mist usually end up further than you expect, especially around the hob. Wipe the backsplash and nearby walls, then sweep and mop the floor properly, including under appliances if you can reach safely.
Common Kitchen Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid Before CNY
Most issues come from cleaning the “easy” areas first and skipping the parts that usually cause problems during festive cooking.
Here are the common mistakes to avoid, plus what tends to work better in real homes:
Common mistake | What usually happens | What works better |
Starting too late | Cleaning feels rushed and the worst areas get skipped, like the hood and cabinet corners | Start earlier so there is time to clean properly and take breaks |
Decluttering after cleaning | Surfaces get wiped, then everything gets messy again when cupboards are cleared | Remove items first, then deep clean the empty space once |
Cleaning only what is visible | Counters look neat, but crumbs and grease stay hidden inside drawers, shelf edges, and door hinges | Clean inside drawers, cabinets, and shelf edges too |
Forgetting the range hood and filters | Smoke and frying smells linger, and oil mist settles back onto nearby cabinets | Wash the filters and wipe the hood before heavy cooking begins |
Using too many products at once | Strong fumes build up and surfaces can feel sticky after, especially around the hob | Keep it simple, use one product at a time, rinse when needed |
Scrubbing every surface the same way | Some surfaces scratch or turn dull, especially glossy cabinets and delicate countertops | Use gentler methods and match the cleaner to the surface |
Skipping high-touch points | Handles, knobs, switches, and fridge doors still feel oily even after “cleaning” | Wipe high-touch areas last so they stay clean longer |
Thinking sweeping can happen anytime | Some homes avoid sweeping during the first days, so crumbs and dust build up fast | Finish major cleaning before the new year starts |
Skipping pantry and fridge checks | Expired food stays and there is no space for fresh ingredients and leftovers | Clear space early so shopping and cooking feels easier |
Doing everything in one long session | Energy runs out halfway, and the deep-clean areas never get done | Split tasks into smaller blocks across a few days |
When Professional Kitchen Deep Cleaning Is Worth Considering
Sometimes, no matter how careful the preparation is, a home kitchen needs more than a DIY clean. This usually happens before Chinese New Year, when cooking increases, time is tight, and hygiene matters more than usual.
Here are situations where professional kitchen deep cleaning is worth considering:
- Heavy grease build-up that keeps coming back
Grease does not always sit on the surface. It settles into corners, cabinet edges, and around the hood area, then turns sticky over time.
A deeper clean helps remove the old layer so your kitchen feels cleaner for longer, not just for one day.
- Very little time before the festive rush begins
Cleaning a kitchen properly takes hours, especially if it has not been deep-cleaned in a while.
Professional help makes sense when the schedule is packed, and there is no energy left for a multi-day clean.
- Range hood and oven areas that are hard to clean at home
The hood filters and the space around the hob tend to be the first places that smell “cooked in”.
Ovens also hold on to burnt residue that starts smoking once festive cooking begins, which is why these areas are often worth outsourcing.
- Hosting guests and cooking for multiple days
A kitchen gets messy fast when there are reunion meals, visits, and back-to-back cooking.
A deep clean before CNY helps keep the space manageable, especially when the sink and counters are constantly in use.
- Wanting hygiene confidence, not just a clean look
A kitchen can look tidy and still have grease film on handles, residue in drawers, and build-up near drains.
Professional deep cleaning focuses on the areas that affect hygiene and comfort during cooking.
This is where Total Cleanz becomes relevant. Total Cleanz is an NEA-licensed cleaning company with 20 years of operational experience. It has cleaned 500,000+ residential homes with a 99% client satisfaction rate, which matters because consistency is what separates a proper deep clean from a quick surface job.
Total Cleanz provides services like Decluttering & Organising and Steam Cleaning, which can take a lot of pressure off when the kitchen needs a proper reset before the festive rush.
FAQs
When should kitchen deep cleaning start before CNY?
Start 7–10 days before CNY. Do one zone per day, so the kitchen stays usable and the last two days stay calm for cooking too.
How can grease be removed quickly without damaging surfaces?
Loosen grease with warm, soapy water, then apply a degreaser, such as MaxClean Degreaser, to any stubborn film. Test first, wipe gently, and rinse to protect finishes always afterwards.
Should the kitchen be disinfected after deep cleaning?
Yes, but clean first. Disinfectant works best on a grease-free surface. Focus on chopping areas, sink taps, handles, and switches before big cooking days begin.
Why does the kitchen still smell oily after cleaning?
The smell often comes from hood filters, oily splash zones, and drains. Rewash filters, wipe nearby walls, and flush the drain with hot water after.
Conclusion
Chinese New Year kitchens get busy fast, so preparation matters more than perfection.
Deep cleaning the kitchen for CNY becomes manageable when the space is decluttered first, then cleaned zone by zone, from cabinets and appliances to hood filters, sinks, and floors.
If grease build-up is stubborn or time is limited, professional help can save hours. Total Cleanz is NEA-licensed with 20 years of operational experience and a 99% client satisfaction rate.
Contact Total Cleanz today to book your kitchen deep cleaning slot early, so your home is ready before CNY celebrations begin. For more practical cleaning tips, you can also explore our cleaning guides for other areas of the home.
