Module 03 · Kitchen group

Appliance Scouring

Stainless, glass, and enamel — the three finishes guest reviews actually rate. Degrease, then polish. Then sanitize the touch surfaces.

Tools + products to bring

Equipment
  • Stainless steel cleaner (oil-based polish) OR food-safe mineral oil
  • Non-scratch scrub pad (white only — never green/blue on stainless)
  • Degreaser (alkaline, kitchen-grade)
  • Glass cooktop cleaner (if applicable) or baking soda + soft cloth
  • Microfiber cloths (kitchen color-coded)
  • Old toothbrush for knobs and seams
  • Appliance-safe disinfectant wipes

Execution

7 steps in order

  1. 01

    Identify each finish BEFORE you touch a product to it

    Stainless: grain-direction visible. Glass cooktop: black glass, no grain. Enamel: white or colored, glossy. Each takes a different product. Never use stainless polish on glass cooktop (it streaks and leaves a film that burns onto the glass at next use).

  2. 02

    Degrease first — polish last

    Spray degreaser on range hood underside, microwave interior, oven door, and any cabinet face above the stove. Let it dwell (label, typically 1–3 min). Wipe with a microfiber. Polish AFTER degrease — polishing first just seals the grease under the polish.

  3. 03

    Polish stainless in the direction of the grain

    Apply stainless polish to a clean cloth (not directly to the appliance — drips onto the cooktop cause staining). Wipe WITH the grain, long straight strokes. Buff dry with a second clean cloth. Cross-grain strokes on visible grain leave marks that the next guest notices immediately.

  4. 04

    Clean the cooktop cold, with a glass cooktop-safe product

    Glass cooktops need to be cool. Use the dedicated cleaner and a soft cloth — never a scouring pad. For burnt-on residue: baking soda paste, dwell 15 min, gentle scrub with a soft cloth, then buff. Polish residue or degreaser left on the cooktop will burn into the glass on next use.

  5. 05

    Detail the small spaces most crews skip

    Toothbrush + degreaser on: range-knob seams, microwave door button row, dishwasher handle and edge, refrigerator water dispenser pad, oven handle underside, and the seam between the cooktop and the counter. These five spots drive ~40% of the kitchen-clean-related review complaints.

  6. 06

    Sanitize all touch surfaces last (after polish)

    Disinfectant wipe on every handle, knob, button, and dispense surface. Let it dry (full contact time). This goes AFTER polish so the polish is not disturbed by sanitizer residue.

  7. 07

    Test every appliance before leaving the property

    Run the dishwasher once (verify it fills and drains — smell the drain basket). Run the microwave for 30 seconds with a cup of water (verify it heats and the inside has no burnt smell). Turn the oven on to 350°F for 60 sec (verify it heats; turn off). Verify the fridge light works on door open. A broken appliance caught at turnover is a host one-call fix; a broken appliance caught by the guest is a one-star review.

  8. Accept means…

    • No visible streaks along the stainless grain on fridge, dishwasher, hood, or microwave.
    • Range hood underside and microwave interior free of grease film (rub with a clean cloth — no transfer).
    • Cooktop is glass-clean (no residue, no polish film — a wetted cloth glides, does not stick).
    • Every appliance tested working — dishwasher fills/drains, microwave heats, oven heats, fridge light on.
    • Touch surfaces (handles, knobs, dispenser) sanitized last and dry.
    • No scouring pad used on stainless or glass cooktop.

When something looks off

Pitfalls to watch for