Childcare Kitchen Cleaning Checklist: Food Prep, Bottles & Dining
Quick answer
Childcare kitchens need clean-then-sanitise routines on every food-contact surface: benches and boards between tasks, sinks and appliance handles daily, dining tables and high chairs before and after every meal, plus weekly cleaning inside microwaves and fridges and monthly degreasing of ovens, rangehoods and behind appliances. Use green (food-only) cloths and follow your food safety program.
In Victoria, long day care centres that prepare and serve food are generally Class 1 food premises — the highest-risk category — because they serve potentially hazardous food to a vulnerable group. That means a food safety program, a food safety supervisor and council inspections. Sessional kinders that only serve fruit and packed lunches are usually Class 4. Your council confirms your class.
Cleaning does not replace your food safety program, but it underpins it. This checklist covers the kitchen, bottle-prep areas and dining spaces.
In this guide
Clean, then sanitise
Food-contact surfaces are cleaned with detergent and warm water to remove food and grease, rinsed, then sanitised with a food-safe sanitiser (or heat, such as a commercial dishwasher). Sanitiser applied to a greasy bench does not work. Use green cloths in kitchens and dining areas only, and keep them away from bathroom and general equipment.
After each use
- Clean and sanitise benches and chopping boards between raw and ready-to-eat foods
- Wash utensils, plates and cups in a dishwasher or hot soapy water
- Clean dining tables, chairs and high-chair trays before and after every meal
- Sweep under tables after each meal
- Wipe bottle-prep benches and clean bottle warmers after use
Daily close-down
- Clean and sanitise all benches, splashbacks and food-contact surfaces
- Clean sinks, taps and drainers
- Clean fronts and handles of fridges, freezers, ovens, microwaves and dishwashers
- Clean cooktop and oven door
- Empty food waste and recycling; clean and dry bins
- Sweep and mop floors, including under benches
- Launder or replace tea towels and cloths
Want this cleaning done for your centre?
WWCC-verified, police-checked teams cleaning after hours across Melbourne. A typical 3-hour visit is around $180 + GST, with one fixed price per visit after a free walk-through.
Weekly and monthly
| Frequency | Task |
|---|---|
| Weekly | Clean inside the microwave; clean fridge shelves and seals (check dates per your program) |
| Weekly | Clean dishwasher filter and seals; wipe cupboard fronts and handles |
| Weekly | Clean high-chair frames and straps fully |
| Monthly | Degrease oven, rangehood and filters |
| Monthly | Pull out and clean behind and under appliances |
| Monthly | Empty and clean pantry shelves; check for pest activity |
| Termly | Full kitchen deep clean in the holiday deep clean |
Bottle preparation areas
- Keep the bottle-prep area separate from nappy change areas and general sinks
- Clean benches before each preparation session
- Wash bottles and teats in hot soapy water with a dedicated brush, rinse and dry — or follow the family’s instructions for sterilising
- Store breastmilk and formula as per your service policy; clean the fridge shelf it uses weekly
Allergens and pests
Allergen cross-contact is a cleaning issue. Clean tables thoroughly between sittings where children with anaphylaxis eat, use separate cloths for allergen-free areas, and wash hands after handling allergens. Crumbs under appliances and in pantry corners attract pests; monthly pull-out cleaning prevents most problems.
Our childcare cleaning teams use food-safe products and dedicated green equipment in every kitchen we clean.
Frequently asked questions
Are childcare centres Class 1 food premises in Victoria?
Centres that prepare and serve potentially hazardous food, such as most long day care centres, are generally Class 1. Centres serving only low-risk food like cut fruit are usually Class 4. Your local council confirms the classification.
What is the difference between cleaning and sanitising in a kitchen?
Cleaning removes food, grease and dirt with detergent. Sanitising, done after cleaning, reduces bacteria on food-contact surfaces to a safe level.
How often should high chairs be cleaned in childcare?
Trays and seats before and after every meal, with a full clean of frames and straps weekly.
This guide is part of
Childcare Cleaning Checklist: Daily, Weekly, Monthly & Termly (2026 Guide)Related deep dives
Want this cleaning done for your centre?
WWCC-verified, police-checked teams cleaning after hours across Melbourne. A typical 3-hour visit is around $180 + GST, with one fixed price per visit after a free walk-through.
Sources and further reading
- safefood.vic.gov.au — Classifications for food businesses (childcare centres and kindergartens)
- NHMRC — Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services (6th ed.)
- NHMRC — Staying healthy, Part 3: A healthy environment (cleaning, disinfection, body-fluid spills)
This guide is general information for early childhood services. Always follow your service's policies, product labels and safety data sheets, and current advice from your regulatory authority and local health department. Prices are guide estimates only; your fixed price is confirmed after a free walk-through.
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