Start with the stovetop and use a good cleaner that cuts grease. You will want a scrubber sponge as well (one with the rough green side). However, DO NOT use brillo pads or steel wool that can actually scratch the surface of your stove. If you need something tougher than an all purpose cleaner but want to avoid harsh chemicals, here's a DIY grease cleaner that works great.
A lot of Chico apartments have electric stoves with drip pans under the burners. This is where the forgotten spills and food chunks go to hide until one day you actually look under the burner and are horribly disgusted. If you just can't get those drip pans looking clean again you can always buy new ones. They are pretty cheap and quick to replace.
Most modern ovens have a self-cleaning cycle. This is a little bit misleading since you still have to actually clean the oven out after the cycle is done. The self-cleaning cycle basically heats up the oven to a very high temperature for a fairly long period of time, turning any food residue left inside to burnt carbon dust. Make sure you plan ahead as the cycle can take anywhere from 1 - 3 hours! Once the oven is done and has had a chance to cool down, you can clean the burnt dust out of the bottom and use a gentle cleaner and sponge for any tougher spots.
Pro Tip: If you don't have time for a self-cleaning cycle that could take hours, or if your oven doesn't have such a feature, you can put an oven safe pot of boiling water into the oven for about 20 minutes. Do this while the oven is hot, at least 350 degrees, and the steam will loosen up dried food, making it much easier to clean.
One of the best ways to save yourself work down the road is to plan ahead. Clean as you go after meals and don't let a thick greasy build up cover your oven until it's unrecognizable. Put lids on pots when you cook on the stove. If you have pans that don't have lids that fit, you can put a baking sheet over the top of them - just be careful as it will get hot! Keep your oven from getting dirty by using an oven liner. These are heat resistant mats that you can put at the bottom of the oven to catch all the stuff that drips and keeps it from sticking to the bottom of the oven. You can reduce messes in the oven by covering foods that might pop and splatter like roasting meats. A little bit of aluminum foil goes a long way.
Completing a deep clean of your apartment every few months will keep to keep the time required to clean at a minimum. It's easier to scrub a grease stain that's been there for 3 months than for 5 years. Regular cleaning will help to keep your apartment looking good as new for years to come. Download our cleaning checklist and start tackling those tough stains sooner rather than later!