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I am a home cook, and my stove is a fundamental and sizable piece of equipment. I treat my stove with all the love and care it deserves. Yes, LOVE. Daily, it provides me with good food and warmth. I have been using my stove for years now, and it still looks new. Take good care of your equipment, and it should last for many years.
These are things that I do for cleaning purposes, and any service done to the appliances should be per safety and manufacturer’s instructions. Stoves come in all different sizes and shapes. The example, I will be using is an electric four-burner stove with a standard size attached oven with a warming drawer for this lesson. Even though this is the example I am using, I will touch on other types of stoves like glass stove toppers and gas ovens.
*The first words of wisdom I have for you are always to make sure your cooktop is clean before cooking or heating the oven. The heat from either one will cause whatever it is to cook and harden on the surface. The second is don’t let spills in the oven buildup either.
Instructions
I always go from top to bottom. So we will start with the cooktop. For the cooktop, you will need soft rags, hot soapy dishwater. Occasionally you will need a magic eraser. First, with hot soapy water, clean the top of the stove. That means around the dials and the top, in addition to cleaning around the burners.
These instructions are for daily cleaning. About once a month, I remove the temperature dials, the heating elements, and rings. The rings are the metal pieces under the heating element. I wash the dials and rings in hot soapy water, preferably not together. DO NOT WASH THE HEATING ELEMENTS, AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DRY BEFORE PUTTING THEM BACK ON. If you still have buildup on the rings after washing them, you will need to let them soak in hot water for at least an hour. After the soak, sprinkle generously with baking soda. Let it sit until paste forms. After the baking soda turns into a paste, spray it with white vinegar until bubbles form. Let it stand overnight. That should get most of the gunk off. You may have to do it a couple of times, but it is unlikely.
With everything off the cooktop, lift it. Yes, lift it and secure it in place. My stove has two metal rods that slide into place. Don’t let go before making sure your stovetop is latched into place. Clean with hot soapy water. Be careful around wiring or pilot lights. After everything is thoroughly dry, reassemble.
If you have a glass cooktop, lemon and baking soda should take care of most things. With buildup, it may take a couple of tries. Put lemon juice on the stain and add baking soda until it makes a paste. Let the paste dry, and then clean it up with a soft cloth. I have never tried it myself, but a good friend told me that you can do this same thing with a soft liquid scrub and a scraper. She owns one and likes hers. I would trust this advice.
*I try to use as many natural cleaners as I can. If you are using oven cleaner, please follow the instructions on the can, and I would also advise you to wear a face mask or cover your nose and mouth. Another thing I would advise with gas stoves, no matter which method, you will need to extinguish the pilot light
Next, we are going to work on the oven. The first thing you are to do is take out the racks and wipe off any excess food that may have stuck to them. Most ovens only have a couple of them. Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the oven surface. Be sure to lift the heating element carefully. Once you have a generous amount of baking soda, spray with white vinegar. Be easy with it. You only want enough to make it bubble and pasty. Then close the oven door, and for the best results, I would recommend leaving overnight. The oven door should be let last. I made the mistake of spraying down and closing it. It made an enormous mess on my kitchen floor.
After the mixture has sat for a while, you will need to take a rag with some hot soapy water, clean the oven. Depending on what the inside of your oven looks like, it could take a couple of times to clean. My daughter once made a mess so big it took me a week to completely clean my oven. It was a disaster. She learned a very important lesson. Always make sure there is something under your pans if you think it’s going to overflow.
*To help with buildup in your oven, you should wipe up any spills before they harden. Just make sure the oven is off and at a safe temperature. You do not want to burn your hands.
*I will always advise you to research your appliances whether it’s the manufactures instructions or the internet.
*One last thing, in case of a stove fire, DO NOT PUT IT OUT WITH WATER! Use a fire extinguisher, table salt, or flour. Call 911 if you feel like your life is in danger while exiting your house.
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