Cleaning Tips for Your Gas Stove Range and Oven
Food splatters when you cook and if not cleaned in time the spills attract germs and bugs. They may also turn acidic and damage the porcelain enamel of some parts of the range. Cleaning the range regularly will prevent these types of problems and also prevent burned food odors and eliminate the risk of fire. The supplies you will need to clean your range include rubber gloves, commercial oven cleaner or ammonia, baking soda or abrasive cleaner, rags or a sponge, dishwasher detergent and a scraper.
Cleaning tips for outer portions of your gas stove or range.
âÂ?¢ Try to avoid spills as much as possible. While cooking make sure that you don’t cook foods so fast that they either boil over or splatter. You must be careful while removing or pouring food into or out of pans.
� Avoid cleaning the outside of the range including the range top while it is hot as it might crack. Let the range cool down before attempting to clean it.
� Make a habit of wiping the surfaces of the range especially the cook top every day with a rag. Clean areas where food was cooked and under the grids of the gas ranges or the drip pans under the electrical units where there have been spills.
� Rinse and clean with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge. Milk, vinegar and fruit juices create dull spots on the range surface. Wipe them off as soon as they appear. Use a dry paper or cloth if the surface is warm. It is better to avoid soap pads or scouring powders as they might scratch the surface.
� If there are any hard to remove spots made by burned or dried up food then use a wooden scraper or rounded knife to remove them. After removing them scrub the stained area with baking soda and the cleaning rag.
Cleaning tips for the burners. grates and drip pans.
� Make sure that the burners are cool before attempting to clean them.
� Remove the burners by first taking off the burner bowls/drip pans and grates. Then lift off the range top and remove the burner heads at the back by pulling them out.
� Let the burners soak in hot soapy water and while they soak clean the area below the burners. After they are thoroughly soaked clean the burners with a soft bristle brush or scrubbing pad.
� Clean the holes in the burner with a fine wire as they might be clogged. You can also use hair pins or paper clips for this purpose. Avoid using wooden sticks for cleaning burner holes as they might break off in the holes.
� After cleaning rinse the burners in hot water and then dry them upside down inside a warm oven. Let it remain there for about 15 minutes. If you are drying them in the sun make sure that they are completely dry. If the burners are not completely dry you will get a yellow or uneven flame. Also to prevent rusting the burners must be completely dry.
� Finally put the burners back in the exact position they were earlier.
� Take the drip pans out from under the burners and soak them in the sink for about 30 minutes and then scrub and dry them. To make cleaning easier in the future you can cover an aluminum foil over the drip pan and punch a hole to match the hole in the drip pan. While replacing the pan make sure that the foil is not touching the burner or heating element.
� Similarly wash the grates in warm soapy water. if they are difficult to clean then use a solution of 1 cup of vinegar in 1 gallon of water. Soak them for about 30 minutes and then clean with a brush or cloth. Rinse with clean warm water and then dry thoroughly. After drying a light coat of mineral oil can be applied to the underside of the grates to prevent rusting.
Cleaning tips for the control knobs.
âÂ?¢ Some control knobs come off easily and others don’t. The ones that come off can be washed in warm soapy water. Scrub gently but there is no need to soak. Dry them thoroughly before replacing.
âÂ?¢ The knobs that don’t come off can be wiped off with a clean damp cloth. Rub the metal trims of the knobs with a soft damp cloth and shine them with a soft dry cloth.
Cleaning tips for the broiler pan.
� It is best to clean the broiler pan after each use. After the broiling is complete the broiler pan must be taken out of the range and the grease poured out before it becomes hard.
� Place the grill in the pan and apply a little soap or detergent on the grill. Then pour hot water into the pan through the grill. Soak the grill and the pan for about 30 minutes and then wash and rinse them. After they are thoroughly clean dry them out completely before replacing them.
Cleaning tips for the oven.
� You must clean the oven each time you use it. However you can avoid the necessity of frequent oven cleaning by using the right size pans to prevent spills. If there is a spill then it must be cleaned after the oven has cooled down. Spilled food will burn the next time you use the oven and give an odd taste to the food you are cooking.
� Turn off the oven and let it cool before attempting to clean it. Use a clean damp cloth to wipe the food spillage and crumbs. Then wipe the oven door clean and infrequently clean the burnt food on the oven walls.
� For a thorough cleaning take about a half cup of household ammonia in a bowl and place it inside the cold oven with the door closed and leave it overnight or for at least four hours. Take the bowl out and pour the ammonia in the bowl into a quart of warm water Clean the oven walls and door with a cloth dipped in this solution. Then wash the oven and its door with a cloth soaked in warm soapy water.
� After the walls and door are thoroughly clean rinse them with cloth dipped in clean water and wipe them dry. The racks can be taken out and cleaned in warm soapy water with a steel wool to remove the burned out food sticking to them. Rinse and dry them thoroughly and replace tin their original position.
âÂ?¢ In case of self cleaning oven don’t use any cleaners as they can get damaged. In these cases follow the instructions in the manual and use ammonia if necessary.
