The stove and oven in any house get dirty and grimy over time, even if the homeowner only cooks a few times each week. Whether tackling the chore as part of an annual spring cleaning routine or getting your house tidy before a home inspection, here are helpful tips to clean your stove.
How to Clean Your Stove if it Uses Gas
Gas stoves have four main components that need to be removed and cleaned. The metal grates cover the burners while the burner caps sit on top of the burner heads and fan out the flames. Both the burner heads and caps will get dirty over time. Finally, the stovetop is the surface into which the other components are built.
Before cleaning your appliance, verify that both the oven and stove are turned off. Remove the burner caps and grates and soak them in warm, soapy dishwater. After cleaning them, place the caps and grates in the dish drainer to dry. If these parts are caked with burnt food and grease, smear them with a paste of one part vinegar and two parts baking soda. Allow the paste to sit for an hour before rinsing it off.
Next, clean the stove burner heads. Examine the burner holes for grease, limiting gas flow and preventing the stove from functioning correctly. Use a paperclip or pin in small spaces to get rid of debris. Wipe down the burner with a soft, damp microfiber cloth. To clean the stovetop, remove crumbs with a dry cloth before using a soapy sponge to scrub off baked-on dirt and debris. Reassemble all of the stove components.
Electric Stove
To clean your stove with metal coil burners, start by cleaning the coils. Turn the stove off and wipe each burner with a damp cloth. If there is any debris left behind, turn the burner on and allow it to burn off. Each stove burner has a drip pan underneath it to catch spills. These can be removed individually and soaked in warm soapy water. If necessary, scrub them with a soft sponge to remove grease before allowing them to dry.
Next, lift the stovetop to clean your stove. Tug upward and use a soft soapy sponge to wipe down the metal. If crumbs or debris are present, vacuum them out with a handheld vacuum. Finally, clean beneath the stovetop with a damp microfiber cloth.
Glass-Top Stove
Glass-top stoves are the easiest to clean, as there are no burners or drip pans to remove. To clean the stove, use a microfiber cloth and wipe it down. Use a cleaner designed to clean glass-top stoves and spray the surface thoroughly. Finish the process by wiping the cleaner off with a damp sponge to remove the dirt.
Carolina HomePro Inspections provides inspections to customers in Charlotte, NC, and in the Rock Hill area of South Carolina. Contact us to schedule an inspection.