Cleaning the stove and oven is one of those jobs that no one really enjoys, yet it must be done. Some modern appliances come with built-in features that save you both time and effort. Even if you own an older stove or oven, there are still ways you can reduce the amount of time you spend cleaning them.
Here are some tips for each area:
- Burners and Knobs: These get touched the most in addition to absorbing most of the dropped or splattered food residue. To get the knobs and burner grates as clean as possible, remove them and soak in hot water with dish soap added. If you notice a build-up of food residue on the stove top and burners, add a dab of vinegar and liquid cleanser to a non-abrasive sponge and scrub them away.
- Doors and Glass: The glass doors of your stove or oven can collect a lot of food residue over time. To remove it, spray a full-strength ammonia on the glass inside of the oven door and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it clean. Don't forget to spray the glass on the outside of the oven and wipe it with a microfiber cloth.
- Oven Racks: Make it a point to remove your oven racks regularly and run them through the dishwasher. If they're too large to fit, add detergent or laundry soap to your bathtub and allow them to soak there. Be sure to dry the racks before putting them back in the oven.
- Oven Walls: If you have a self-cleaning oven, employing its steam-cleaning feature will save you a lot of time. When the cycle is complete, just wipe down the inside of your oven with paper towels or a microfiber cloth. If you don't have this feature, make sure the oven is off and completely cooled down before scrubbing it with a non-abrasive sponge and dish soap by hand.