Conventional Oven Cleaning

Fill a small glass bowl with 1/2 cup full strength ammonia, place in oven and close. Let stand overnight, then wipe loosened dirt with paper towels or newspapers. If then necessary, rub surfaces with a suitable abrasive, such as fine steel wool or soap-filled steel wool pad, wiping off "suds" with paper towels. Then wash with warm soapy water and rinse. Repeat the process if necessary.

Commercial oven cleaners are helpful if ovens are very soiled, but they should be used with caution. These cleaners can damage surfaces outside and around the oven. Be sure to protect these areas with layers of newspaper or other materials and cover your hands with protective gloves. If using most commercial oven cleaners, never spray in a hot oven (over 200 F.) which will make it even more caustic and can corrode surfaces. Never spray on oven light, electric elements, or pilot light in older gas ranges. Turn off the pilot light when using spray oven cleaners.

Removable parts, such as broiler pans and racks, can be cleaned more easily if allowed to soak in a sink or pan of sudsy water to which a little ammonia has been added. A lot of soaking is better for the surface, and easier, than a lot of scrubbing. Never soak aluminum in ammonia or other alkalis.

If necessary, you can scour oven racks or porcelain enamel with steel wool or a scouring pad to remove baked-on grease or food spills which have not come off in regular cleaning. Occasional use of such abrasive pads, or scouring powder on badly baked-on soil is OK, but don't use these too often or scrub too hard for you can scratch the smooth surface and make it harder to clean from then on. Do not scour mirror-finished metals, glass, or baked-on enamel.

Electric and Gas Cooktops--Cleaning

Most electric and gas cooktops are porcelain enamel, which can be easily cleaned when cooled, with a damp cloth (warm water) or paper towel.

If greasy or sticky soil, use warm sudsy water on cloth, paper towel, or sponge; rinse with clean cloth; wipe dry.

If stubborn soil, lay sudsy wet cloth or towel over spot and leave a few minutes to loosen soil (semi-soaking). And/or rub with a nylon net scrubber or soft plastic mesh pad. Do NOT use abrasive pads or scouring powders as these can permanently scratch the porcelain finish.

Control knobs are washed in warm suds with cloth or brush, rinsed, and dried. If they come off, they're easier to clean, but do not soak them.

The area under drip pans may be washed with warm suds, rinsed, and dried. Use paste of baking soda and water on difficult spots. A soap-filled steel wool pad may be used occasionally if necessary, or use a plastic mesh pad.

Cleaning Burners, Gas or Electric

Electric burners usually burn off food spilled on them. Heavy spills can be wiped off with a damp cloth when the burner is completely cold.

Gas burners and grates may be removed for cleaning. Soak grates in very hot water and detergent about a half-hour if very dirty; then scrub with a brush, rinse and dry. A little ammonia may be added to the soaking solution if they are very greasy. Soak burners in hot, soapy water to soften grease and grime. Clean with a brush. Do not use scouring powder which will clog the holes. The metal ring with holes in it may come off the burner for cleaning. If the holes in the burner are stopped up, clean with a fine wire, hair pin, paper clip or pipe stem cleaner. Don't use toothpicks as they could break off and clog the holes. Rinse burners in hot water and place them upside down in a warm oven (300 F.) to dry; about 15 minutes.

Cleaning Reflector Bowls

Reflector bowls under burners may be taken out and washed in hot suds. Soak several minutes to loosen heavy dirt; up to 20 minutes may be needed if grease is burned on the bowls. Wipe off trim rings with sudsy cloth. On stubborn spots on chrome bowls and rings, use a paste of baking soda and water with a plastic mesh pad. Rinse and dry. Never put chrome bowls in the dishwasher or in a self-cleaning oven. Porcelain reflector bowls can be washed in either sudsy water or in an automatic dishwasher. If your manual recommends it, porcelain bowls can occasionally be cleaned in a self-cleaning oven cycle, upside down on oven racks. Wiping spills off bowls after cooking prevents stain build-up which requires stronger measures.

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Author:

Anne Field, Extension Specialist, with credit to MSU Extension