Not only is your oven at its busiest during the winter holidays, but it’s also in full view of guests while you entertain. What’s the right fall oven DIY maintenance to get it holiday-ready? Cleaning the oven’s interior and exterior surfaces, as well as your stovetop, can ensure they look and function their best. Use these oven maintenance tips so that your oven and stove are ready for a season of entertaining.
Want to Start Your Holiday Prep? Use These Oven Maintenance Tips.
Along with decorating your home and shopping for ingredients, stove maintenance and oven care are vital parts of holiday prep. Proper cleaning not only makes them look their best but can alert you to potential problems in advance of a big celebration. Learn how to perform this vital range and oven maintenance with the right cleaning methods and supplies.
How to Clean the Range Top
Whether you have a gas, electric, or glass cooktop, stove cleaning is essential to make it sparkle and function properly.
Here’s how to perform a range cleaning for every kind of stovetop:
- Gas cooktop cleaning: Take off the grates and remove the burner heads and caps. Rinse with warm, soapy water and gently scrub with a non-abrasive pad. Unclog burner port holes with a straightened paper clip and wipe down the cooktop with a mild cleanser. Avoid using an excess of cleanser that could soak the igniters. Replace burner heads and caps when they’re completely dry.
- Electric cooktop cleaning: Remove the electric coils and wipe them down with a damp cloth. Take out the burner bowls and wash with warm soap and water or a mild cleanser. Wipe down the cooktop with the same mild cleanser and replace coils and burner bowls when dry.
- Glass cooktop cleaning: Spray the surface with a glass cooktop cleaner and wipe down the entire area. Gently scrape caked-on stains with a razor blade.
How to Clean the Oven Exterior
Oven maintenance has to include the exterior door, control pad, and knobs, all of which can accumulate spills and splashes. However, it’s important to use the right materials to remove spots but avoid scratching each component.
Use these oven cleaning tips to make the oven door, control panel and knobs shine:
- Oven door: Spray the interior and exterior sides with a mild cleanser. Use a non-abrasive pad to scrub both sides of the door.
- Control panel: Gently scrub with a mild dish detergent or glass cleaner and a damp paper towel or sponge. Dry with a clean cloth.
- Knobs: To avoid damaging the control valves behind them, don’t remove the knobs when cleaning. Instead, scrub with a non-abrasive pad and a small amount of mild cleanser. Dip a q-tip in the cleanser and carefully scrub around or just under each knob.
How to Clean the Oven Interior
The oven’s interior likely bears the bulk of spills, splashes, and burnt food particles, making proper cleaning essential to range maintenance. While an oven’s self-cleaning cycle can quickly remove these stains, we recommend avoiding it, especially around the holidays. The high temperatures of the self-clean function can damage many components, requiring an emergency repair. We also suggest avoiding simple soap and water, which can also damage oven parts.
Here’s how to use a baking soda paste to safely and effectively clean the oven’s interior:
- Mix a paste of ¾ cup baking soda and ¼ cup warm water.
- Remove the oven grates and apply the paste to the interior with your hand or a gentle brush, avoiding the heating elements.
- Let the paste sit overnight.
- Remove as much of the paste as possible with a damp sponge.
- Spray the interior with white vinegar.
- Wipe down the entire interior, removing any lingering paste and stains.
After your oven maintenance is complete, turn on the oven and cooktop to make sure all features function properly. If any issues arise, call Maughanster Appliance Repair for a fast and professional pre-holiday repair!
