How to Clean the Dirtiest Parts of Your Range

Most of us want our kitchens to be germ free and clean, but even the most diligent of housekeeper will find that their kitchen can easily develop into an icky place. One appliance where this can be particularly problematic is the hardworking range. This major appliance sees a great deal of use and the most spills. While it can be very easy to give the surface a quick wipe down, here we’ll explore how to clean the dirtiest parts of your range.

Close up image of an oven

The Handle

While it is easy to overlook, the handle of your oven range can easily become covered in food debris and other sticky gunk. Think about how many times you’ve opened the oven with food on your hands. So, the door handle tends to harbor germs, and this can allow bacteria to be introduced into your oven.Fortunately, it is very easy to clean the handles and knobs of your range. Simply use a damp cloth lightly sprayed with your preferred kitchen cleaning product to wipe down the full length of the handle. Just remember to get into the corners, where food debris can linger.

The Racks

While the racks inside your oven are subjected to intense amounts of heat, this doesn’t mean that they are sanitized. The racks can harbor baked on spills and other food debris, making them unhygienic and dirty. So, they require periodic attention to keep them clean and sparkling.

All you need to do is fill your sink with hot, soapy water and allow the racks to soak for approximately an hour. If your racks are too large for your sink, use an empty bin or bathtub. Once the racks have soaked, the grime should have loosened, so you can wipe them with a cloth and rinse. This should be done approximately every month, and the more frequently you clean the racks, the easier they will be to clean.

Your Grates

Just like your oven racks, your gas grates can be vulnerable to food debris and spills, so they will need some attention to prevent colonies of bacteria from setting up shop. A simple wipe under the grates will not fix this issue. So, you’ll need to remove the grates and soak them in hot, soapy water. This will loosen any baked on debris and allow you to scrub them clean. Just remember to ensure that the grates are fully dried before you replace them on the cooktop. It is also worth checking that the gas supply holes for each burner are not clogged with crumbs. These can be cleared using a paperclip to help your burners burn properly. In fact, if your clogged burners remain, you may find that you have difficulty getting your burners lit.

Under Your Range

Now you’ve tackled some of the most challenging areas of the range; you need to look lower. Under your range can be a scary abyss of escaped leftovers and other unwelcome things. So, you’ll need to look underneath the range. It is a good idea to pull your range out of its position, so you can clean any debris that may have accumulated. If this is not possible, use a thin duster to reach under your range and clear any crumbs or spills that may have accumulated.

If you’re having difficulties cleaning your range, you can rely on a professional home appliance repair technician for practical guidance and advice. An experienced technician can investigate any underlying issues that may be causing a problem to improve the functionality of your range.

For assistance with any and all your appliance repair issues, ensure you speak to a professional appliance repair service.