Stove Top Maintenance and Cleaning

The kitchen is, often, the heart of the home.  Most people spend a lot of time in the kitchen, cooking and preparing meals for themselves or their families.  The stovetop and oven are used frequently and, sometimes. messes are made.  It is very important to regularly clean your stovetop but you may be wondering if you are properly cleaning or if you should be doing more.  Just think about how often you use your stovetop.  Did you make some eggs this morning, or maybe cook some lunch for your kids, and then whip up a delicious dinner in the evening?  Dirt, food and grime can build up very quickly and not only is it unsightly, but it is also not the most hygienic space to cook your food.  Before cleaning your stovetop, it is important to note that if you have a gas cook top, it is important to ensure the gas taps are turned off.  Many stove tops, such as enamel, can simply be cleaned with warm soapy water.   It is best to avoid harsh cleaners whenever possible as they can sometimes damage the finish on a stove top.  Most grids and burners can be removed and then soaked in warm soapy water to remove any build up.  If you feel like soap and water are not getting the job done, there are many cleaning products designed specifically for cleaning glass and ceramic stove tops.  Additionally, there are special scarpers designed specifically for glass stove tops that can help remove particularly stubborn build up but it is imperative that you only used scrapers and cleaners designed for glass and ceramic stove tops to avoid damage.  Another important cleaning note is, do not forget the range hood.  If you have ever had a little too much steam or smoke when cooking, you have probably turned on the vent fan.  The vent fan is very handy at sucking up the unwanted steam and smoke and removing it, and there is a filter that prevents grease build up in the vent hood.  But, the filter accumulates the grease and needs to be regularly cleaned.  Depending on the frequency of cooking, clean your filters every few months to prevent major build up.  With regularly cleaning of your stove top, you can avoid major build ups that lead to hours and hours of painstaking cleaning and possibly, damage to your appliance.  With regular cleaning, your stove top should provide many years of good service to you and your family.]]>