You want your cooking area to be fresh and clean, starting with the range itself. Let’s look at how you can keep it looking and smelling good.

Odors

For gas ranges – gas odors
When using the cooktop, a slight gas smell is normal. If painting or staining has recently been done in the house, the smell may be stronger. If you’re not using the cooktop and you smell gas, check that none of the surface burners has accidentally been turned on.

If you’re smelling gas and none of the burners are on, here’s what to and what not to do:

• Do not try to light any appliance.
• Do not touch any electrical switch.
• Step outside to call your gas supplier. Follow their instructions.
• If you can’t reach your gas supplier, call the fire department.

Oven odors – Aluminum foil
Lining the bottom of the oven with aluminum foil can result in trapped spills and debris that create odors. It can also cause permanent damage to the finish, and in gas stoves, it can cause improper combustion. Air must be able to move freely from the oven bottom. It is recommended that no bottom of any type of oven be lined with foil or any other liner.

Cleaning and maintenance

Before cleaning any part of your range, make sure it’s cool.

Cooktop
Cleaning burner or drip bowls
On an electric range, remove coils first. They’re self-cleaning and should not be immersed in water. Porcelain drip bowls can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Chrome drip bowls, however, should be cleaned with affresh® Kitchen and Appliance Cleaner or liquid detergent. They can also be soaked in a solution of ½ cup (125 mL) of ammonia and 1 gal. (3.75 L) of water. After soaking, scrub with stainless steel-wool pad and dry thoroughly.

Cleaning ceramic glass cooktop
Burned-on soil can be removed with these three steps:
Wearing an oven mitt, remove food or residue with a scraper designed for ceramic glass cooktops. For best results, do this while the cooktop is still warm but not hot. Let the cooktop cool before moving on to step 2. Apply a few dime-sized drops of affresh® cooktop cleaner. Rub the cleaner onto the cooktop surface with the blue cooktop scrubbing pad. Let the cleaner dry into a white haze before moving on to step 3. Polish with a clean, dry cloth or paper towel.

Cleaning control knobs and control panel
To clean the control knobs, first pull them away from the control panel to remove them. For cleaning both the control knobs and a traditional control panel, use soap, water and a soft cloth or sponge. To clean a glass control panel, use affresh® Kitchen and Appliance Cleaner or glass cleaner.

Cleaning paint or metallic paint
Use soap, water and a soft cloth or sponge to clean these types of surfaces.

Cleaning porcelain cooktop or surface
Here are the three methods you can use to clean these surfaces:

• Soap, water and a soft cloth or sponge
• Glass cleaner, mild liquid cleaner and a non-abrasive scrubbing pad
• affresh® Kitchen and Appliance Cleaner

Cleaning stainless steel
To clean stainless steel surfaces, spray affresh® Stainless Steel cleaner on a clean microfiber cloth, then wipe in the direction of the grain. Polish it off with affresh® Stainless Steel wipes.

You can also wash surfaces with warm, soapy water using liquid detergent and a non-abrasive sponge. Always rub evenly in the direction of the grain. Rinse and then dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. To polish, move a clean, dry towel in the direction of the grain until it shines.

For gas ranges
Burner grates and caps
Some burner grates can be washed in the dishwasher, but burner caps cannot be. Neither item can be cleaned in the oven during the self clean cycle. Use a non-abrasive plastic scrubbing pad and mildly abrasive cleaner on both of these items.

When reinstalling the burner cap, make sure the pins are properly aligned. It should fit flush with the burner base and have very little side to side movement.

Surface burners and burner ports
Remove the burner cap and burner base to clean. Use a non-abrasive plastic scrubbing pad and a mildly abrasive cleaner. Clean the gas tube opening under the base with a damp cloth. Clean clogged burner ports with a straight pin, needle or small gauge wire as shown below. Never use a toothpick for this, and do not clean in the dishwasher.