Biggest Challenges
1. Splatters on the burners and knobs
2. Charred spills on the oven's bottom
3. Greasy window in the door
Fastest Fixes
1. Clean the cooktop.
Full disclosure: While you won't be doing backbreaking work, there will be some grime and you'll be working in hot water, so put on rubber gloves to start. For a gas range, remove burner caps, grates, and control knobs, and put them in your sink filled with very hot water and dish soap. As these soak, dip a scrubbing sponge into the sink water, wring, and go over the stovetop, paying extra attention to any stuck-on stains around the burners. Rinse with clean water; let dry. Head to the sink and wipe down each item with your sponge (most of the gunk should glide off now). Rinse and dry the parts; reassemble the cooktop. For a coil electric stovetop, do this soaking method with the drip pans and knobs but not the burners, which shouldn't be submerged (and are self-cleaning). For a smooth electric stovetop, clean the surface with a nonabrasive scrubbing pad and a liquid cooktop cleaner. Finally, dip a sponge in hot soapy water, wring well, and wipe the controls. Rinse and let dry.
2. Zap oven spills.
Burned-on blobs welded to the bottom of your oven can give off odors and smoke. If you have time to run a self-cleaning cycle — even a short two-hour one — it's your best bet (and you can go do something else while it works). If not, just focus on the worst stains. Take a metal spatula and gently chip off any loose pieces — with any luck, this alone might do the trick. If not, liberally spritz with full-strength ammonia from a spray bottle. Leave it for at least five minutes, then sprinkle on enough baking soda to completely cover the stain; add just a few drops of white vinegar. Let it bubble for a minute or two, then whisk away the grime with a scrub sponge. Rinse with a clean, wet, regular sponge.
3. Clear up the glass.
To soften any baked-on film, spray the inside of the window with the same full-strength ammonia; let it soak. After a few minutes, rub down the glass with a nonabrasive scrubbing pad. Rinse with a wet sponge, and dry with a paper towel or microfiber cloth. Give the glass on the outside of the door a quick spray and wipe as well. That wasn't too bad, was it?
Make It Easier Next Time
- Block messes from happening: Cover adjoining burners with extra pot lids when sautéing, and line the rack below drippy pies and casseroles with foil or a cookie sheet (clean the lids or pan in the dishwasher later).
- If an oven spill happens, immediately and liberally sprinkle it with salt to soak up the mess. When cool, nudge the crusty stain loose with a spatula; wipe clean.
- Look for tools with the cleaner built-in, like Mr. Clean Magic Eraser with Febreze ($3) for oven windows and Scotch-Brite Cook Top Cleaner ($7) for smooth electric cooktops. Both cleaned GHRI lab ranges easily and without scratching.
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