There may be people on this planet who like to clean their stoves, but we don’t know of any. Owners of cooktops with a touch panel are doing better – such a stove just needs a gentle wipe down. But when it comes to cleaning traditional gas or electric stoves – with burners, grates, and rotary knobs – housewives are immediately in a bad mood.
How to remove the knobs of a gas stove and clean them
To remove the handles from a gas or electric stove, you must first determine whether they are removable or not. This can be stated in the gas stove manual. If there is no instruction, just try pulling on the handles slightly – detachable ones come off without much effort.
How to clean stove handles if they are removable
Place the removed stove handles into a solution of very hot water and baking soda (at the rate of 2-3 tbsp. of baking soda per 0.5 L of water) and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then wash them with an old toothbrush.
How to clean stove handles if they are fixed – 7 ways
- Laundry soap
Household soap contains alkali, so it is used not only for washing but also to remove any dirt from various surfaces.
To clean stove handles, grate 1/4 of a bar of laundry soap on a fine grater, pour 0.5 cups of boiling water, and stir well. Soak a sponge in the soap solution and use it to wipe off dirt and grease. Then wipe with a wet and then dry cloth.
- Soda and peroxide
A quick way to clean stove handles is to mix two tsp. of baking soda and a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide to create a paste-like consistency. Using a toothbrush, apply the paste to the handles, and after 5-7 minutes, brush the handles gently with the same toothbrush and wipe with a damp cloth.
- Salicylic Acid.
A 1% salicylic acid is also very effective. Soak a cotton pad or cotton swab in the product and clean the twist handles. Afterward, wipe with a dry cloth.
- Wet wipes
Wet wipes that contain alcohol will help clean the knobs of the stove if they are not too dirty. Wipe the handles and the panel around them with the wet wipes.
- Ammonia and anise drops
Put ammonia drops on a cotton pad or cotton swab (you can buy them at the drugstore) and clean the stove handles. If the stove is very dirty, leave the drops for a few minutes and then rub them.
Tip: The droplets have an intense scent, so it’s best to keep the window ajar.
- “Chatter.”
Mix alcohol, glycerin, ammonia, and water in equal proportions (for example, 1 tsp. each). Soak an old toothbrush in the mixture and rub the handles of the stove with it. Leave it for 5 minutes and then rub it again with a toothbrush to remove the accumulated dirt and grease. Then wipe with a damp cloth.
- Lemon Juice
Fresh lemon juice has a lot of acids that can dissolve grease.
Squeeze the juice from a lemon, soak an old toothbrush in it, and scrub the dirty pens and surfaces around them with the juice. If the plaque does not come off, connect baking soda: dip the brush in it and wipe again. Alternate lemon juice and baking soda until all the dirt is removed. Afterward, wipe with a damp and then a dry cloth.
Tip: If the stove handles are not too dirty, you can treat them with a solution of citric acid (2 tsp. per 1 cup of water). Leave the solution for half an hour, and then rinse it off.