Your pot splatters and splashes as spaghetti sauce boils over. You’ve brushed umpteen crumbs and piles of spilled oregano out of the way, and some went down the cracks. You have a sneaking suspicion where pests lurk in your kitchen after dark. And now you want to start cleaning behind the stove. Here’s a 7-step guide to tackle the scariest chore of all, cleaning behind the stove.
1. Safety first
If you have an electric stove, you need to protect yourself from shock. Most plug into 220 outlets that double the electricity through a standard model, meaning that such an injury could prove fatal.
Fortunately, all you need to do is remove the clips holding your stove to the wall and wiggle it out far enough to reach behind it and grasp the plug. Avoid pulling the cord, as this action could damage it.
2. Look for signs of trouble
Once you can see behind your device, look for signs of trouble. Mouse droppings or gnawed holes could indicate you need to call an exterminator.
Remove any debris from the floor with a broom. You might find that spatula you misplaced months ago.
3. Empty the drawers
Be careful what you store in your stove’s drawer. This area gets hot and can start things like oven mitts on fire. If you’re short on storage space, install a hanging pot rack. Keeping pans in the oven can prove dangerous if bits of food later combust.
4. Use sliders to protect floors
You don’t want to scratch your tile or linoleum. Use sliders to move your stove. These can consist of old rags or pieces of cardboard. If you want, you can invest in professional models, but DIY versions work just as well.
5. Get up the grease naturally
SOURCE: PEXELS
You prepare food in your kitchen, so when it comes to cleaning behind your stove or around it, for safety go with natural cleaning agents. You can use plain distilled vinegar to cut grease without fumes. While the regular kind contains only 5% acetic acid, the “super” version has twice the strength, and you can find it at most hardware stores.
6. Tackle the interior
While cleaning behind the stove, do a thorough job of tackling the oven’s interior, too. Once again, you can avoid caustic sprays and go natural. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Slather it over the interior and let it dry, then scrub it away. Finish with a vinegar shine.
7. Make the top and sides sparkle
SOURCE: UNSPLASH
While you have your stove unplugged, take the opportunity to make the exterior sparkle. Remove the burners and the plates lining them. Many versions lift to allow you to get any crumbs or debris underneath. Remove the knobs and eliminate those spaghetti-sauce fingerprints. You can use a small vacuum attachment to suck up any crumbs stuck in hard-to-reach crevices.
Make a scary chore less scary
Cleaning behind your stove sounds daunting. However, with this seven-step guide, you can tackle this chore like a wiz.
AUTHOR: KACEY BRADLEY
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Guides for Brides, Hotel Online and more!
Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!
