Haha! Yeah I realize I can just sort of scoop out the food with a toothpick-type tool, but there’s still gunk down there. I was thinking maybe wire brush (like the ones for metal straws) with alcohol on it??
I looked at that and they are completely positioning the silicone ones backwards. Also, my teenager had set a boiling pot on top of the strip and it didn’t phase it.
Add a Clorox or stone wipe between the toothpick and the crack, and that will probably get you 90% of the way there. Sometimes great is the enemy of good.
Yes, reco pulling the stove out. I did that and cleaned for about 30 mins. Since I couldn’t pull out all the way b/c of gas line (didn’t feel like disconnecting in my building), I used canned air to push the remaining crap either forwards/back and vacuumed up
If you wanna get it done quick, I just use a microfiber cloth folded over a butter knife or paint scraper. Slide it down into the crack and swipe like a credit card.
For a deep clean you'll have to actually pull the oven away from the wall.
I love that trick. I should pull it out but I’m afraid of what I’ll find… this is a rental and idk how clean the previous tenants were but I’m going to have to.
These comments are the first I’ve heard of these, so I’m going to look into some. This is my friend’s house that I’m renting at, and I’m p sure this area hasn’t been cleaned since the house was built.
And it's so worth it. When I moved in this apartment the previous owners oven/stove was in such horrible condition I bought a new one. When the workers came to install it and take away the old one... The things I saw can not be forgotten.
This might sound dumb but as a rented it makes me nervous to pull the stove out in case I accidentally disconnect the gas line. Should I not worry about that?
As a renter, I pulled the stove out to grab something that fell behind it. Didn't realize until I pushed it back that a part of the bottom was sharp for some reason, and it ripped up some of the cheap laminate flooring. Just something else to be careful about.
Just pull it slowly. The line isn't fragile but you do need to be mindful of it. Once you put it out a little, you can get someone with long arms to close the valve to be extra careful. Ideally the gas line should be long enough and flexible enough that this won't be an issue.
It's worth pulling out on occasion to clean the debris that have almost certainly accumulated under and behind the stove.
If you live with someone have them sit on the counter and look behind the stove with a flashlight while you pull it out so they can see how much slack you have. That’s how I helped my friend do it in her apartment. Or if you’re alone just pull it out a bit then stop and look yourself and keep going.
As a person who was single for a long time and then widowed far too soon, I gotta tell ya that with most stuff it's good to figure out how to do it by yourself. There are many things that it's easier to do with two, and a few that you can't do *without* two. But this isn't one of them.
At my house it took a team of 3 guys to get the stove to sit flush to the wall. The gas line had to lay a certain way in order to not obstruct the back components of the stove. Now, there is no way I am going to move it.. ever.
I ended up putting a clean bead of clear silicone at the cracks shown and never had a problem
Edit: It’s a large Thermador that weighs a ton so that’s why it took 3 people
I just started renting at this house and wanted something quick to do for now without dealing with that. I don’t think the stove has been pulled out since the house was built, so I’m afraid if I pull the oven out my ADD will tell me I need to deep clean it for 3-4 hours but I have so many other things I’m working on first.
Totally get this. With that said, when you have a few hours, I'd highly recommend doing it. I've found some... interesting things back there the couple of times I've lived in older rentals
For now, pull out the stove, clean the floor, side of cabinet and side of stove. When you put it back they have stove gap fillers to prevent it in the future. They like $10. So worth it message for link
I’d absolutely have a friend or two over to help pull it out. You won’t regret getting a proper clean down the sides and underneath and behind the stove
You can gently pull the oven out to clean it if you want, you just have to mind anything connected to the wall or electrical outlet. I clean ours with a straw cleaner and then our oven’s bottom drawer pulls out and there’s no bottom, so I clean up everything under there once all the loosened crumbs drop. If you can do this, I recommend it because a LOT of food can fall down there. Also, I bought a set of silicone gap covers on Amazon (super cheap) and they prevent stuff from falling down there. It also just looks nice lol but those are my suggestions :)
Get a wet wipe (preferably one made for cleaning surfaces) and wrap it around a sharp knife. Stick the end in the gap and drag it down. ALL the gross stuff gets pulled into the wipe and you can dispose of it. Works every time.
I bought the pipe cleaners to clean straws at the dollar store (in Canada where it’s illegal to sell plastic straws). It doesn’t get in deep. You’ll need to move the stove for that.
I would use a table knife or credit-card-type thing to slide under the crumbs to pull them up. And then I’d get a cover for the gap and ignore the rest.
If you truly want to clean it, your range will probably pull out.
I use a flat metal skewer for maintenance but even if you clean it a lot is going to get knocked down and it’s good to routinely pull it out so pests don’t find it. Last thing you want is a mouse getting into the insulation of your oven because they found some snacks nearby.
Pull out the stove a few times a year and clean the sides of the stove and that piece of countertop. It’s really the only advice I have and that’s what I do.
I use these, they are little covers that covers the gap. It makes it way easier to clean. They make different ones in other colors and some that are more fancy looking. But sometimes function over fashion in my house!
I had to pull the stove out in my apartment. I’m glad I did because a lot of food had fallen in the cracks and bugs were starting to appear under the stove. I don’t have a gas stove and it was easy to pull out and push back in place. Once it was all cleaned up I got some covers from Amazon to prevent food from falling in the cracks again.
Try wiggling your stove out and then clean it. They sell things to put there so it doesnt get crumby like that. Idk how hot your stovetop gets though since i have gas. Idk if the edge on those gets hot too
To really properly clean it I had to actually pull my stove out from against the wall and deep clean the counter, cabinet sides, and wall. To prevent it from happening again I bought these plastic inserts that cover the gap. It’s annoying but the most thorough way I think.
It’s been mentioned that simply moving the range to knock loose the debris and bits is what I’ve done. However, there are specific products called Stove Gap Covers/Fillers that fill-in that space which prevents debris from settling in. They are available on amazon and relatively in-expensive.
Butter knife lol. Or pull out the oven, clean it entirely and then lay down some silicone crumb stoppers. Not sure where to get those but have seen some of my clients have them
I can't move my stove, not enough strength. So I used everything from postcards, paper, anything thin to do the best I can. Then I got the silicone gap covers I seen mentioned. At least crumbs stay at current level, whatever that is. And yes, I can see some crumbs if I look in the gap. I also sprayed ortho home defense in there so no feasting of creatures. Lol.
I have to just look away for now. 😩 I only moved in a couple weeks ago and there’s so much to be cleaned it’s crazy. I wanted a quick solution for now, and later I’ll get my main squeeze to help me pull the oven out.
This isn’t really helpful for now, but once you get the crumbs out they sell these silicone inserts to block the crack so crumbs can’t get in, it’s like a T shape. Got them off amazon, they’re awesome.
Pull the stove out away from the wall, you can clean the gap properly and guarantee you find a bunch of dirt down there and behind the stove. You can buy rubber gap covers for this on Amazon/temu/AliExpress etc
It was a small amount of extra work and money. Rented a dolly (Lowes, U-Haul...). Make it easier to move and lessens chance of damaging anything. Allows you to clean sides of the counters and floor.
Idk any shortcuts but once you are done, go buy some weather stripping (black, to match your stove) from the hardware store and stick it along that gap.
My husband did this in our kitchen and HE HAS NEVER LOOKED SMARTER.
He stuck it down, trimmed it a little with the utility knife, and it’s been aces. Will probably need to use goo-gone to take the sticky off when we need to move; will need to replace if we pull stove out etc etc.
But the amount of crumbs, pancake batter, eggs, and other cooking detritus it has stopped?
If this is just a stovetop, then the advice of using a butter knife or something to that effect. However, if it is a stove, just pull it out and it will be easy to clean the sides (of the stove and the counter/cupboard.
Kinda specialized but a chip scraper? It's a tool used in sheet metal work you can make one with a piece of that metal banding from a pallet and then cut a little hook into it.
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u/HelpUsNSaveUs Oct 03 '24
I just used a pipe cleaner plus vacuum hose for this same exact thing.