Kitchen ranges have a life expectancy of about 16-19 years but have the potential to last even longer when they are well maintained. If you’re not sure what all of that entails, don’t worry, you’re in the right place! We’ve put together a handy kitchen range maintenance checklist that will help you get the most out of your range.
Kitchen Range Maintenance Checklist
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Clean stovetop
Regular cleaning of your stovetop will keep it looking like new and keep it working at its best. It’s not as daunting of a task as you may think, as you’ll likely be able to get it done in under 10 minutes each week.
- When the stovetop is cool, begin by collecting the grates, knobs, and drip pans (for electric ranges) and dropping them into a sink full of hot, soapy water.
- While they are soaking, wipe the stovetop down with a damp cloth. Take the knobs out of the soak after about a minute, as the markings could come off if they’re left soaking too long. Wipe them dry inside and out, set aside.
- Spray an all-purpose cleaner on the surface of the stovetop and let it soak for a couple of minutes. This will make it easier to wipe off any residue with a non-abrasive scrubber. Wipe dry with clean cloth.
- With a heavy-duty scrubber, scrub off any tough spots left on the grates or drip pans. Rinse, dry, and put back into place, along with the knobs.
Recommendation: Repeat this cleaning once a week.
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Clean inside of oven.
Many modern ovens have a self-cleaning cycle, so that’s certainly an easy option to keep the inside of your oven clean. Just be sure to follow the instructions in the owner’s manual carefully and don’t leave the house until it’s done. Wipe out any residue left from the self-cleaning cycle with a damp cloth. If your oven doesn’t have a self-cleaning cycle (or you prefer not to use it), there’s another option. Leave a shallow pan of ammonia in the oven overnight and dump it out in the morning, wiping off the residue with a damp cloth.
Recommendation: Repeat this cleaning once a month.
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Clean range hood filters.
This is one that not everyone thinks to do regularly, but it’s important to keep these filters clean so it can collect grease like it should. Just a forewarning: if it hasn’t been done for awhile (or at all), prepare yourself for a greasy mess, but once you get the filter removed, it’s not too difficult to clean. Soak it in hot water with a combination of dish soap and baking soda. Scrub it with a non-abrasive brush and dry with a clean cloth before putting it back in.
Recommendation: Repeat this cleaning once a month.
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Inspect oven door gaskets and heating element(s).
Check the oven door gaskets for any cracks or tears. Over time, they can wear out and let heat escape from your oven. This makes it work harder to reach the desired temperature, decreasing its efficiency. Also, give a quick inspection of your oven’s heating element(s) while you’re at it. Look for blistering or any other damage. If you catch it before it gets too severe, you can get the heating element replaced before your oven fails completely.
Recommendation: Repeat this inspection once every 2-3 months.
