| Cleaning a stove check to make sure that all | | | | with water containing a few tablespoonfuls of |
| switches are in the OFF position. The rims of | | | | washing soda. (Don't use an aluminum pan for |
| the heating units should be wiped clean with | | | | this.) In scrubbing the burners be |
| a damp cloth when you have finished cooking | | | | particularly attentive to the little openings |
| and the stove has cooled. Food that has | | | | in the turn-on end through which the gas |
| spilled on open units can be burned off. Put | | | | flows to the burners. If any of the little |
| a saucepan of water on the burner and heat it | | | | holes (called ports) in the burners are |
| until the food has been completely charred, | | | | clogged, push out the soot accumulation with |
| then when the unit has beenswitched off and | | | | a wire or hairpin. Rinse the burners |
| has cooled, lift the unit out and brush off | | | | thoroughly, shake out the water, and wipe the |
| the charred material. A mild scouring powder | | | | outside dry. Then replace them, making sure |
| or steel wool can be used to clean the rim on | | | | that they are in the right position. Light |
| which the unit rests. Wash it, after | | | | each burner to complete the drying and to |
| scouring, with a cloth wrung out of hot suds, | | | | make sure it is functioning correctly. |
| rinse it, and wipe dry. Enclosed units are | | | | |
| washed with a cloth wrung out of soapsuds. | | | | Gas burners are functioning correctly and |
| Particles that have burned on can be removed | | | | with maximum efficiency when the flame is |
| with steel wool or a mild scouring powder. It | | | | blue and even. A ragged yellow flame |
| is important to keep the reflector pans under | | | | indicates that the burner is not getting |
| the electrical units clean and bright because | | | | enough air along with the gas. Such a flame |
| they are designed to increase the heat output | | | | blackens the bottoms of pans and gives poor |
| of the unit. | | | | heat. Sometimes this flame is due to clogged |
| | | | ports; if any are not burning properly, clean |
| Removable drip pans under the burners of | | | | them with a wire. If cleaning the ports fails |
| kitchen ranges should be taken out and washed | | | | to correct the trouble and to produce an |
| regularly along with other stove parts. | | | | all-blue flame, see if the little air shutter |
| Lining them with aluminum foil saves work | | | | at the turn-on end is open far enough to |
| here. And if you have a range without a drip | | | | admit the proper amount of air. |
| pan do use aluminum foil because the area | | | | |
| under the heating units is often very | | | | Pilot light. Sometimes the pilot light on an |
| difficult to reach for cleaning. | | | | automatic gas range goes out due to its tiny |
| | | | ports being clogged. Clean them out with a |
| To clean a gas range thoroughly the burners | | | | fine wire and relight the pilot with a match. |
| must be taken out and scrubbed with a stiff | | | | Sometimes a puff of air can blow out a pilot |
| brush in hot suds made with an all-purpose | | | | light. Make the flame a little stronger by |
| detergent or soap and ammonia. If the burners | | | | turning the screw at the end of the tube |
| are made of cast iron you can clean them | | | | connecting it to the left for a stronger |
| easily by boiling them for several minutes | | | | flame. |