Perhaps you can help me. The space between the oven and counter in my kitchen is so close that it might as well be called a crack. This becomes a trap for all sorts of crumbs, splatters, and all sorts of undesirable things. I have a heck of a time getting it clean. Ideas?
The clearance is actually so close that crumbs don't fall through; they get actually pinched about a half-inch into the crack and start to collect. The crumbs are right in plain sight (gross!) and seem to defy my cleaning efforts.
A sponge doesn't reach. A pastry brush is too light. The vacuum doesn't get the stubborn bits. I've considered trying to run a butter knife along the crack, but worry that will just push the crumbs through to the (even more inaccessible) floor.
Do you have this problem in your kitchen? How do you clean between your oven and counter?
Related: How to Clean a Greasy Stovetop (With Just Soap and Water)
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Not sure about your stove, but the top of mine flips up.
We have these amazing metal "seams" that slip right on top of the countertop-oven joint. They sit firmly planted and any spills, grease, or crumbs can be wiped clean with a damp rag. They're probably the easiest thing in the kitchen to clean!
They were a steal in Chinatown, but this looks approximately the same:
http://www.amazon.com/Range-Kleen-687-Metal-Seam/dp/B000NO40RM/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1313672782&sr=1-1
What has worked for me is an aluminum strip made for the purpose of blocking the area between stove and countertop. Here's one: http://www.harrietcarter.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/categoryID/703D0423-3AA7-42B4-9C65-A956AAA1FC05/productID/FE598AA3-E2BD-41FC-9D0B-5D1EB76B9CD4. I'd advise getting the metal version, as I've had plastic ones that didn't fare very well next to a hot stove.
Oh, I love those two links. I hate this problem. Just this week, we tried to move things out of the cabinets to clean behind them and we tore the flooring. It was infuriating!
There is a metal guide on the floor that pushes mine as close to the right side cabinet/counter as possible and looks just like yours.
I just pull the unit out a little bit and it opens the gap enough for fingers and paper towel to get into for cleaning.
I'll have to look into those spill guard things.
TwoWheeler has the answer. Your stovetop lifts up to allow you to clean underneath it as well as on the sides where it meets the counter.
http://www.improvementscatalog.com/product/code/317579.do?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-KitchenCleaning-_-2011-_-317579&code-macs=MP1WFGL&code=MP1WFGL&mr:trackingCode=76E7FEAF-AA35-DF11-9DA0-002219319097&mr:referralID=NA
I have these. Work great and because they are silicone they adhere well to surface so things don't slide under. Clean up is a snap.
This happens to me, too. It is so heinous... but (I hesitate to admit) I stick my metal bench scraper in there starting at the end closest to the wall and run it quickly out through the crack. The crumbs/ick manages to come out onto the floor in front of the stove, which lets me sweep it up.
Not the best solution, I'll admit. I'm about to head over to those other links from previous posters...
i pull out the stove and clean the sides/ sweep crumbs underneath periodically. be careful not to yank too hard, since the gas is connected back there.
I dampen a tea towel or paper towel, put the blade of a butter knife in it so that there's just one thickness of towel on either side of the blade, insert it at the back and pull it forward. Does a fine job.
Ages ago I read a tip in Real Simple magazine that said to save those fake credit cards you get in junk mail credit card offers and use them to clean the crumbs and gunk out of the stove top "seams." So now I have a big stack of those cards in my kitchen drawer--some are plastic, some are cardboard, but they all work great!
These ideas are brilliant! Thank you so much, everyone!
I was wondering if dental floss could be used this way. The crack between my counter and stove is so tight that a butter knife can't even fit in there. Might try that credit card trick too. Love all the suggestions. Thanks!
I pull mine out once in awhile.
In addition to pulling out my stove twice a year because of the aforementioned grossness, I use my steamer with the small nozzle...however this just blasts the gook somewhere else...to really clean it, you need to move the stove if you can.
Even mine gets dirty very frequently ,:(
love the fake credit card suggestion.
But I say forget the crack in between counter and stove top in the foto and clean that kettle!
Take a strip of aluminum foil, 4" width, fold it into half along the length. Insert the folded edge of foil into the crack upto about 1". Now spread the foild across both range and counter. The shape of foil looks like T. Replace it once in a while. Do it neatly.
Yeah I was going to say floss it!
I use a toothpick or bamboo skewer...the crumbs (usually) stick to the wood, and come out that way...
Actually that's the main reason I went for a set in stove top. The grossness we discovered around and behind the old upright stove when we demolished the old kitchen was amazing.
lowbrow fix: my mom had a wooden dowel, about 1/4" diameter, that she laid in the crack. it fit nicely, didn't roll around, pulled up easily for cleaning, and didn't really look too bad. probably would cost about a dollar. : )
Sorry, off subject a little bit, but..... How are you using Cast Iron on a glass top stove?
Q-tips!