No matter how neat you are or how quickly you clean up a kitchen mess when it occurs, your stove will accumulate debris and food particulates over time. If you have a Hotpoint range, you may find that grease, crumbs or other food waste has built up underneath the lid of your stove top. Fortunately, it is possible to lift this lid so that you can thoroughly clean.
Safety Considerations Before Cleaning
Video of the Day
Before you get started with your cleaning project, it is essential that you follow some basic safety procedures. First, be sure that both the stove and oven are off and cool. If you just cooked or baked something, give the appliance time to cool down before you attempt to do any sort of cleaning.
Video of the Day
In addition, since you will be moving the lid of your oven and using liquids to clean it, you should unplug the appliance to protect yourself from electric shock. If you are unable to reach the outlet the oven is plugged in to, you can still turn power off to the circuit in question from your breaker box. This is a critical safety step and should not be overlooked.
Lifting a Hotpoint Oven Lid
To begin lifting the lid of your oven, you will need to clear the range surface, as advised by fixya. Be sure no pots and pans, utensils or food are sitting on top. Then, you will need to move the Hotpoint gas stove grates or electric grates. This will enable you to better access the lid.
Next, locate the grooves along the edge of the stove with your finger. These will enable you to lift the lid. Hold the stove carefully and push your fingers into the grooves, lifting the lid. Pull the lid straight up and stop when you reach a 90-degree position; the range is not designed to lift any higher than this.
Secure the range top with the holding rod. This is much like the process for lifting and holding the hood of your car while you check your oil. Be sure that the holding rod is in place before you put your head, arms or hands beneath the range lid. Sometimes, this rod automatically deploys when you lift the lid, but on other oven models, you will need to lift it yourself.
Cleaning a Hotpoint Oven
To clean the oven, use a dishcloth and gentle cleaning products. Remember that the appliance comes into contact with your food. It's best to avoid harsh chemicals whenever possible. Hot water, mild detergent, vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice are generally excellent candidates for cleaning a stove.
You can make a paste with baking soda and warm water that can be left to sit on any stains or spots of grease. Then, using a dish cloth, you may rub the debris off the stove until it is clean. Vinegar can also be used to wipe down surfaces.
If there are a lot of crumbs underneath the lid of your Hotpoint stove, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a hose or nozzle attachment to clear them out. After you have done so, you should wash the vacuum's nozzle to be sure that it is not covered in grease or crumbs. It's also advised that you wipe down surfaces again after you've vacuumed, since the vacuum itself might not be clean.