Stove covered with grime? 3 simple methods to make it shine like new again

Catering for special events can cause many of us to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Kitchens get dirty quickly, and postponing cleaning them only makes the situation worse. Sometimes, the stove gets very dirty - even by doing relatively simple cooking tasks.

So, how best to clean a filthy stove? If you don't want to resort to using special detergents and prefer natural, homemade solutions, read on:

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• Boiling water: when you don't have other cleaning products to hand, using some boiling water can work wonders for loosening stubborn, greasy dirt. It will be necessary to boil some water and, with extreme caution, pour it onto the stove (obviously, this only works with models that have traditional burners) just enough to just touch the raised parts of the burners and the edge. When the water cools down, equip yourself with some old rags to remove the water and then just use dish soap and a soft sponge to finish removing any residual dirt.
• Baking soda and white vinegar: sprinkle the stove with a thin layer of baking soda, then pour white vinegar on top to start effervescence. When no more foam is produced, you can add more bicarbonate in order to create a slightly abrasive paste, which you will rub over the surface with the help of a sponge. This should be more than enough to loosen and remove any dirt and grime.
• Lemon: if the dirt is not bad, you can also take half a lemon (even a squeezed one) and rub it directly on the grime. To help, you can first sprinkle any stains with baking soda or fine salt, and then rub the lemon on them. The acidity of the fruit will dissolve the dirt and then you can remove any resude with a damp cloth and a drop of dish soap.

As an alternative to dishwashing detergent, Marseille soap or yellow soap (in liquid form), are excellent substitutes.

What's your favorite method for cleaning your stove?