Thrift-Store Catch of the Day

[toggleswitch]

Just what the doctor ordered.

see see see. Would I lie to you? Sometimes with a good prickin' you can liven up the dead and get 'em functioning again.

 

[oxydolfan1]

My stove will be twenty years old this year!!

What I do to get the burner racks nice looking again?

I throw them in the dishwasher from time to time....

Dare I spray them with black aerosol paint?

 

[oxydolfan1]

Sometimes............you can liven up the dead...

That hasn't always worked around here, regrettably....

 

[toggleswitch]

oh and when dishwasher washing stove burners, including a uniburner, try to put the front ones (they are shorter) in the DW over a rack-prong so they will drain as they wash, and the rear (longer) ones go in sideways.

The uniburners have to go sideways, in the DW. Just "blow" the tubes out with water after washing, then dry in oven for 10-15 minutes. (You don't want the insides to rust). Allow to cool and reinstall.

 

[oxydolfan1]

Interesting. I did everything but the oven-drying method.

The rust issue never did occur to me.

Everything that came out after pin-pricking was charred black.

NOW you know where the gas fumes from Jersey were coming from!

 

[toggleswitch]

~What I do to get the burner GRATES (racks) nice looking again?

Soak in ammonia (if you don't have a cat)
OR
Easy-Off
OR
Dishwasher
OR
my personal favorite, put on the oven floor of a GAS self-cleaning oven (even someone else's) and let it go through a self-clean (pyrolytic) cycle. Try with one one first to ensure good results. Don't cool under cold water when done or it may crack.

NOTE: This will lead to a very blue/black acrid smoke being released into the room if you do all four simultaneoudl, shoudl they be greasy. Be prepared, this is normal.

I have found it's hard to self-clean certain items on the floor of an electric oven in that the heating element is in the way. Of course heavy items should not go on the oven racks generally in that they get soft in the heat and may bend with excessive weight, not to mention disocoration in the self-clean cycle cycle. (The chrome burns off).

 

[toggleswitch]

Who farted?

~NOW you know where the gas fumes from Jersey were coming from!

Blame Staten Island. Neither NJ nor NY will be offended. LOL LOL LOL

 

[toggleswitch]

~Dare I spray them (top burner gas grates) with black aerosol paint?

I dont beleive in this, especially with flames hitting them, and the gas fumes carrying the paint residue/flecks up towards your food.

 

[toggleswitch]

Magic Chef Uniburners-

Two burners as one piece. The muck that falls in the ceter of the burner is a b--ch to get out. Shove a steel-woool spoap pad in there and rub rub rub!

Of course a girl's best-est friend IS easy-off *WINK*

http://www.repairclinic.com/0081.asp?RccPartID=2230

 

[hoover1060]

my stove

Toggles here's my stove, I believe those are sealed burners yes?

 

[toggleswitch]

My what a big burner you have there, up front.

yes this is a Fridigaire/Electrolux (Sweden) with a Sears badge.

 

[hoover1060]

heavy too..

the grates are cast iron!

 

[danemodsandy]

Oxy:

For burner grates, I highly recommend Easy-Off oven cleaner, sprayed on and left overnight. Start with warm grates (heat 'em in the oven to about 300 degrees), then take them outside, like the edge of the driveway or some concrete steps. Spray HEAVILY, then leave till morning, then wash in hot soapy water. That will get most problems; if it doesn't, repeat. Sometimes some stubborn area will benefit from a little gentle scraping with a single-edged razor blade. Don't use Brillo, Scotchbrite, or any other abrasive pad. If you do, you will roughen the porcelain on the grates, making them harder to clean with each time you scour them. The idea with the oven cleaner is to dissolve the crud, leaving smooth porcelain underneath. If your grates have burned-off porcelain, replacement is the only option for having pretty grates again. There is no paint that is heatproof enough, and you're bound to release toxic fumes when you use the burners. AND:

Andrewinorlando:

Thanks VERY much! I really appreciate the info.