Cast Iron Top Frigidaire Range Cleaning

Daily Surface Cleaning

• When you clean your cast iron top Frigidaire range after every use, it's simple to prevent heavy baked-on stains. Let your cast iron range cool first to avoid getting burned or having your scrubbing tools melt on the surface. Once the stovetop is cool, you can use a damp nylon mesh scrubber to remove drips and food spills. A double-sided scrubber or sponge is especially effective because the soft side wipes off fresh spills and the mesh side adds a little extra scrubbing power. By tackling spills and stains while they're still fresh on the cast iron surface, you can clean it quickly and without much effort.

Stain Removal

• Spills and food particles that are left on the surface of your cast iron top Frigidaire range end up baked-on and hardened when they're exposed to heat from the surface. When this occurs, you need a bit more than just a damp sponge to clean the cast iron. Add a drop of dishwashing detergent to the damp mesh side of a nylon sponge. Lay the sponge on the stain for three to five minutes, and allow the moisture to soften the stain material. If scrubbing the softened stain with the sponge doesn't remove all of it, you can use a steel wool scrubbing pad to remove the remainder of the stain. Follow up by wiping your cast iron stovetop with a damp cloth before drying it with another one.

Surface Maintenance

• Cast iron is extremely porous. When the surface isn't properly prepared or cared for, stain matter is absorbed into the pores, leaving built-up grease and stains. Regular surface maintenance prevents this by filling in the pores. Once each month, after cleaning your cast iron stovetop with dishwashing detergent and a damp sponge, season the surface to fill in the pores and protect it from rusting. To do this, wipe the cast iron with a paper towel dampened with olive oil. Apply enough olive oil to coat the surface, then turn the burners on to medium-high and allow them to heat the stovetop for five minutes. After the stovetop cools, just wipe the excess oil off with paper towels.

Cast Iron Cleaning Don'ts

• Like other iron surfaces, cast iron rusts when exposed to water or moisture for prolonged periods of time. As a result, it's never a good idea to allow cast iron cooking grates to soak in a dishpan full of water. In addition, don't leave a wet sponge sitting on a cast iron stovetop. For this reason, it's also not a good idea to put your cast iron grates in the dishwasher. Daily cleanings using only a damp sponge won't remove the seasoning from the surface, but scrubbing the cast iron with dishwashing detergent will. This is another reason to clean your stovetop daily so you don't have to re-season it as frequently.