Hello fellow DIY'ers! I've been playing handyman for more than two decades now and have seen all sorts of "disasters" homeowners face. But today, we're going to talk about a lesser-known, but extremely important topic - the humble kitchen range drip bowl.
Blink once if you've cleaned your drip bowl recently, blink twice if you just muttered "What is a drip bowl?" If you blinked twice, don't worry, today I'll not only explain what a kitchen range drip bowl is, but I'll also guide you through maintaining it. Fun, isn’t it?
Unveiling the Unsung Hero: The Drip Bowl
Tucked away beneath your burner, the kitchen range drip bowl is a silent soldier, bravely combating spills and boil overs from whatever culinary masterpiece you’re cooking up. This bit of metal acts as the frontline defense against things that escape your pots and pans. Sugar from your lovely apple pie or a stray piece of onion can potentially create burnt-on, difficult-to-clean gunk – that’s where your drip bowl comes into play.
Why All the Fuss About Drip Bowls?
You might be thinking, "Why should I care about this?" Firstly, keeping your drips bowls clean prevents buildups which can become smoke and fire hazards. Secondly, dirty drip bowls can result in decreased appliance efficiency, which in turn means a higher electric bill. Lastly, a clean kitchen is a happy kitchen and everything, including unsung heroes like drip bowls, needs to be looked after!
Scrub-a-dub-dub: Cleaning the Drip Bowl
Now, on to cleaning your drip bowls. Here's a few tips to help you along the way:1. Ensure the stove is off and cool. Safety first, DIY enthusiasts.2. Remove the drip bowl carefully. They generally lift right off or slightly twist and come out, but be gentle and patient.3. Your main friends in cleaning will be soap, water and some baking soda for abrasion.4. Soak the drip bowls in soapy water for at least 10 minutes.5. Create a baking soda paste (mix baking soda with water) and apply to stubborn, burnt-on food.6. Scrub with a non-metallic scrubber to avoid scratching the drip bowl’s surface."Hallelujah", you may say. However, the story doesn't end here.Replacing Your Drip Bowls: When Scrubbing Just Won’t Cut It
Sometimes, no matter how much you scrub, soak or pray, your drip bowls might just be beyond saving. Even I, with 20+ years under my belt, have accepted defeat on occasion. Fortunately, replacing your drip bowls is rather simple:1. Identify the make and model of your stove - this should be found on an identification tag somewhere on your appliance.2. Head to your nearest home improvement store or online, armed with this information, to get the correct replacements.3. To install the new drip bowls, reverse the removal steps. Voilà, you’re done!Preventative Measures Are Always Best
To avoid spending your Saturday afternoons cleaning your drip bowls, here are a couple of preventive measures:
- Clean up spills immediately after cooking. This will prevent any spills from hardening and becoming much harder to remove.
- Keep an eye on your pots and pans while cooking to avoid boil overs.
"Hang on, where’s the fun in all this?", you ask? Well, my fellow DIY’ers, it’s the satisfaction of knowing your kitchen is running as effectively and safely as possible, under your expert care. That’s the true joy here, isn’t it?
And There You Have It...
Being a DIY'er is all about mastery over the little details that make up your beloved home. Today, you've added another trick up your sleeve - managing your kitchen range drip bowl. Congratulations! From here on, don't just cook in your kitchen, conquer it.
Remember, never underestimate the power of the seemingly ‘small’ components. They can often be the difference between an efficient, safe kitchen and one that’s starting to show problems. Look after your home, and it will undoubtedly look after you.
So till our next DIY adventure, keep those hammers swinging, tape measures extending and never stop learning!