Cleaning Your KitchenAid Range Knobs, Backguard and Control Area the Safe Way

The front of a range takes a beating: grease mist, splashes, and fingerprints from a busy family. Gentle, regular cleaning keeps the knobs turning smoothly and keeps liquids out of places they should never reach.

Before you start

Make sure every burner and the oven are off and cool. If your model has an electronic display, use its lock or clean-panel feature if it has one, or simply wipe with the unit idle.

Knobs

1. Pull each knob straight off its stem. Most gas range knobs lift off without tools.
2. Wash them in warm water with a little dish soap and dry them completely.
3. Wipe the area around each stem with a barely damp cloth. Do not spray cleaner into the opening.
4. Push the knobs back on and check that each one sits fully on its stem.

Backguard and control panel

Use a soft cloth with warm soapy water, then dry with a second cloth. Spray the cloth, never the panel. Avoid abrasive pads and strong glass sprays on printed labels, because they can rub off the markings. For stainless trim, wipe in the direction of the grain.

Houston humidity and grease

In our climate, cooking grease holds onto moisture and dust, which makes a film that grows quickly in summer. A weekly wipe-down is far easier than a monthly scrub. Watch for a knob that feels loose, gritty, or hard to turn. That can mean grease has reached the valve stem, and a worn stem is better handled by a technician than forced.

Signs the cleaning is not enough

• A knob that spins without lighting a burner
• A display that flickers after you clean near it
• A knob that will not return to the off position

If you notice any of those signs, stop using that control and book a visit. Read more on our range repair page, and see whether we cover your neighborhood on the service area page.