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Any cleaning tips for Wolf range?

19 years ago

I've owned a 36" Wolf range for 2.5 years and I haven't been able to clean the cooktop to my satisfaction. I'm hoping someone who owns this appliance can offer some tips on how to clean it. Is is possible to keep it looking good or am I fighting a losing battle?

I clean up the spills right away, but there is still burnt grease left on the black enamel. I've used BarKeepers Friend and a scratchless sponge but it doesn't remove the tougher spots. I use amonia and it streaks and still some burnt grease remains. The metal trims around the burners look awful and these I've tried cleaning with SOS pads but I've not been able to remove all the burnt grease. I haven't scratched the enamel yet so that's a plus.

Lastly, my grates do not fit in the Miele dishwasher. I hate that dishwasher. I can't wait to get rid of it.

What is the best way to clean the grates if they don't fit in the dishwasher?

TM

Comments (25)

  • 19 years ago

    I tried a tiny drop of Goo Gone on a piece of paper towel rubbed over a few burnt grease spots, and it seemed to work well without ruining the enamel finish. The installer had suggested using it to remove any packing (tape, glue) residue when he hooked up the range. I figured it might work on stubborn grease spots as well.

    I made sure to clean off any GG residue (either buffed it well with a dry microfiber or spritzed a little Cinch and wiped dry with a paper towel). I'm not sure how flammable GG would be once it's dried (the paper towel was barely damp with it when I used it as it was), but didn't want to take a chance of the stove top flaming the next time I used the burner(s).

  • 19 years ago

    I use Dawn Power Dissolver on my Wolf df. It's a gel type spray bottle.

    Yeah well if you actually the range well then I suppose it will look used.

    They do take some work to keep em pretty huh?

    I tell myself I'm not gonna be so picky and then spend an hour cleaning it.

    Oh, the infrared grill..and cleaning. Now those two go together.

  • 19 years ago

    I love Dawn Power Dissolver and surprised more people don't know about it. Another thing to try as well is using oven cleaner (this as a last resort).

  • 19 years ago

    I have the Wolf 36" AG range and I too have a hard time keeping it looking "pristine" as it gets hard use (as it should for what it cost). I usually try to clean off the top after each heavy use with a grease-remover like Fantastic or 409 to keep any spills, splatters, etc. from burning on. I try to avoid fixating on the brass burner rings but I guess I will have to try the Dawn Power Dissolver one of these days. I put my Wolf grates upright in my KA DW and they clean up perfectly. Is there no way to lay them flat in the Miele if you can't do so vertically? If not, try the Dawn Dissolver. If that doesn't work, try placing the grates in a closed-up plastic bag with a bowl of ammonia overnight. I've read of people using this trick to clean up Bluestar grates and or gas oven interiors. Apparently the ammonia fumes loosen up the stains and then they are easily washed off.

    My biggest gripe is my cleaning ladies scratching my rangetop as they carelessly remove the grates to clean the top. DH says I should be glad they're taking it apart to clean so I don't have to.

  • 19 years ago

    May I ask where you get Dawn Power Dissolver? Is this regular Dawn dish detergent?

    Thanks to the poster who suggested Goo Gone. I tried it and unfortunately it didn't work.

    I just want to comment that I think the Wolf black enamel is actually a good surface. Nothing like the old enamel stove tops of the past. It's just once in awhile I get a stubborn burnt on splatter that won't budge. I don't think most people would even notice it on first glance. I just thought that there must be some product out there that will restore the top to it's pristine look when I bought it.

    Zoenip: I must admit I have scratched my stainless by removing the grates also. It's so easy to do because they are heavy. I'm going to look right now as I'm typing to see if the grates will fit in the Miele...no, they don't fit vertically or horizontally. That is really strange.
    The interior of this DW is awful. Its hard to load and I end up hand-washing the dishes. Oh well.

    TM

  • 19 years ago

    I use to get Dawn Power Dissolver at Target, but they don't have it. The last time I found it at HomeDepot.

  • 19 years ago

    Does everyone put their grates in the DW? I thought I read somewhere that that was a bad idea.

    I spent an hour cleaning my Wolf last night. Plus another half-hour on my very greasy Ventahood interior. Fun.

  • 19 years ago

    >> Does everyone put their grates in the DW? I thought I read somewhere that that was a bad idea

    Don't know about everyone. I don't

    Cleaning the hood is easier if your back is double-jointed. Guess that was left out of the brochure..

  • 19 years ago

    Cleaning the hood wasn't even on the radar screen! Yes, I guess that has to be tackled next. Oh how I dread that.

    Last night I spent 1-1/2 hours on the stove. It all started when I noticed a bottle of Kaboom under the sink. This is a thick liquid product for bathrooms and grease. Well I noticed it was actually removing the grease. It even cleaned up the metal rims although they still have burnt on splatters that won't budge. I must say the enamel isn't perfect and I don't expect it to be, but it is looking much better. My family was impressed. I used a micro-fibre cloth from Target to remove the last traces of residue.

    Then I decided to use the Kaboom on the stainless steel of the Miele DW. The front panel seems to stain from just plain water and there are visible drips of water that I've tried endless times to remove. The Kaboom took almost all the water stains away. Just a little more elbow grease and I'll probably restore the DW front with this product.

    I lacked success with the Wolf grates. I tried Bar Keepers Friend, Kaboom, Easy-Off liquid stove cleaner. Nothing made a dent in removing the grease marks. I think I should call Wolf and ask what they suggest so I don't destroy the black finish on the grates with my efforts.

    TM

  • 19 years ago

    Good point about being double-jointed. It is incredibly difficult to try to bend backwards over your stove, reach way up into all the tight corners and get grease off. But, man is it neccesary. I really do cook a lot and do a lot of dirty cooking (i.e. meat-browning, stir-frying, searing, etc) but I've only had the hood for a little over 2 months, have cleaned the box twice in the dishwasher and cleaned the outside several times yet the nasty smell of cooking grease was noticeable from a good 20 feet away. There's also the issue of the actual fan blades on the little motor wheels. Visibly covered in brown grease and the manual suggests using a toothbrush? Are you kidding me? There has to be a better way because they really stink too. And, while I'm at it, every time I clean the thing and put it back together the fan stops functioning as a 2-speed and only works on high regardless of the switch position. Another service call booked (yay!). Ventahood may be effective in terms of sucking up the smoke, but wow, I am now dreaming of the dishwashable filters that (I think) the Wolf hood has. Buyer beware: high-end cooking gear may (and I do really believe this) make your food better, but do NOT expect them to make your life easier.

  • 19 years ago

    Take a sponge...spray on some oven cleaner..scrub your stove..wipe it off with a wet rag. If you do this every day, your stove top will be beautiful.

    Stop washing your grates, it is a waste of time. If they are the standard iron grates they are not meant to be "washed" especially in a dishwasher.

    Yes, it's a task but that is life cooking with "restaurant-quality" gas range. Hence, the reason I am replacing mine with an induction cooktop. No burnt on grease, no hood that sounds like a 747, and no excess heat. I see no use for a gas stove any longer.

    When you sell your Miele you could buy a new cooktop. Bon appetit.

  • 19 years ago

    I too am disappointed with the black porcelain trays and outer burner rings. The burner rings and center cap started spotting with stains right away. I haven't found anything recommended that takes the spots off and I'm noticing that some of the brass is beginning to show on the edges even though I have only used a no scratch pad. I called Wolf about this and they were resistent to replacing them at first. I was insistant and they wanted me to send one of the burner rings back to see the wear I told them about. My range is 8 months old and with the care I've taken, this should not be happening. I received the return pouch, but they forgot to send the new replacement rings.
    The black porcelain drip pans have spots that can't be removed, too. I wash them at least 3 times a week and resorted to trying oven cleaner for a few minutes to see if some of the subborn stains could be removed. Unfortunately, the black shows more than I would have cared to deal with on a daily basis. When sauteing, the whole surface seems to need cleaning. I also inquired about the little pads on the top portion of the grates which disintregrated immediately. The rep told me that's because I used higher heat! WTH, that's the reason I purchased it. The pads were so supposed to be replaced and they have yet to show up either.
    BTW, is there an easy way to remove the oven door to facilitate cleaning the oven? I thought someone mentioned quite a while ago doing that to reach the back corners. I do like my stove, but before producing these appliances, the engineers really need to let cooks give imput to usability over the long haul.

  • 19 years ago

    There are definitely instructions in the installation guide as to how to remove the door.

  • 19 years ago

    keitel, I don't see anything in either the installation or care and instruction manuals that addresses door removal. for gas ranges.

  • 19 years ago

    Page 12 of my "Installation Instructions" booket is entitled 'Removing the oven door'.

  • 19 years ago

    You obviously have a very different verison than me. I have nothing of that sort on page 12. Do you have the gas range? This page refers to gas supply requirements. Do you have duel fuel?

  • 19 years ago

    No, I saw it, too (they send a hinge pin with the range to use if/when you remove the door).

    So far I've just wiped down the grates with a damp sponge (scrubbed some spilled food spots with the scrubby side of the sponge), but that's about it as far as the grates go.

    In addition to the Goo Gone I'd suggested above, I've found what works really well on the burner pans (black enamel) for spraying and wiping, not for the burnt-on stuff, is the SCI Clean Encounters granite cleaning spray. I had it out to clean the counters one day, and decided to try it on the range top since it needed to be cleaned too, and it did a great job. I gave it a few spritzes, and wiped/buffed dry with the same microfiber that I'd used on the counters. No streaking, and the enamel looked really nice afterwards. I used the same damp microfiber to wipe down the SS after that, and it even did a good job there as well.

    I'll look for the Dawn Power Dissolver for stubborn spots. It's probably good to have on hand.

  • 19 years ago

    {{gwi:1462558}}

  • 19 years ago

    Yes, I have the 30" AG range and catmom is right about the pin. There's a page dedicated to removing the door if you should need to to get it installed.

    I've found what works really well for the stains on the burner pans is to turn the lights off.

  • 19 years ago

    keitel--and I'd always heard that candlelight hides a multitude of sins....I think your method might even hide those skeletons in the closet!

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks for the information. I went back through all my literature for info about the door and my books don't contain anything. I'll scour the website and call wolf for additional literature that I don't have.

  • 19 years ago

    You know what--I just realized; the pin info could be just for the new door style (hydraulic hinges), and might not apply to the older door(s). Something to keep in mind......

  • 15 years ago

    I just recently purchased a Miele Gas Stove and was wondering what is the best way to clean the grates?

  • 15 years ago

    This works like magic and I have tried EVERYTHING else (including oven cleaner, soft scrub, goo gone, even brillo pads, which is a no-no). Do this outside, and it is only for getting the burned-on stuff off the black enamel pan (in my case, 3 years worth.) Put the pan in a garbage bag, cover the pan with newspaper and pour enough full strength ammonia over it to soak the newspaper. Close the bag and leave it over night. Next day, being careful of the fumes when you open the bag, hose the pan off. Any tiny amount remaining will come off with a non-scrath scrubby. My jaw dropped when I saw the results. The pans look just like the day they were installed! Don't try this on the cast iron grates. I don't know what it would do to them.