Expert Tips to Clean Behind and Under Your Stove

If you haven’t checked in years or, well, ever, now’s your time. The nasty stuff that can accumulate behind a range includes old food, vermin, and pieces of broken or lost objects that might be much too close to a major heat source for comfort.

“Bugs, rodents, and odd smells are telltale signs there’s a problem—especially when the rest of the kitchen seems clean,” says Robin Murphy, president of Maid Brigade in White Plains, N.Y. “Lingering odors with no clear source can also mean something’s hiding out of sight.” 

For families with pets or young children, you also might find small toys or other pieces of objects or trinkets that shouldn’t hang out so close to an appliance that heats up to over 500° F. In fact, nothing should be left too close to the stove—10 percent of home cooking fires were related to a heat source being too close to combustibles, and another 10 percent started due to “abandoned or discarded materials,” according to data collected by the National Fire Protection Association between 2017 and 2021.

These potential concerns aren’t just gross—they can affect your health. According to the University of Maryland Extension, multiple types of common pests hang out in the kitchen, including moths, fruit flies, ants, carpet beetles, and cockroaches.

“Addressing areas that are cleaned less often can help decrease these potential allergens if present. It can also help remove items that may attract rodents and roaches, such as food particles,” says Mark Mallozzi, MD, pulmonologist and assistant professor in the division of environmental & occupational health services at National Jewish Health in Denver. 

Vermin droppings and gnaw marks behind your stove are telltale signs that you might have an infestation. That can pose health risks from serious viruses to bacterial infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Another sign that something might be harming your health behind your stove is how you feel. “The biggest thing to look for with symptoms is when and where they occur. Symptoms that are clearly more frequent or more severe at home can be a sign that there is a relevant allergen or irritant in the home,” Mallozzi says. 

It can feel like a daunting job, or at least an oversized one compared with other tasks, but getting in a rhythm of cleaning behind your stove ensures your health and cleanliness in one of the most important rooms of the home. 

“The best way—meaning the most effective way—is to slide the oven out, vacuum up debris [such as] dust and crumbs, and clean the floor, the sides of the appliance, and the wall that it had covered with an all-purpose cleaner,” says Murphy. She recommends “something that cuts grease,” such as a degreasing spray, and letting it dry before plugging the oven back in and returning it to its typical position. 

Those with a gas range might have an extra step or two to safely disconnect the gas in order to pull the range away from the wall, though you might not need to if you can access the areas you need to clean with it still attached. 

You’ll probably find a gas valve behind the stove, according to home services website Angi, or located within a few feet of it, which you’ll need to turn to the off position before disconnecting. You can use your favorite all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the outside of the appliance and nearby surfaces. Don’t forget to remove the bottom drawer of your oven, and check it carefully for food, bugs, or vermin as well.

Practice care when pushing the range back against the wall when you’re done. "Check to see that the cord isn’t twisted/pinched, or the flexible gas line isn’t kinked as you push the range back," says Yooshin Kim, a senior manager of quality engineering at LG Electronics, a brand that makes many major appliances including stoves.

Murphy recommends cleaning behind the stove twice a year. “For most households, [that’s] the sweet spot. It’s frequent enough to prevent problems like grease buildup, pests, and odor, but not so often that it feels like a burdensome chore,” she says. Folks who cook often might need to clean back there more frequently, or immediately in the event of any obvious spills or splatters. Gunk can collect around and underneath vents, affecting airflow, attracting bugs or rodents, causing lingering smells that get worse when the oven’s on, and even potentially posing a fire risk, she says.

And while you’re at it, she says, don’t forget the fridge, noting that it has similar issues with buildup and debris because it comes in such close contact with food. “Cleaning behind and underneath both appliances a couple of times a year goes a long way toward keeping your kitchen clean, safe, and running efficiently," Murphy says.

Even if you aren’t doing a full cleaning, checking behind your appliances more frequently can prevent problems before they get bigger. “The best way for homeowners to organize their cleaning schedule to ensure major appliances are included is to have a weekly cleaning checklist that includes appliances,” says Rose Pulver, owner of The Thoughtful Home, a home organizing business in Howard County, Md. “Each appliance should be included. For example, on Monday, wipe down the refrigerator, Tuesday, clean the microwave, Wednesday, clean the oven, and so on. This structure helps maintain the appliances and ensures that no buildup occurs over time.”