How to Clean an Aga Cooker
Just like cleaning your oven, there are a number of reasons as to why you need to keep on top of Aga cleaning. Not only is a dirty Aga unhygienic, but it can be hazardous too – spilt food often produces an unpleasant smell and the taste of charcoal, which can sometimes smoke and turn into a fire. Furthermore, a build-up of residue in your aga can also clog the mechanisms in the oven, making it less efficient at reaching higher temperatures.
We’ve put together some aga cleaning tips on how to clean your Aga and keeping it looking clean.
How to Clean the Enamel Top or Front of your Aga
Looking for tips on how to create the best aga enamel cleaner? You’re in the right place. A top Aga cleaning tip for maintaining a clean aga is to mop up any spills immediately with a damp, soapy cloth, particularly with acidic aga cleaning products such as orange juice as this causes stains. Due to the Aga top being hot, spills can often become baked on if they’re not mopped up straight away and may need to be scraped in order to be removed, meaning that you could scratch the enamel. After you have wiped the spills with a cloth, buff the surface with a dry cloth. The chromed lids can also be cleaned in the same way or polished using a stainless-steel polish. Carrying out this aga cleaning tip every day should be enough to keep it looking clean.
However, every 6-12 months (depending on usage) your aga will be in need of a deep clean to remove the accumulated fat and grease, which can be achieved with a professional Aga clean or aga cleaning products. Aga specifies that only recommended cleaning products should be used on their ovens as approved by The Vitreous Enamel Association (VEA), this is because the vitreous enamel surface requires special care when cleaning.
The good news is that our Ovenclean specialists are fully trained in cleaning agas and use a unique range of no added caustic-soda cleaning products for aga cleaning. We will restore your cooker, whilst also working to protect and enhance its enamel finish.
What equipment do I need to clean my Aga?
There are a number of core elements that are needed to help you clean your Aga in the best possible way and to get it shining again. To clean your Aga cooker, you will need:
- Gloves – Cleaning any oven is a messy job, so protect your hands from the grime with a pair of cleaning gloves.
- A non-scratch cloth or sponge – Help retain the luxury of your Aga by cleaning it with non-scratch sponge.
- Aga approved cleaning products – AGA recommends that you only use AGA cleaning products on their ovens because the delicate enamel surface requires specialist care when cleaning.
- A microfibre cloth or Aga e-cloth – Microfibre cloths are excellent for wiping away dust and buffing away marks, so if you want your cooker to look as good as new, make sure you have a microfibre cloth or two! An alternative to a standard microfiber cloth is an Aga e-cloth. Aga e-cloths are designed specifically to hep cleaning Agas without needing a load of additional products. Where you will almost certainly still need an Aga cleaning product, e-cloths can help reduce the amount you will need, especially on the outside of the Aga.
- The number of a professional cleaner – If you start cleaning and find it is taking you too long or you can’t get the result you want, have the phone number of a professional cleaner to help take your Aga cleaning grief away ready. Professional cleaning is a fantastic and cost effective alternative to doing it yourself.
What time of the year should I clean my Aga?
It’s customary to turn your Aga range off in the summer months for cleaning and maintenance, but giving an Aga cooker its annual deep clean is a big job, and not for the faint of heart. It’s vital to have all heat-storage cookers, including Aga range cookers, cleaned thoroughly at least once a year to ensure that they continue to run smoothly – morning, noon and night.
Three seasons of use often leaves range cookers with hard to remove grease stains and burnt-on fat in tough to reach places. And being both large and fairly intricate in design, completely cleaning one yourself can be an arduous task. It’s quite possible to spend a whole day trying only to find you’ve left smears all over the outside, and the inside still has difficult to reach carbon deposits spoiling the end result. Let’s not even mention the potential mess you might make whilst you clean!
How do I clean my Aga cooker?
Cleaning Aga Enamel
The good news is that cleaning the enamel on an Aga is fairly straight forward. After every use wipe the enamel over with a damp soapy cloth, followed by a soft dry cloth to make it sparkle. This will help preserve the enamel and protect it against stains.
Acidic spills such as orange juice and milk should be wiped off the enamel immediately as they can cause permanent stains.
Top tip: Never use an ‘oven cleaning’ product on an Aga and never clean with a cold wet cloth as this can cause damage.
Cleaning Hot Ovens and Hotplates
The wonderful thing about Agas, as a type of oven, is that they generally keep themselves clean by carbonising spills and splatters from cooking. Simply brush away the carbon dust with a soft brush. For particularly stubborn stains, a wire brush can be used on the cast-iron components.
Hotplates can be cleaned in the same way as the ovens. If you are faced with burnt-on stains, these can be removed with a damp cloth, but ensure you remove all detergents after cleaning. Similar to BBQ grills, an Aga’s hotplates are susceptible to rust, if the surface is exposed to regular moisture. To avoid this, switch the hot plates off for a couple of minutes after cleaning to allow them to dry.
Doors and Door Linings
The easiest way to keep the door linings of your Aga clean is to wipe them down when it is turned off and the linings are completely cooled. You can use an Aga cream cleaner or a soapy cloth to remove food grime from the linings. To deep clean the door and their linings, carefully remove the door from the cooker (once turned off and cooled). Place the door, enamel side down on a towel on the work surface and use a soap-filled cloth to remove any stains and grime.
Top tip: Don’t immerse the doors in water or put them in the dishwasher. Too much water can damage the insulation within the door.
How to clean an Aga Flue
If you notice dust, fluff or hair building up around the Aga burner door or flue chamber, you can safely remove this with a soft brush, however it is not recommended to vacuum your Aga cooker when the burner light is on as this could cause a fire. Always clean your Aga flue when the Aga oven is cold. The outside of the flue and vent cover of your Aga oven can be cleaned with a soft cloth and warm soapy water.
Professional Aga Flue Sweeping
It is recommended that your Aga flue is swept at least once a year by a professional, or twice a year if the Aga is in heavy use. This will ensure optimum efficiency of your Aga appliance. Most chimney sweep specialists also offer an Aga flue cleaning service, so you are sure to find a professional in your local area.
How to clean an Aga Flue Shroud
There any many types of Aga flue shrouds depending on fuel type, Aga type and Aga age, however they are similar in appearance and can be simply lifted off the cooker with a gentle nudge. Cleaning your flue shroud is relatively simple, however if the flue shroud is cracked or tarnished you can always purchase a replacement shroud from an official Aga supplier.
Once you have removed the shroud, you can clean the flue shroud by either popping it into the dishwasher or soaking it in soda crystals. Dishwasher tablets will do all the hard work for you, as they are only mildly caustic and they should not damage the enamel.
If the flue shroud from your Aga cooker needs a deeper clean, you can soak it overnight in soda crystals and warm water. Soda crystals can be purchased from most supermarkets. In the morning, scrub the flue shroud with a tough sponge and fresh water. Fix the flue shroud back onto your Aga cooker and the cleaning is done!
How to keep your Aga Clean
Now you have a perfectly clean Aga, you want to keep the Aga clean for as long as possible.
- Always have a damp cloth to hand when cooking on an Aga cooker and wipe up spillages immediately, this will ensure you keep a clean Aga.
- Invest in Aga approved cleaning products. Using the wrong product can cause expensive damage to any enamel surface.
- Care for your Aga flue by clearing away any dust or dirt on the burner, this will keep your Aga clean and safe.
- Have an Ovenclean specialist deep clean your Aga cooker every 6 months to keep your Aga clean.
If you wish to use cleaning products on your Aga, before beginning your Aga oven cleaning, remember to check that The Vitreous Enamel Association (VEA) approve the aga cleaning product that you wish to use. Alternatively, if you want less stress and bother, call Ovenclean for your aga oven cleaning service. All of our cleaning products are approved, completely safe and eco-friendly, so you can count on us to make your AGA clean again.
I don’t have time to clean my Aga, can anyone help?
You may not have the time or energy for cleaning, or perhaps your Aga is your pride and joy, so don’t want to risk damaging it? Whatever the reason, Ovenclean specialists are on hand to provider an expert Aga cleaning service, so it will be sparkling clean in no time.
Cleaning isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so leaving it to the professionals might be the best option. If your Aga needs a professional deep clean, why not get in touch with your local specialist today?
In addition to Aga cleaning, we also clean Range Ovens, Hobs, Single and Double Ovens, Microwaves, BBQs and Extractor Fans.
Call us on 0800 840 7127, or complete our online form for your free quote.
Aga Cleaning Review
“We have had our Aga cleaned previously by companies who have advertised that they specialise in Aga range cooker cleaning, only for us to be disappointed. However, the young man from Ovenclean did the best job we have ever had done on the Aga. So please thank him and we will be very happy to use you next year.” – Mrs Claire-Marie Poutney, Hook
