Keeping Your Cooker Performing at Its Best

Your Hotpoint freestanding cooker is designed to make everyday cooking easier, letting you and your family enjoy great meals every time the appliance is used.  

It is important to keep on top of your cooker’s cleaning and maintenance procedure though, so that the appliance can continue working as expected and help you prepare meals with confidence. 

As we know cleaning is not always your favourite household task, we have prepared this guide on how to clean a cooker to take the hassle out of this task.  

As you will be using your oven most days, you need to keep it clean as food spills, residue and grease will gradually build up. Aim to give this compartment of your freestanding cooker a deep clean every three to six months. Also wipe up any large spills as soon as they happen, to reduce sticking. 

Staying on top of this cleaning routine helps keep your oven looking and working as it should, ready to prepare meals for you and your family. 

All racks and accessories should be removed from your oven when giving it a deep clean, so that you can easily reach all sides of the compartment – and also to avoid damaging these items. Soak the oven racks and accessories in a kitchen sink that is filled with hot water and washing-up liquid for 30 minutes, before scrubbing them with a sponge and then leaving them to dry. 

Avoid using abrasive scourers or wire pads when cleaning these racks and accessories. These items can scratch surfaces, including glass, and any marks caused may not be removable afterwards. 

Make sure you put down either newspapers or old towels on the floor next to your cooker, so that they can catch any drips while you clean the oven compartment and not risk staining your kitchen floor. 

Don’t forget to switch off your freestanding cooker from the mains supply before you start cleaning, to prevent accidental activation. 

Avoid lining the bottom of your cooker’s oven compartment with foil after cleaning. The foil can increase heat levels inside the oven, which may cause surfaces to overheat and the foil to melt. It can also block airflow in an electric oven and interfere with the flame of a gas cooker. 

While cleaning your cooker, it is also worth checking that the oven door seal is intact, so heat is not lost and your food can cook as expected. Once your cooker has cooled down, open the oven door and check the rubber seal around the edge for any torn or broken sections. If you notice any damage, the seal should be replaced. 

Thoughtful Features in Hotpoint Freestanding Cookers Which Can Help When Cleaning an Oven

Selected Hotpoint freestanding cookers include features that can help make cleaning easier. Technology will vary by model, but may include: 

Catalytic Liners

Catalytic Liners are special panels designed to catch grease and fat splatters, burning them off while you cook food in your oven. You just need to wipe away any residue once the oven compartment has cooled down for a simpler clean-up.

Diamond Clean

Diamond Clean is a cleaning cycle available on selected Hotpoint freestanding cookers. It helps make cleaning your oven easier after cooking with steam to soften hardened residue. 

Moving onto your freestanding cooker’s hobs, these will have different methods of cleaning, depending on the material of your cooktop. Consult the manual of your appliance for the specific cleaning instructions to be followed. 

Just like when cleaning the oven compartment, it is important that you have let the hob surface cool after making food before starting to clean this part of the appliance. Any large spills and splatters should be wiped up as soon as they happen after each cooking session. 

If your freestanding cooker has gas hobs, avoid using too much water when cleaning them, as this can damage the ignition system. Instead, wipe the hobs using a microfibre cloth lightly sprayed with cleaning solution. 

Does your freestanding cooker have burner grates? Remove these regularly and let them soak in a kitchen sink filled with hot water and washing-up liquid – similar to how you get your oven racks and accessories cleaned. 

While cleaning the exterior of your cooker, make sure to wipe the surface of the appliance’s dials – or even remove them, if possible, to get rid of any grease and other debris that has built up inside each dial – and its control panel using a damp cloth. 

Thoughtful Features in Hotpoint Freestanding Cookers Which Can Help When Maintaining Hobs

There are thoughtful features designed onto the hobs of our freestanding cookers which help to keep your hob looking its best with regular care. Again, technology will vary by model, but this time can include: 

Cast Iron Pan Supports

Our Cast Iron Pan Supports are hard-wearing features on our hobs which are built to last. They help keep your pans stable while you cook and are designed for everyday use. 

Glass Lid

The Glass Lid on your freestanding cooker is a durable part of the appliance’s hob layout which protects your cooker when it is not in use. As an added benefit, it will also help to protect your kitchen from splatters while you cook.

Feel that your Hotpoint freestanding cooker is not running as smoothly as it should? Contact our expert customer service team for advice and solutions to help you manage, maintain and service your kitchen appliance.  

Regular cleaning isn't just important for your cooker. To tackle your next household chore hassle-free and keep your laundry fresh, check out Hotpoint’s washing machine cleaning guide for expert tips and easy maintenance steps.