How to Remove Melted Plastic on Your Cooker

Mishaps can happen anytime in the kitchen no matter how careful we are. One common mistake that we often commit is leaving plastic on top of a hot stove or cooker. It could be a bread bag, a plastic container, or any other thing made up of plastic material. Melted plastic on a cooker is a hassle. It does not only pose danger to you and your family’s health, but also keeps you from cooking that healthy and delicious meal for your loved ones.

Fortunately, you do not need to replace your cooker entirely after you have accidentally burned plastic on it. There are ways to remove the burnt material without damaging the burner.

Step 1: Ventilate

The first thing you can do when you have burned plastic on your cooker is to open all windows and improve ventilation. The fumes from the burnt plastic emit chemicals that are dangerous to health. The terrible smell may also be enough to make you faint. If possible, leave the kitchen while you allow the stove to cool and the fumes to dissipate.

Step 2: Scrape Off the Melted Plastic

Get a sharp-edged tool, such as a knife or spatula, and scrape off the melted plastic. Be careful not to scratch the stove when doing this. If the plastic has hardened, turn on the stove on low to allow it to soften a little bit. Make it a point to wipe your scraper with a paper towel or cloth after every scrape to make sure that melted plastic is not spread to other areas of the stove.

Step 3: Scrub the Remaining Residue

Once you have removed majority of the melted plastic, scrub the affected area with a wet sponge. The sponge may be dipped on water with soap, or on vinegar with baking soda. Lime solution or lemon extract is also a good choice. These will help remove all the remaining residue that may have clung to the stove.

As much as possible, do not use harsh cleaners to remove molten plastic, as it can be dangerous to health. If you are having a hard time resolving the matter, you have the option to ask help from a professional cleaner to remove the plastic for you. Bear in mind, though, that it is only advisable to hire cleaning companies if you have a large area that needs cleaned or if there is a lot of cleaning that needs to be done, as the service can be pricey. If you only need plastic cleaned out of your burner, doing the job yourself is the way to go.