How To Eliminate The Gap Between Range And Countertop

Are you noticing that bits of food and other debris are dropping between your stovetop and cabinets? This can lead to some real inconveniences if ignored. On one hand, you might find yourself constantly moving your appliance so that you can clean up spills that seep between your cabinets and the oven. On the other hand, you might be ignoring the ever-building waste that's accumulating down there, which can result in a pest problem. What's the solution here? For your convenience, we brought you the answer.

There are several effective ways that you can eliminate the gap between the range and countertop. According to our research, the following methods are amongst the most popular:

• Stove/counter gap covers
• Plastic tubing
• T-molding

Now that we know some of the more popular ways of eliminating the gap between the counter and the stove, we'll go into all the details you'll need to do this on your own. You might also be wondering if it's easy to remove a slide-in range or how often you should really clean behind your stove. To see what we've discovered, read ahead in this post.

Tried and true methods for eliminating that gap

No matter what type of range you select, there is always the risk of a small gap appearing after you install it. Even though stoves are a standard width, they could be off by a fraction of an inch, making gaps appear. Above, we've listed the three most common and practical ways to rid yourself of that gap between the range and the counter. Here, we'll break down these methods, so you can finally take care of the problem.

Stove/counter gap covers

Gap covers can be easily obtained online or from your local hardware store. These handy little devices are T-shaped. The bottom of the T fits snugly into the gap, while the top of the T extends over the countertop and the top of the range. These covers can be made of silicone, aluminum, or vinyl materials. The one we show here is constructed of silicone and is a long-lasting and durable gap cover.

Click here to see this counter gap cover on Amazon.

Plastic tubing

If you want to utilize a more invisible method, consider doing the job with plastic tubing. Quarter-inch plastic tubing can be measured and cut down to size and then gently inserted in the gap between your countertop and stove. Clear plastic won't be noticeable and will prevent crumbs and spilled liquids from dropping down the side of your range.

T-molding

Plastic T-molding is the same shape as the cabinet guard we mentioned above, but less expensive. You can purchase a small roll of this and cut it into the desired size.

How much space should be between stove and countertop?

Most residential stoves have a listed width of 30 inches. In reality, the stoves will measure just under that amount, coming in at 29 and 7/8 inches. This one-eighth of an inch clearance on either side will give you more than enough room to easily slide your appliance in and out of its place.

How often should you clean behind your stove?

Just how careful are you? If you're not the messy type when you cook and prepare food, you might not have to clean behind this appliance very often. And if you have covered the gap between your countertop and range, you'll have to do this task even less.

But even the most careful cooks cannot avoid the dust and other things that will accumulate under and behind your stove. If your stove is freestanding, moving it out once a month to sweep and mop behind it is recommended. Slide-in ranges are more effort to remove, so it's really important to fill the gaps to avoid any food waste from dropping down. So long as you've done this, you shouldn't need to remove the appliance at all.

You can clean under and behind the slide-in range by simply removing the bottom storage drawer. Using a hand broom and dustpan, sweep up any debris that has accumulated. You should be able to reach all the way to the back. Use a cleanser and a sponge to finish up.

Is it easy to remove a slide-in range?

Slide-in ranges are fairly easy to remove, but it will take more than one step to do so. First, you'll need to remove the bottom drawer. Open it all the way, then reach inside to detach it from the appliance.

Next, you'll need to reach back in and unplug the power cord from the wall. Access this cord through the space the bottom drawer occupies.

If your slide-in range is gas, you'll need to shut-off and disconnect the gas line. Using channel lock pliers or a pipe wrench, disconnect the line from the house to the range. If you've not done this before, it's best to have a professional on hand to assist. After this is complete, you'll finish sliding the range out from its spot.

How to clean the gap between the stove and countertop?

If you haven't filled the gap between your stove and countertop, you'll want to make certain that you clean it regularly. Unfortunately, this gap is so small that you won't be able to access what has dropped down it. This means you'll have to remove the stove from its place and then clean up.

After your stove has been slid out, you'll see how much debris has accumulated from the gaps. Use a broom and dustpan for crumbs. If you have spilled liquids down there, some cleanser and a damp sponge will make clean up a breeze.

Depending on the length of your cord, you might have to unplug the stove before you can move it out all of the way. Pay particular attention to the gas line if you have a range that uses natural gas. You might need to shut the gas off and disconnect it before moving the appliance out all the way. If you've never done this before, then get a professional to assist you. As soon as you've cleaned, get something we've recommended to fill the gap between the counter and the stove so you won't have to remove it again for a long time.

In closing

The gap between the stove and countertop can not only be unsightly but can also make it necessary to remove your stove more often than you'd like for cleaning. Filling this gap can be done inexpensively and in a variety of ways. No matter which method you use, your kitchen will take a little less time to clean.

If you enjoyed reading this post on kitchen ranges, we believe that you'll find the following posts on kitchen appliances helpful:

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