Stain Removal

December 13, 2004 10:09 PM

In the small kitchen, the gas range is butted up against the refrigerator. After a few years of cooking, a brown stain mars the otherwise-white vinyl side of the refrigerator. How do I remove the brown stain?
posted by tomharpel to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

I use Simple Green for that kind of thing. Be prepared to spray on, let it soak, then buff it off. Repeat multiple times. A plastic scrubby will help without actually scratching the fridge. Don't use a billo or rough sponge-scrub.

Of course, if this is actually burnt vinyl and not splattered cooking oil, then it isn't a stain, and isn't going to come off, and your fridge is too damn close to your range.
posted by scarabic at 11:44 PM on December 13, 2004

how about soft-scrub?
posted by crunchland at 11:50 PM on December 13, 2004

That looks like a scorch-mark, with some grease spots. The grease spots will come away with a good cleaning product (like the Simple Green) but as far as the scorch goes, you're hosed. Your best bet would be to stop it getting worse by moving the fridge away or putting something like a ceramic tile between the two to soak up the heat.
posted by tracicle at 1:01 AM on December 14, 2004

I agree about it looking scorchmark-ish. Your best bet would be to paint a mural on that side of the fridge and move it as far as possible away.
posted by jackiemcghee at 2:07 AM on December 14, 2004

A piece of stainless would cover the scorch and provide some protection to the fridge for the duration.
posted by Mitheral at 9:20 AM on December 14, 2004

While Simple Green is a great general purpose cleaner, even removing freshly spilled grape juice from a white rug on one occasion, it's not a great stain remover. (It has its other faults, but that's another post.)

For removing stains from your fridge, you can either reside your fridge or have your fridge painted. However, given the proximity to the stove, that will not solve the problem in the future. Consider purchasing a splatter guard. (I'd also recommend using the appropriate sized, alternate type of splatter guard, but you'd have to use it every time you cook.)

You can also try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or the Duo. A word of warning on the Magic Eraser, it will leave water marks on painted surfaces if you do not dry immediately. Even then, you are likely to have uneven spots in your paint.

For what it's worth, I have the same problem with a high temperature burner located less than 3 inches from a wall. I installed a custom splatter guard that stands off the wall for the first several inches so I don't scorch the wall.
posted by sequential at 10:05 AM on December 14, 2004

If it's grease related, full-strength ammonia rules. Otherwise, how 'bout a sidde grinder and an 80-grit wheel?
posted by Pressed Rat at 10:24 AM on December 14, 2004

I use Dawn Power Dissolver for removing greasy, baked on stains and it works amazingly well.

Check the warning label though since it has some peculiar limitations apparently ("Dawn Power Dissolver is not intended for use on copper pots, varnished or painted wood, appliance lettering, scratched nonstick surfaces, oven hoods, and dishwasher doors.")

I've successfully used it on aluminum cookware, enamel stovetop and a nasty plastic popcorn popper bowl with great effect.
posted by turbodog at 11:55 AM on December 14, 2004