Cleaning Stainless Steel Cooktop - oh no!

[Maddle]

Oops - Please help me climb out of the hole I have put myself into...

I have a stainless steel Frigidaire Gas Cooktop (set into the countertop.) It is all in pieces now due to an in-process repair. (We're waiting for the part to come in.) When the repairman took it all apart, there was some nasty grease under the drip pan gaskets. The repairman suggested I get the whole thing cleaned up while it is in pieces.

Once I got the grease cleaned off, you could see that the stainless steel was a different color where it had been exposed to the air vs. under the pans...so of course I thought, "oh, it's tarnished," and I used some Maas metal cleaner. That cleaner pulled all the color out of the finish...and THEN I read the back of the box that said, "not for stainless steel appliances."

Oh.

Now it looks very bright and shiny. Actually, it doesn't look bad, but it is not original, and it is different from the other appliances (same brand, same age of about 10 years old.) I don't know how it will hold up under use.

We are getting the house ready to put on the market. The grates and drip pans are definitely "used" and before this fiasco, I considered replacing them, but decided against it since original parts are $50 to $100 for EACH BURNER! (five of them.) Ouch. No matter what I do, it is definitely going to be "used."

I have a couple options, and I am open to any other suggestions.

• I could just leave it alone and hope it holds up under use.
• I could replace the stainless portion - about $500 (can you believe it?)
• I could buy a new cooktop - about $1500 to $2000 to replace.

I am waiting for the repairman to show up in the next few days with the replacement ignitor switch. I have already put an $80 deposit down on that repair which will cost about $250...so I have to think fast.

Any suggestions?

Maddle

 

[LJSquishy]

I would leave it if it doesn't effect the use of the cooktop. It sounds like it's just cosmetic.

In the future, I'd use something like Barkeeper's Friend.

 

[Sammy0220]

I would leave it. Stainless steal never looks good after years of use.

 

[dsneprincess]

Another vote for leave it, it's cosmetic.

 

[disneyfreakk]

I would replace the drip pans. Especially if you are trying to sell the house!

 

[bearloch]

leave it with the knowledge and money set aside that you may have to replace it if your real estate suggests it later

 

[Maddle]

leave it with the knowledge and money set aside that you may have to replace it if your real estate suggests it later

Yes, I think that is what I am going to do. It doesn't look too bad - it's just very shiny and bright - I don't think it's supposed to be that bright. I went to Lowes last night and took a peak at their models - those are not so bright.

On the other hand, it looks very clean!

I don't know where my brain was - I've been in this house five years, and I never used that polish on the cooktop, always "stainless steel cleaner" of some sort. I guess I just sub-consciously thought, "I need to try something new on this baby." I probably read the directions years ago and knew all along not to use it on appliances.

Thanks for your input.

Maddle