Nearly every kitchen has one thing in common: that pesky, less-than-one-inch gap between the stove and the counter. This tight space is one of the hardest to reach in the home, and nearly impossible to clean without significant rearrangement of major appliances.
But since the counters and stove are where most of the cooking and mess happens, this area needs a thorough cleaning to remove all the accumulated crumbs, drippings, and leftover food residue.
If you’re like me, you hate cleaning those little gaps because you have to move the stove to access them, which is a huge pain. Well, I found a solution. All you need is some aluminum foil. Now you don’t have to clean the floor between the stove and the wall. If you want to see more of our kitchen finds, check out this year’s Best Dishwashers, Best Washing Machines, and Best Refrigerators.
How to Keep the Area Between Your Stove and Counter Clean with Aluminum Foil
A brand new boat ready for floor protection work.
1Measure the length of the crack and add 4 inches to that length.
2Cut a piece of aluminum foil the same length as the measurement.
3Fold the aluminum foil in half lengthwise.
4Fold the edges of the aluminum foil over to create a shape similar to an aluminum foil boat. There’s nothing scientific about this step; you’re just folding the edges over to form the sides.
5Slip the aluminum boat into the gap between the wall and the stove, then place it on the floor and tuck it into the shadows, out of sight of anyone who happens to be looking.
It’s like a catch basin for little cracks – the aluminum boat catches all the crumbs and drips, and when it gets dirty you just throw it in the trash and replace it with a new one.
For more cleaning tips, How to properly wash bedding and How to clean your kitchen in under 15 minutes.
