How to Look After Your Aga Enamel

Vitreous enamel is not paint. It is made up of several layers of powdered glass and oxides that have been painstakingly fired
in a kiln at exceptionally high temperatures. It is a careful process that fuses the enamel to the cast iron of your cooker one coat at a time. The result is a strong and hardwearing surface that is not only beautiful but also heat and stain resistant. Like any glass surface, however, it is not indestructible.

Ironically, the most common cause of enamel damage is trying too hard to clean it. Many people assume that because an Aga sits in the kitchen, it should be cleaned with the same heavy-duty sprays used on conventional ovens and worktops. This would be a mistake, however, because most of these products are far too aggressive for vitreous enamel.

At Rural Ranges, these are the cosmetic issues we come across most often:

Scratches are usually caused by dragging pans, abrasive cleaning pads or sliding cookware.

Chips are often found around door edges, hinges and lid rings, usually caused by knocks from heavy cookware or repeated impacts.

Dull patches are commonly caused by oven cleaner, degreasers, cream cleaners or abrasive cleaning. Unfortunately, once the gloss has been removed it cannot be polished back.

Burnt on staining is usually caused by milk, sugar, sauces or cooking oils and becomes much more difficult to remove if left on a hot cooker.

Rust marks can appear where chips expose the cast iron beneath, allowing corrosion to develop if left untreated. The enamel itself does not rust, so small chips should be repaired promptly to prevent moisture reaching the cast iron underneath.

One of the biggest surprises for Aga owners is that certain everyday foods can permanently stain enamel if left sitting. Cooker fronts can suffer acid damage from previous cooking spills, which looks like white, streaky water marks. Do not use wire wool or sponge scourers on these areas. The surface glaze of the enamel has been damaged by the acid and scrubbing will do more harm. 

Always wipe away milk, cream, tomato sauces, wine, fruit juices, and anything else acidic as soon as you notice a spill, particularly while the cooker is warm.

Vinegar is slightly different. Left undiluted on a warm surface it can dull the enamel in the same way as other acids, so it should still be wiped away promptly. Used properly, however, a diluted vinegar and baking soda mix is actually a useful and gentle way to lift stubborn, baked-on marks. The key is dilution and a prompt rinse afterwards, rather than avoiding vinegar altogether.

-Oven cleaners. Caustic oven cleaners are designed to dissolve baked-on carbon and grease inside conventional ovens. If they come into contact
with the enamel they can permanently dull the finish and leave a sticky residue behind.

-Heavy duty degreasers. Products marketed as powerful grease removers can contain strong alkalis or solvents which gradually reduce the shine of the enamel. This includes most supermarket sprays and kitchen degreasers.

-Cream cleaners. Cream cleaners contain very fine abrasives. Although they may not leave obvious scratches immediately, repeated use can gradually reduce the gloss of the enamel.

-Bleach based cleaners. Bleach can affect surrounding finishes and should never be used on an Aga at all.

-Abrasive cleaning pads. Green scourers, wire wool and scouring pads will physically scratch the glass surface if used on the visible enamel during everyday cleaning. Wire wool has its place during an occasional deep clean, which we cover below, but it should never be used as part of a normal wipe down.

-Melamine sponges. Products such as Magic Erasers work by microscopic abrasion. Although they feel soft, they remove tiny amounts of material and can
leave dull patches over time. If you want something for stubborn scuff marks, an Aga Enamel Rubber is designed for exactly this job and will not scratch the
surface.

-Steam cleaners. High pressure steam forces moisture into areas it should not reach and is not recommended for cleaning the enamel.

When you clean your Aga, it should be cold. We advise turning your cooker off in the evening after you cooking your evening meal.  Leave the lids open with two large pans of cold water on the hobs, and your cooker should be perfect cleaning temperature by the morning.

Before cleaning, make sure you know the difference between your enamel surfaces and the interior cast iron or aluminium parts. Products that are perfect for enamel may damage your aluminium and vice versa.

The gentle approach is almost always the most effective solution. A soft microfibre cloth, warm water and a little mild washing up liquid, buffed dry with a clean cloth, is all most Agas ever need as part of your daily clean.

Once a week, give a little extra attention to the doors, front plate, lids and handles. Removing grease little and often is much easier than tackling heavy-build up later.

When your Aga is switched off for the summer, it is the ideal opportunity to give it a more thorough clean and inspect items such as lid liners, rope seals and door liners. This is the one time it is appropriate to bring in more heavy duty tools, working carefully and in the right order.

Occasionally, your enamel may require a deeper clean, For this, always use products specially designed for Aga enamel. Our own Complete Aga Cleaning Kit is built around the method we use in our own workshop for an occasional deep clean. We recommend testing on a small section first if you are ever unsure. Our wider Cleaning & Maintenance collection includes specialist enamel cleaner, top plate scrapers and other maintenance products to help keep your Aga in excellent condition between deep cleans.

1. Before you begin, put on your eye protectors and rubber gloves.  Any exposed skin should be covered.

2. Remove the hotplate expansion rings from around the hotplates. These can be gently levered up with a screwdriver if necessary. 

3. Remove the doors by carefully lifting them straight up.  Place them on a soft towel with the enamel facing up.

4. Take your scraper and, placing the blade flat against the enamel at the front between the hotplates, scrape slowly towards the hot plate. Work your way around all the flat enamel on the hob, lid rims, doors and front. Use the corner of the blade for any corners or joins such as the hinge blocks.

5. Clear away any scraped food and dirt using a brush or vacuum.

6. Using a sponge scourer, spread cleaning paste (we use Astonish) liberally around the enamel surfaces of your Aga, working it thoroughly into
the dirtier areas. Only use the Astonish paste on the enamel parts of your cooker.  Do not get it on the aluminium parts of your cooker, such as
your door liners, tunnels & lid liners.

7.  Leave it for a couple of hours.

8. Use the sponge scourer with a little warm water to agitate the paste on enamel surfaces and give them a good scrub. 

9. Use the wire wool and scraper to finish off any stubborn deposits. These are commonly around the door latches, hinges and on the ‘lip’ above the oven cavities. 

10. Using a soft damp cloth, remove any cleaning paste residue.

11. Use the microfibre cloth to polish all enamel surfaces, preventing water marks.

-Wipe spills up as soon as they happen

-Lift pans rather than dragging them

-Use only soft cloths for everyday cleaning

-Avoid harsh chemicals, especially anything that says ‘heavy-duty,’ ‘caustic’ or ‘oven cleaner’

-Clean little and often

-Save the heavier tools for an occasional deep clean while your Aga is switched off

-Use specialist Aga cleaning products

-Deal with small chips before they become bigger problems

-Buff your enamel dry after cleaning

With a little care, the vitreous enamel of your Aga can remain every bit as beautiful as the day it left the factory.

At Rural Ranges, we believe prevention is always better than repair. Replacing or re-enamelling damaged parts is perfectly possible and something we do regularly as part of our refurbishment service, but it is far better and far less expensive to prevent damage in the first place.

By using the right products, avoiding a few common mistakes and carrying out regular gentle maintenance, you can protect your Aga's finish and enjoy its timeless appearance for many years to come.

If you would like to give your cooker a little extra care, browse our Cleaning & Maintenance range, including our Complete Aga Cleaning Kit and Heavy
Duty Aga Cleaning Kit or explore our refurbishment services if your Aga is ready for a cosmetic makeover. Whether you need expert advice, DIY maintenance products or a complete restoration, our team is always happy to help.