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Original poster

Have you ever pulled your cooker out?

30 replies

Sonolanona · 06/10/2023 23:59

OK this is grim confession time.
We have a large range style cooker, that has a tiny gap either side to the kitchen work top.. maybe 3mm either side.
Yesterday the bastard cat got up there and puked his breakfast. Right over the gap.
Obviously I cleaned up and did my best to clean out the gap.
BUT it dawned on me that in 9 years we have never pulled the cooker out (it's a beast) and there is probably enough stuff in those gaps to do a nature programme !
I'm just wondering how grim it could possibly be, should we pull it out!!!

OP posts:
LoopyLooooo · 07/10/2023 00:22

You should pull it out but I admit before I got an under counter fitted oven, I hardly ever pulled the cooker out Blush

Zonder · 07/10/2023 00:24

Never. We have the same set up as you. I'd be afraid of what I might unleash.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 07/10/2023 00:26

I’ve never pulled it out, or the fridge which is also under a worktop and I don’t plan to. Ignorance is bliss!

Gabiabbi · 07/10/2023 00:26

I've been having the same thoughts about mine lately... what lies beneath?? But then I've concluded that some things really are best kept a mystery

DiscoBeat · 07/10/2023 00:29

I mean to pull it out more often but in reality it's about once a year. There are always very tasty morsels underneath, according to my disgusting dog!

AhhSlippedOnMahBeansRitaaa · 07/10/2023 00:31

I have to pull mine out every few months as I have a bigger gap down both sides.
It's a real pain but when we're running out of cutlery I remember it must be time!

LoopyLooooo · 07/10/2023 00:31

I did slide a big square of sticky bug trap paper under mine.

It eased my conscience as I felt I'd done my bit Blush

mjf981 · 07/10/2023 04:03

I just pulled out my large fridge last week after maybe 7 years, OMG. There were about 10 large dehydrated cockroaches (Sydney) and a mountain of cat hair/cat treats. I was mortified.

justanothermanicmonday1 · 07/10/2023 05:09

This was honestly my biggest fear lately as we had a big gap at either side and we where moving house.

My partner pulled ours out and it honestly wasn't half as bad as I was expecting.

Now we've moved in definitely making a conscious effort to pull it out once a month and clean the sides and mop behind it if possible 😂

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/10/2023 05:55

Be careful. Use sliders if there's a chance you'll ruin your floor.

Tilllly · 07/10/2023 06:07

Found a desiccated mouse...

Simonjt · 07/10/2023 06:14

We had s range that had legs, so it was about 5-6 inches off the ground, just enough so the dog could stick his head under to eat anything we dropped.

Original poster
Sonolanona · 07/10/2023 10:09

You lot have made me feel so much better Grin
Now I'm wondering do I do it? Or..as our kitchen floor desperately needs replacing, shall I just wait til we finally sort that...

It wouldn't surprise me at all to find a mouse... we had a nightmare with one that was living very happily in the pantry..I swear to god it used to pop out and smile at me! (eventually got him with a humane trap and relocated him 20 miles away!!|)

OP posts:
Oldthyme · 07/10/2023 10:17

I pull out all my appliances regularly, maybe 3 or 4 times a year.

Im not particularly OCD in the house but it gives me satisfaction to sweep up and mop under there. I hate the thought of anything decaying and “scenting” my house! 🙄

Pull your cooker out as soon as you can. Cat sick is a terrible smell.
A small squirt of washing up liquid helps make the floor slippery under the stove or fridge feet to facilitate the pull.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 07/10/2023 10:30

Just as well I can’t - it’s built in.

However there was an ‘interesting’ moment when for some reason I can’t remember, I had to ask a guest to help me shift a very heavy spare single bed away from the wall.
😱!

CornedBeef451 · 07/10/2023 10:30

We moved house last year and so now have a range cooker.

Based on the state of the house when we moved in I am scared to pull it out! Our cats must lose toys under there (or something worse) as sometimes they have had a dig under there and pull out loads of greasy fluff.

Im going to have to do it sometime but I can't face it yet.

I'm still getting over what I found on top of the fridge after we had to dismantle the shelf over it to replace the dodgy extension lead which was sparking, luckily no one was electrocuted!

They used to keep their dogs in the kitchen and so the top of the fridge and cupboards were covered with a thick layer of greasy dog hair. When I moved the fridge cable a huge chunk was revealed that I though was a dead animal! It made me heave as I yanked it off and I'm still suppressing the urge to burn the whole kitchen down!

Good luck with your cooker, it can't be worse than whatever is waiting for me!

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 07/10/2023 10:38

No, and I've had the cooker about 5 years. I know I need to do it. It has a bigger gap. There are pens, knives, sliced bits of carrot....its a gas cooker and gas worries me!

LauderSyme · 07/10/2023 10:40

Yes I have but will spare you the grisly details! (Actually it was pretty much what you'd imagine).

Apparently I mortified my mum when aged 6 or 7 I wrote in my summer holiday diary that we pulled the fridge out and found a stray cooked sausage from the previous Bonfire Night. When the new term started, I proudly read out this entry to my class. Finding that fluffy sausage must have been one of the highlights of my holiday!

Rinoachicken · 07/10/2023 10:49

We have a range on legs - so we can sweep under it but we can’t do the tiny gaps down the side, like you mention. Our gaps are about 1/2mm each side.

We’ve had it 10years and it’s been pulled out twice in that time. Once when the floor was replaced, and once for repair.

Both times it wasn’t as bad as I imagined but I did take the opportunity to clean before it went back in!

I have wondered about getting some sort of ‘strip’ of something to cover the gap going forward but never got round to it.

Nat6999 · 07/10/2023 14:07

I'm due a new washer & dread to think what it will be like behind it.

Kryss · 27/02/2024 09:20

My range doesn’t have gaps at the side, any suggestions of how to get it out without paying £££ for an Airlifter. Thanks

BeauSignoles · 27/02/2024 09:24

I love the story of the fluffy sausage!

we (ok, DH) pull ours out once or twice a year. It is absolutely grim.

eatdrinkandbemerry · 27/02/2024 09:28

Pulled mine out last night because I'm having my annual gas service tomorrow 🤣
It was very greasy underneath and I've found loads of missing teaspoons!
But I confess I only do it yearly.

mrssunshinexxx · 27/02/2024 09:42

Once a year , very satisfying

Tilllly · 27/02/2024 20:58

I'm still in therapy after pulling mine now

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