I've been having a rust problem on my cookstove top. I put waxed freezer paper on it over the summer didn't help, I tried reg. newspaper didn't work it did ok last year but not this year. I cleaned the whole stove as I'm using it now, but I am still getting rust. I also, put a special covering of carbon I got from Lehmans but it hasn't helped. What do you cookstove users do. Thank you for any help. Kim in WI

-- Kim Baker (kbaker@mhtc.net), September 17, 2000

Answers

I use steel wool on very bad spots then buff it down with stove black. On a daily basis I wipe it down with a smidgen of vegetable oil and try not to let things boil over or set things down that will leave wet rings on a cool stove. I don't cover mine with anything in the summer, perhaps covering it is keeping dampness in?

-- Terri (terri@tallships.ca), September 17, 2000.

Kim buff off the rust--then use really strong coffee on a soft rag & go over it/ & over it again(wring out the rag so not too much liquid & let it dry good inbetween times). Then season it just like you do your cast iron pots--with oil/greese. Of coarse greese it good each use to get that seasoning back--I agree don't cover it in the summer as it could cause it to draw moisture.--If that don't do it --then-- Fry bacon on the top of it--spread that grease around on the top with a soft rag when it cools enough to do so. Ya may have to do it more than once!!! I have gotten many really rank looking old stoves back into service that way. I'm a vegetarain--& I have also used LOTS of good olive oil on a soft rag over & over. Best wishes. We store ours uncovered--& several times during the summer I give it a dusting & then a nice wipe with strong coffee (wring out the rag good)& then a nice drink of olive oil with a soft rag.(if all else fails this vegetarain goes for frying the bacon or fresh side on top--then work that greese into all the spots really good). I hope it works for you! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), September 17, 2000.

I agree with Sonda. The stove top needs the same treatment as a cast iron skillet. Maybe rub it down with fat or crisco, fire the stove abd let it cure. You may have to do this a couple of times. Dont know about the coffee. Raised was in house with a wood cook stove. It didnt get much use in the summer but always seemed kinda cruddy to me. Parents cleaned it with Easy off then it rusted. Is now sitting useless in the garage for several years and only starting to rust. They cured it with bacon before taking it out. Good luck.

-- Terri Perry (stuperry@stargate.net), September 17, 2000.

Sonda is 100% with her advice! I coat my stovetop with Crisco (thin layer) in the Summer, and clean it as she decribed when the dust bunnies attack the oil , otherwise, there it sits until Fall.I would imagine that the wax paper did it in by retaining moisture as others have offered already. Enjoy and God bless.

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), September 18, 2000.

I have aPioneer Maid its a big stove,with a large surface.It sure looked nice before we used it!!!!!!The 1st winter i did nothing and got quite a bit of rust that like the other people said,needed to be buffed of and oiled .So in the spring this year ,I wennt to a fabric store and bought a few yards of this really heavy(not tablecloth plastic)vinyl naugehyde stuff with no fabric backing,sanded the stove top,oiled it heavily,buffed it in and laid the vinyl over and cut to size.I really need the surface and this way ican wipe it clean all summer.We don"t use ours in th summer,but I can imagine you have figured that out.LOL.

-- teri murphy (mrs_smurf2000@yahoo.com), September 27, 2000.