They really may have been that dirty, but I'm wondering if the color of the water came from some of the color coming off the knobs.

I replaced all my knobs several years ago and good ones are expensive. Mine are all one piece and metal.

I think anything coming from the plastic would have been apparent with previous cleaning. I also considered rust, but there's no indication of that anywhere, and I doubt it would have dissolved so readily. There's a visible gap where metal and plastic come together (or not!) so I suspect 25 years of grease and other junk dripping down there and collecting. In the end, does it really matter what's inside? I don't know, but it's not nice knowing it's there. Just something to look out for, for anyone concerned.

I should clean my knobs!!

Wow.

I put mine in the dishwasher. They're plastic but all one piece.

I'm not at all surprized. I do a rotation of deep cleaning. Most often everything off the prep counter and the main cutting board scrub.--weekly. Maybe a daily quickie if needed. Stove grates off and surface clean.--Rotation putting the vent hood filters and stove-top grates in the dishwasher...once a month-ish.

My favorite back left simmer burner had issues during lock-down. Then stopped working alltogether. I trouble-shoot always. Holy heck. Under-neath the burner cap was a massive gunk vessel. Thick gross goo. Makes no sense but it happened at some point. Works great now. 😜

You can probably find all stainless steel compatible replacement knobs. Not that expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stainless+steel+replacement+over+knobs&crid=A2GAZK3TVQEU&sprefix=stainless+steel+replacement+over+knobs%2Caps%2C94&ref=nb_sb_noss

dcarch

My knobs are metal and easy to clean:

I think replacing your knobs with metal ones is a good idea.

Our Samsung range in Cathedral City also has metal knobs, which I think is fairly standard now.

I might consider that, though most of my "old appliance budget" is spent on keeping my fridge and freezer running. 🤐

I don't have any knobs. Induction hob and touch control electric oven. Makes cleaning a lot quicker.

And note that many replacement knobs are stainless 'colored', not solid stainless.

I have a troubleshooting list keeping things running all over the house. My knobs are fine, 😜.

Could use a soaking....

Setting aside the length of use, maybe someone spilled something and didn't clean it properly...?

FOAS, since you've now discovered the yuck, can't you just deep clean the knobs regularly rather than replacing them? Seems easier to me...

I have a lot of trouble with interface areas. In my case, it's the area between the ceramic cooktop and the formica counter. The cooktop doesn't easily lift up, if at all, and I hate to think about what has seeped just under the top along the seam . . . I try to scrub it with a thin cloth that can slip between the cracks but I know it is not doing a good job. The coffee spills alone are the stuff of legend!

With my plastic knobs, it's the underside that scares me. It has some type of fabric cushioning . . I try not to look too often . . . I know you can replace knobs but I hate to waste resources. Also, they have to have the right sized hole to fit the knob peg, and of course there is no universal size or shape, that would be too easy . . .

On the flip side, I have had finishes come off of many types of surfaces if I immerse them. One never knows what is paint sometimes. The "rubbed bronze" finish is coming off my bathroom faucet. I am going to have to find some paint for it . . . I loved the design or else I would have not gotten that finish. It's chrome underneath.

I looked into those for my older JennAir stove not too long ago. Clean I think but the designated heat in increments numbers are wearing off two of them and they are hard to read. $41.27 each and there are four. I'm still squinting ;)

l pinkmountain " ----- I have a lot of trouble with interface areas. In my case, it's the area between the ceramic cooktop and the formica counter. -------"

May be something like these can help?

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=PVC+Floor+Transition+Strip&crid=2CSBP91U3BMG4&sprefix=pvc+floor+transition+strip%2Caps%2C100&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

dcarch

Morz, you should be able to find one of those little nail art sized nail enamel (not gel!) to match your numbers—or maybe a drugstore brand, like Revlon, will cost even less for a full sized bottle. Do some tests. The brush may be fine, but may be too wide. You can cut some of the fibers off, use a toothpick, or get a single strand brush. If you need help steadying, rest your elbows on the table. Fill the marks on the knobs in, maybe one at a time, so they can each dry really thoroughly before putting them back. Voilá. No more squinting!

You can also buy permanent fine point paint pens, for that kind of touch-up...

And I was envisioning someone spilling something like chocolate or gravy 😃

And speaking of unexpected crud - we have several white ceramic coated nonstick saute pans, used mainly by hubby for cheese omelets, that have riveted handles, and when the pans are heated, some brownish liquid, which I suspect is burnt butter, always drips from the rivets into the pan. I wipe it off, but it kind of bothers me.

In case you thought I was exaggerating - 15 minutes ago this was perfectly clean. Then I started soup.

FOAS, the silver panel on which the knobs are installed, it looks curved, but I think it is just lighting that is making it look curved. If that panel is flat, I will try to suggest a solution.

May be you can stand back a little and take another picture

dcarch

Do you have anything like this?

I have a couple with folding handles. They do help reduce splatters.

Carol that was a lidded pot that spurted all over because I left the flame too high. It's seriously not a common occurrence, I just thought the timing funny because I had just mentioned being a messy cook. But to answer you're question, I had some splatter guards but they've disappeared somewhere along the line. Replacing them comes to mind at the moment I need them, but forgotten soon after.

dcarch - Yes it's flat. I'm curious what you've come up with!

FOAS, here is the overall concept - Using sheet metal to make a removable front panel. Cut round holes for the knobs.

Purpose - Put the new home made panel on the existing panel, get spare new knobs. When the home made panel and knobs get dirty. put them into the dish washer to clean.

How to make - you can get stainless steel, or aluminum sheets on ebay or Amazon. You can cut sheet metal using an angle cutter. If you don't have an angle cutter, get one from Harbor Freight for under $25.00. You can cut round holes using a hole cutter (under $15) and a power drill. This should not take you more than an hour to make.

You will always have a clean range, even if you do deep frying everyday.

dcarch

That's genius! My mother's coil stove disassembles that way. Though...then there's the crud that gets in underneath the components...

This is a lot easier. Can you get this over your way?

Thanks dcarch - Fine idea and if it took care of more of the cleaning annoyance I'd consider it. But really, the control panel is the least of my aggravation. Have an easy way to clean grates? Don't say dishwasher because they come out with surface rust.

Islay - Sure we have induction. Coming from standard radiant ceramic which cleaning-wise I preferred over gas, I have no doubt induction would be a dream. That's a decision for when I do a remodel though.

FOAS, "------ Have an easy way to clean grates? Don't say dishwasher because they come out with surface rust. ---"

I never have to scrub grates, BBQ grates, etc. I use a large plastic storage bin, large enough for the grates, fill it up with water, add some sodium hydroxide (cheap from Amazon, active ingredient in Liquid Plumber), let the dirty grates soak overnight. The next day just wash everything off with a garden hose. Of course sodium hydroxide is very corrosive and dangerous, eye protection and gloves required. Also made sure no children should be around. The solution can be used many times. Another thing, sodium hydroxide can also attack aluminum.

dcarch

Or, on a sunny day, put your grates on a dark trash bag (on a table to be easier, but the ground is fine), spray liberally with hydrogen peroxide, then cover well with baking soda (get the 4 lb. box). Cover with another bag, secure the edges against the wind, and let sit being warm until the sun starts westering. Rinse well giving a big of a scrub. Repeat if it was very gunky and once wasn't enough. Nothing toxic there. You can use your bare hands and the garden won't die.

Well, what is sodium hydroxide? Sodium hydroxide NaOH on an atomic level is similar to table salt sodium chloride (NaCl). NaOH is a compound of nontoxic elements, but table salt NaCl is a compound of chlorine which is a very toxic element. NaOH, also known as lye, is used often in commercial food preparation and soap making. As a matter of fact, the NaOH I bought is labeled as "Food Grade".

NaOH in pure form is corrosive, I only need to use about a couple of tablespoons in a 7 gallon plastic bin. When a dirty grate is soaked and removed for cleaning, the solution clinging on the grate is only a few drops, not enough to kill any plants. The most it will do is to make your soil less acidic, which can be beneficial for many gardens. There is nothing in NaOH to harm your garden.

dcarch

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Foodonastump, it's not just the hob but the oven above too. So much easier to clean.