I was cleaning my stove top with a Kirkland Household Surface cleaning Towelette and it fell down the oven vent. I can't see it or feel it. Is it okay to leave it in there or do you think if I turn my oven on it could catch on fire? Should I call the repair company?
Thanks to all the Mamas who offered their help. I tried vacuuming, fishing it out with a hanger (don't ever try that) and then I called the repairman. Essentially what happened is the cloth dropped down behind the stove and the wall. There are holes which appear like vents under the controls of the oven on either side of the oven vent. These holes just happen to be open to the back of the stove/oven. All I had to do was pull the oven/stove out and I could have fished the towelette out with the coat hanger. I was a little afraid to pull it out for fear of damage to my new floor and counters. So long story short the inexpensive cleaning towelettes that were suppose to save me time and money cost me $70 and a half day of missed work. Lesson learned. Thanks again.
The oven vent is over the stove right? To suck the air out of the house? I think anything in a vent can clog it and make it work less well, so I would call the appliance store and ask the repair person about it.
Call the gas company
I would try and get it out, especially if you have a gas stove. You don't want anything blocking the combustible gases that need to escape. Call the service dept. of your appliance store just to ask for advice on how to get it out. It might be pretty easy for you to do it yourself.
I would first try to ferret it out with a hangar or something, not sure about a vacuum being used where there is gas (might spark). Could try calling the 800# on the box of cleaning towelettes.
Can you open the vent and get to it? You may have to remove a few screws to get to it. I try very hard to not call a repair person they are sooo expensive. Do you have a friend who is a good fix-it person? Ask him (her) for help and offer to make dinner as a thank-you.
I wouldn't use the stove until the towelette is out. The solvents on it could be very flammable.
Do you have a vacuum cleaner attachment that looks like a long tube? I'm wondering if you could use that for suction and pull it out that way? I'd hate for you to have to pay for the expense of a most likely simple repair, but it may be the way to go... Hope you get it fixed soon. Good luck!
