How to Clean a Clogged Non-aerosol Kitchen Oil Spritzer

Non-aerosol kitchen spritzers make coating baking pans or skillets with vegetable oil so easy - just pump and spray. With use, the cooking oil creates residue inside and outside the spritzer. The resulting clog reduces a strong spray to an aggravating sputter. A serious cleaning can restore the spritzer's spraying power.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hot water with dish washing detergent
• Toothbrush for scrubbing
• Toothpick/s or thin wooden or wire skewers for removing stubborn oil residue
• More hot water for rinsing

1. 
    
   Spritzer parts

   Pour out and discard any remaining oil in the kitchen spritzer. Take the spritzer apart, carefully pulling off removable pieces like those in photograph. Take note of how pieces were put together; this may help during reassembly.

2. 
    
   Soak spritzer parts

   Pour very hot water and dish washing detergent into a pan or bowl to make a soapy solution. Submerge spritzer parts in the water and allow to soak for several minutes.

3. After soaking, scrub each part of the kitchen spritzer with a toothbrush on all sides and in openings as much as possible. Inspect each part for clogging residue. Often it is a light or dark brown color. Use a toothpick, a longer skewer, or any implement to reach and remove this type of residue.

4. 
    
   Spray to clean

   When all visible residue is removed, reassemble kitchen spritzer and fill with very hot, soapy water. Pump and spray into the sink until all water is gone and spritzer puts out a strong, continuous spray. Repeat if necessary. Rinse bottle until free of detergent bubbles, then fill again with hot water. Pump and spray again until bottle is empty and nothing but air is sprayed.

5. 
    
   Spritzer

   Unscrew spraying mechanism. Dry bottle and spraying mechanism to remove water drops. Refill with oil and test for spray.
   
   Regular cleaning will keep the kitchen spritzer operating well. A convenient time for cleaning is when the spritzer needs to be refilled with oil.

[sbarry77]

on 11/11/2009 Great tips for cleaning a spritzer! 5* and recommended