If you prepare daily home-cooked meals, your stovetop may be the grimiest part of your kitchen. This is where the messy splatter happens, made worse by intense heat from the burners that cook the splatters onto the surface. Fortunately, it’s not so difficult to get your range looking like new again. This article will tell you how to clean a gas cooktop.
After a day’s use, give your gas stovetop a quick wipe-down with an all-purpose cleaner, such as Fantastik or Seventh Generation, and remove any stray food or splatters with a damp cloth. If you routinely perform this easy task, you’ll save yourself a lot of elbow grease down the road.
A gas stove (as opposed to an electric one) typically features four parts that will need to be cleaned:
Grates: The raised, removable parts that the cookware sits on
Burner caps: The removable round disks that sit directly over the flame to help distribute it evenly
Burner heads: The metal pieces found under the burner caps
Stove surface: The area that covers everything else
Steps for Cleaning a Gas Stovetop
Make sure all the parts of your stovetop are turned off and cool to the touch before starting to clean. Here are the steps for performing the task.
Step 1: Remove the grates and caps
Remove the grates and burner caps and place them in your kitchen sink.
To soften any caked-on gunk, fill the sink with warm, soapy water and let the stovetop components soak for at least fifteen minutes.
Drain the water from the sink.
Step 2: Make a cleaning paste
To make a cleaning paste, combine 1 part vinegar, two parts baking soda, and a squirt of dish soap.
Use a soft sponge to apply the paste, scrub the grease, and film off. (Avoid using abrasive sponges, steel wool, or metal knives, which can scratch the coating.) If stubborn food particles remain, use a plastic knife to scrape them off.
Once clean, rinse each component off with warm water. It may be possible to wash these parts in your dishwasher; check your stove’s manual to see if they’re dishwasher-safe.
Step 3: Check the manual for cleaning instructions before wiping clean
Burner heads can vary widely in design, and if you’re not careful, it’s possible to damage these parts of the stove while cleaning. Check your manual for specific cleaning instructions.
In general, you’ll want to wipe off any dried-on food or liquids with a damp cloth, and use an old toothbrush plus a spritz of vinegar to scrub away any stubborn remains. If the burner holes or ignition port are clogged with gunk, use a needle or safety pin to dislodge it.
Step 4: Clean the stovetop surface
To clean the stovetop surface, use a damp cloth; for stubborn grime, apply the same vinegar-baking soda paste recommended in Step 2.
Then use a degreaser such as Easy-Off to address tough grease stains.
After the surface has been cleaned to your satisfaction, use a fresh cloth to dry it.
Step 5: Reassemble and check parts
Once all the components of the stove top are clean and dry, reassemble them and check to make sure everything works as it should—sometimes an ignitor won’t work if a burner cap is askew.
Then you should be all set to whip up another great meal!
Garden Courte is a blog written by [James Marcus], a passionate gardener and writer. She has been gardening for over 20 years and has a deep understanding of plants and how to care for them. In her blog, she shares her knowledge and experience with others, providing tips and advice on gardening, plant care, and more.