How to Clean a Gas Stove

Grease splatters and pots that boil over can leave your stove a huge mess, and while most spillovers are easy to clean if you get to them fast enough, your stove still needs regular thorough cleaning. Here are some tips for getting all the parts of your stove looking like new again. Before tackling your dirty stove, be sure to allow your stove adequate time to cool from its last usage. Check to make sure all controls are in the off position and that all surfaces are cool to the touch.

Burner bases

The burner bases usually take the brunt of all the spills and splatters on your stove, so they can get pretty dirty. Before attempting to clean the burner bases, remove the burner grates and the burner caps and heads from your stove. To clean the burner bases, use hot soapy water and a plastic scouring pad to remove stuck-on spills. You can use an all-purpose cleaner or just a damp towel to wipe the bases down after removing the spills and stains. Allow the bases to dry fully before replacing the burner grates and burner caps and heads.

Burner caps and heads:

Wash the burner caps and heads in hot, soapy water in your kitchen sink. For stuck-on food and spills, use a plastic scouring pad, or if you have really stubborn caked-on mess, soak the burner heads in dishwasher detergent and hot water for 20-30 minutes and then scour. Dry the burner caps and heads with a clean dish towel and return them to the dry burner bases.

Burner grates

Remove cooled burner grates from your stove and either wash them in the dishwasher or in the sink with hot, soapy water. If you choose to hand wash the burner grates in the sink, use a sponge to get in all the corners and crevices. If your burner grates have burned-on food residue, you can soak them in the same dishwasher detergent and hot water solution as the burner heads for 20-30 minutes. After they soak, wipe them down with a sponge and all the residue should come right off. Rinse them clean and dry them with a clean dish towel. Return the burner grates to their correct position on the stove once you have cleaned the entire unit.

These cleaning instructions should work well for most gas stoves, but check your owner’s manual for specific instructions for your model. Do not use steel wool or harsh chemical cleaners to clean your gas stove, as these can scratch and chip the surface of the stove.