How to clean a gas stove

Cooking meals over the gas stoves offer distinctive flavor and magical taste to the cooked meals.

Moreover, gas stoves provide precise control over the cooking by varying the gas- range as per the variable heating needs.

Using gas stoves regularly may result in clogging of the gas ports on the burners. 

Luckily, cleaning a gas stove does not require rocket science. Let’s discuss some simplest and easiest ways of cleaning a gas stove.

Before you begin to clean a gas stove ensure you have the following supplies ready with you.

• Dishwashing detergent
• Scrub brush or old toothbrush
• Sponge
• Cloth or Non-abrasive scrub pad
• Kitchen towel or pieces of rag

Turn off the gas burners 

Turn off the gas burners and allow them to cool down completely before cleaning.  A hot gas burner may cause you burns.

Remove the burner grates and caps

Lift the grates away from the stove. Remove the removable ceramic disc on top of the burner. This way you end up removing the burner grates and caps.

Remove the burner heads

Once you have removed the burner caps, you would find the burner head beneath the burner caps. Simply lift the burner heads to remove them.

Soak the burner parts in the cleansing solution

Prepare a cleansing solution with dishwashing detergent and warm water. Fill the sink or a large bucket with this solution.

Soak the burner caps, heads, and grates completely in hot water. Allow the cleansing solution to act for 20 to 30 minutes. 

It will loosen the hardened debris stuck on the burner parts.

Clean the stovetop

In the meanwhile the burner parts are soaking in the dishwashing solution; you can proceed to clean the stovetop.

Remove the loose debris by using a cleaning scrub brush or old toothbrush. The caked food or drinks spills can be removed by scraping it with little force.

Now use a scrub brush soaked in soapy water for cleaning the top of the stove. Again, scrub the surface using a clean piece of cloth or rag. 

Also scrub-clean the knobs and face of the stove as well.

For tough stains, apply a strong cleaning solution for loosening the grime, allow it to soak for a few minutes, and then scrub it using a clean rag.

Clean the areas where burners and cap are positioned using a toothbrush. After cleaning around the corners of burners, wipe it using a clean rag

Take a dry and clean cloth or paper towel for wiping the stove’s surface dry. Ensure it is dried completely.

Scrub the burner grates

Take a sponge or a toothbrush for scrub-washing the burner grates that were soaking in the cleansing solution in the sink or bucket. 

This will wipe away the grime easily. Once cleaned, keep the burner grates aside.

Scrub the Burner Heads and Caps

Use the sponge or toothbrush used earlier to scrub wash the food stains from the surfaces of the burner heads and caps. 

Remove all the clogs or debris stuck in the port openings by digging with a straightened paper clip. Don’t dig with much force as it may damage the metal. 

Also, don’t use a wooden toothpick as it may break and get stuck inside the ports.

Rinse the burner parts

Rinse the burner parts including its grates, caps, and heads thoroughly under running water.

Ensure to remove the soapy residue completely and shake the parts for removing the excess water.

Dry the burner parts

Use a piece of clean and dry rag or cloth for wiping the rinsed burner parts. Keep them aside to completely air-dry them before reassembling them.

Reassemble the Burners

Ensure that all the burner parts are completely dry before reassembling them back into their places. 

Reassemble burner heads, caps, grills and grates to place them in their proper positions on the stovetop.

Test the burners by igniting them to ensure that they are functioning properly. Pay attention to the shape and color of the flame. 

If the flame is weak or forms an unusual shape, it indicates that parts are not fitted correctly or they are not dried completely. Fix the underlying issue and test the burner again.

If your soapy dishwashing solution is not able to remove the stubborn stains completely, you may use the following methods for cleaning gas stove burners. 

Baking Soda Method

For removing tough stains, prepare a more robust and potent cleaning solution by mixing baking soda and water in equal parts. 

Apply this mixture over the complete surface of the burner heads and caps. Allow the mixture to soak in for a few minutes. Now scrub with a toothbrush or sponge. 

This would remove even the toughest of stains. Repeat the process many times if necessary.

White Vinegar Method

The white vinegar solution acts as an excellent stove top cleaner that wipes away the tough and hardened stains easily.

Prepare a mixture of one part white vinegar with two parts of water. 

Simply spray this mixture over the tough stains, wait for 15 minutes to allow the mixture to act and loosen the stains, and wipe away the stains using a piece of clean cloth or sponge.

You can use this method as part of daily maintenance for loosening the spills before they get baked.

Combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide

The combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide works best for greasy stains. 

Sprinkle the burner’s parts and stovetops with this mixture. Allow it to act for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry the burner’s parts.

Combination of baking soda and salt

The combination of baking soda and salt is another excellent mixture for removing hardened stains.

Prepare a fine paste by using 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of baking soda and water. 

Soak a piece of rag in this paste and apply it all over the surfaces of burner grates, caps, heads, and stovetops.

Scrub and wipe well. Rinse with water and dry the burner’s parts and stovetops.

Ammonia 

Ammonia also works exceedingly well in removing greasy and sticky debris. 

You need to seal the burner parts such as grates, caps, and heads inside the zip-lock bags. Add the ammonia solution inside the bags. 

Leave the burners and grates soaked in the ammonia solution inside the zip-lock bags overnight. 

Rinse the grates and burner with clean water in the morning and see the stains washing away.

Combination of baking soda and lemon

The combination of baking soda and lemon works wonders in removing baked up stains and the finest debris particles.

The baking soda acts as a strong abrasive for removing stubborn stains while lemon serves as a natural disinfectant.

Add a small quantity of baking soda over the surface and wipe it using a lemon slice. 

Clean the surface using a clean damp cloth for wiping away the stains. Allow the surface to dry.

A clogged gas stove burner disrupts the normal flow of the gas and hampers the efficiency of the stoves. 

Thus, it is essential to thoroughly clean the gas stove for flawless and precision cooking.

Maintain a disciplined gas stove cleaning routine daily to avoid any issues with a gas flame and keep your gas stove sparkling clean.