How To Deep Clean A Gas Stove Top And How Often You Should Be Doing It

Your gas stove top might cook like a dream, heating food quickly and evenly, but unlike the smooth tops of electric ranges, it poses one problem: it's much more difficult to keep clean. Even with regular wipe-downs, crumbs can accumulate in crevices, and burners and grates can become caked with grease. Deep cleaning once per month can keep it in peak condition and cut down on the scrubbing power needed to get it squeaky clean the next time around. Plus, the best way to clean your gas stove top is pretty simple, requiring only items you likely have on hand, such as dish soap, baking soda, a plastic scrubber, and a straight pin or small-gauge wire to clean clogged burner ports.

While you can use a mildly abrasive cleaner like baking soda to scrub, avoid scouring pads so that you don't scratch your stovetop. Toothpicks should also be avoided when cleaning burner ports, as they can easily break and become lodged inside the surface, preventing proper gas flow.

Once the gas stovetop is completely cool and unplugged, if applicable, remove the grates and burner caps. If your model has a standing pilot light, turn off the gas valve first. Fill your sink with hot, soapy water and soak your coated cast-iron grates while you finish the rest of the cleaning. If the grates are uncoated cast iron, skip soaking and follow the manufacturer's instructions instead. Clean the burner caps with a plastic scrubbing pad and dish soap to remove buildup, rinsing afterward. For stubborn grime, soaking the caps in hot, soapy water for about 20 minutes can help loosen buildup. To clean gas stove burners, wipe them with a sponge and soapy water, then dry thoroughly afterward.

Now you need to clean the burner tubes, though we recommend checking your owner's manual first to confirm that cleaning them yourself won't void your warranty. If so, use your metal straight pin to carefully remove any debris, making sure not to damage or enlarge the opening.

Gently wipe the igniter with a barely damp microfiber cloth and use your straight pin to clear any clogs from the burner ports. Clean the stovetop surface with a soft cloth and mild cleaner, then reinstall the burners and burner caps, making sure all parts are thoroughly dry beforehand. Finally, pull your grates out of the sink, wipe, rinse, and dry them. If they're still noticeably dirty, you can try to bring your grimy stovetop grates back to life with the help of a common kitchen staple- baking soda. Once fully clean and dry, place the grates back on the stovetop.