Spraying Your Gas Range With Vinegar: Why You Should Try It

Whether you're whipping up a quick breakfast or making dinner before you unwind after a long day, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that nearly 8 in 10 American households make at least one hot meal in their kitchens every day. Meaning that, along with a delicious homemade meal, your gas range is also likely home to daily buildup of grime, food particles, and other less appetizing debris. And we're also willing to bet that by the time your weekly cleaning session rolls around, cleaning your gas range is a much more daunting task than it felt like on Wednesday. Instead of dedicating an hour to scrubbing the range every Saturday, simply spray it down daily with vinegar to keep the grime and debris at bay.

Dirty gas ranges might feel (and look) kinda messy, but is it really that big of a deal? Well ... yes. Keeping your gas range spick-and-span doesn't just make it look nice. It actually helps the appliance perform better (and last longer) and reduces the chance of kitchen accidents. Using a daily vinegar spray is an economical, easy, and eco-friendly way to make all of that happen — no fancy cleaning products required.

Why vinegar? When properly diluted with water, its acidic nature is mild enough to lift up light grime and any other gunk from the day from the range's surface. Plus, we suspect that its deodorizing properties may even help eliminate any leftover odors from the meal.

While white vinegar's mild acidity can help keep your house clean, it's still an acid. While most range cooktops are covered in protective enamel, it's important to spot test it on a hidden corner of your range before dousing the cooktop with it.

Once you mix up your vinegar spray — one part distilled white vinegar to one part water in a glass or plastic spray bottle should do the trick — check that your range is cool to the touch. Most modern gas ranges don't have pilot lights, but if yours does, turn it off. Click on the vent fan, then spray the range's surface. Some cleaning products work better if they sit first, but you don't want to leave this vinegar mixture for more than 10 minutes. Using a soft sponge, microfiber towel, or your other favorite non-abrasive scourer, wipe away the day's debris quickly, then dry thoroughly.

It might seem handy to keep your daily vinegar spray right by the range so you can use it every night, but vinegar doesn't like heat or light. Instead, keeping it in a dark space (think in the pantry or under the kitchen sink) is ideal. Make your evening wipe down before bed even easier by storing it with your favorite cleaning towels so everything is easy to grab.