How to Clean Your Kitchen Stove
How to Clean Your Kitchen Stove
Even if you don’t cook a lot at home, the stove probably still gets dirty. Even something as easy as boiling pasta water can leave streaks and stains, and heating a pot of pre-made soup will undoubtedly leave a few splatters.
What if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen? Chances are your stovetop is really in for it. A smear of tomato sauce from Monday, scorched spinach from Tuesday, burnt pieces of rice from Wednesday—before you know it, your burners, stovetop, and knobs are slick with grease and covered in crumbs. Not only is this unpleasant, but it may pose a hazard when the remaining particles make their way over to the gas burner flame or electric coil.
The method for cleaning the stove varies depending on whether it is gas, electric or induction. The good news is that there are methods for cleaning all kinds.
How Frequently Should You Clean Your Stove?
I’m not going to sugar-coat it—the best method to keep your stovetop shining is to clean it after every use. If you’re working with an already clean stove, this can be as simple as wiping off surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth or a soapy sponge. The more you do the “small clean” on your stovetop, the less frequently you’ll need to do the “big clean.” But if it’s been a while and a thorough clean is required, consider different ways to clean tough stains on a glass stovetop.
Methods For Cleaning A Gas Stove
There are typically four major parts of a gas stove that need to be cleaned to maintain a clean stove top.
- Grate – is where pots and pans sit when cooking.
- Burner Caps – the replaceable discs used to spread flames from the burners.
- Burner Heads – this is connected to the stove and is where the flame originates from.
- Stovetop Surface – a flat surface on the top of a stove where you set pots and pans for cooking.
Clean the gas Stove Grates and Burner Caps
The stove grates and burner caps are where we recommend you start your major clean-up. Lift the grates off the stove and the burner caps from the burner heads, then place them into the sink. Depending on the size of your grates and sink, this step may need to be completed in stages.
If your grates and burners are already clean – Soap up a non-abrasive sponge, being careful not to remove any enamel or coating, and thoroughly clean the grates and burners; rinse and repeat as needed. The way they look will indicate if they are clean. They should not have any dirty or filmy stains and they should not feel greasy or sticky to the touch.
If your grates and burners are very filthy – Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. To remove clogged grease, first wash the grates and burners with a soapy sponge, then prepare your wonder paste. Combine 1 part vinegar and 2 parts baking soda, then add a few drops of dish soap and make the mixture. Allow the mixture to lie for 20 minutes before washing it off with a soapy sponge and a little elbow grease.
Try the ammonia technique – We advocate a completely hands-off way for cleaning stove grates and burner caps, however, this method is only effective for smaller grates that cover individual burners. Add a splash of ammonia to a ziplock bag. A gallon freezer bag is ideal for this. Then place one of your stove pieces in the bag, seal it, and repeat until all of the parts you want to clean are sealed. Leave the bags on the counter overnight. In the morning, remove the parts from the bag and clean away any grease or filth using a soapy sponge. Just remember to check the label before use—household ammonia is normally diluted with water, but you can dilute it even more before using it. Also, since ammonia is a gas, make sure the space you’re working in is well-ventilated.
After cleaning the grates and stove heads, thoroughly dry them to avoid any streaky watermarks. Reusable Kitchen Cloths are the perfect instrument for the job because they are highly absorbent, lint-free, and leave no scratches.
Clean the Gas Stove Burner Heads
Worst-case scenario. It’s been so long since you cleaned your gas stove that you can’t see the burner caps through the grease. To get rid of any crumbs, clean the burner heads with a damp towel while the stove is turned off. Then, using the sharp end of a paper clip or safety pin, scrape any shallow notches and gently poke into the clogged ignition port or burner holes, where the gas exits. Wipe the burner heads again with a damp towel, then gently scrub with vinegar to remove any grease and stains.
Cleaning the Gas Stovetop
This is where all of the previous techniques combine. To clean the surface of the stove, wipe it down with a moist cloth to remove any food crumbs – a simple way to clean a stovetop. Wash with a non-abrasive soapy sponge to remove any oily areas. If the grease has truly solidified, reapply the 1:2 ratio vinegar: baking soda mixture and let it set for 10 to 15 minutes before gently washing it away with a soapy sponge. Dry the hob with a clean cloth, replace the burner heads and grates, and applaud yourself on your effort to clean a gas stovetop.
How to Clean an Electric Stovetop
Electric stoves are available in two styles: metal coil burners and glass-topped, and both are easy to clean if you know what you’re doing. Induction stoves have a glass-ceramic top that can be cleaned similarly to a glass-topped electric stove.
Cleaning electric stoves with metal coil burners and drip pans.
A metal coil electric stove typically has four major components that require cleaning:
- Coils – transmit heat.
- Drip Pans – metal bowls that house the coils and catch any liquids or crumbs
- The underside of the Stovetop – an often overlooked area when cleaning a stovetop.
- Stovetop surface
If your coils and drip pans are already pretty clean
Electric coil burners can become extremely dusty, yet they are also (more or less) self-cleaning. Give the coils a quick wipe with a moist cloth, then set the burners on high for 3 minutes. Any accumulated grime will burn off but depending on how bad they are, you may want to open a window. Turn off the burners, let them cool completely, and then wipe them down again to clean the stovetop.
If your coils and drip pans are completely dirty
Heat the coils on high for a few minutes to burn off any residue, then let them cool fully. Roll up your sleeves and gently remove the coils from the stove; they should pop out easily. Lift the drip pans as well. Wash the drip pans with warm soapy water, then soak them in that magical vinegar and baking soda concoction. Allow the drip pans to sit there with their frosting for 10 to 15 minutes.
While the drip pans rest, clean the coils. Lay down some newspaper and get a dry toothbrush. Gently clean the coils to remove any crusted-on debris; it should flake off onto the newspaper. Then wipe the coils with a moist cloth, dry them well with a dry cloth and return to the sink.
Wash the baking soda mixture off the drip pans, then wash them in warm soapy water, dry them thoroughly with a lint-free cloth, and admire your funhouse mirror image for a time.
How to clean underneath an Electric Stove
When you turn on an electric stove, it occasionally smells like it is burning. Usually, this indicates that you should clean the area underneath your stove. Raise the front of your stove in the same manner as you would a car hood, and it should pop open. For any extra scrubbing, use a soapy sponge after wiping off the underside to remove any stray food particles that may have become stuck.
Combine these techniques to Clean Electric Stovetops
An electric stovetop can be cleaned by first wiping it down with a damp cloth to remove any remaining food, and then using a soapy sponge to remove any grease. Spread the 1:2 vinegar: baking soda mixture on the stovetop surface, then let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before gently cleaning it away. Dry the cooking surface with a clean cloth, replace the metal coils in the drip pans and reassemble the stove.
For tough spills and stuck-on food, extensively dust the underneath of the stove with baking soda before spraying or carefully pouring vinegar over top. The mixture will start to bubble up. Allow the baking soda and vinegar to soak for 10 to 15 minutes before using a non-abrasive scrubbing to remove any remaining grime. Dry thoroughly with a lint-free towel, and remember to wipe down the top of the “hood” as well!
Cleaning a Glass Stovetop Or Induction Stoves
Cleaning glass-top electric stoves or induction stoves is an important part of kitchen maintenance that ensures both aesthetic appeal and maximum function. Below are the steps in Cleaning Glass-Top Electric Stoves Or Induction Stoves.
#1. Clean the surface with a dry towel to remove any leftover food or crumbs.
#2. Put baking soda liberally over the entire Stovetop.
#3. Spray or lightly sprinkle white vinegar everywhere. Enjoy the magical fizz.
#4. Fill a small bucket, a pan, or whatever you have with hot water and soap until it is foamy. Soak a thick towel or two lighter kitchen towels in hot soapy water, then wring them out until they are damp but not dripping wet.
#5. Place the towel on top of the stove, set a timer for 15 minutes, and watch some videos while the soapy heat from the towels activates the baking soda, effectively cleaning your stovetop.
#6, When the timer goes off, pick up the towel and scrape away on the stove. Once all of the unclean spots have been cleansed, remove the baking soda.
#7. Do one more vinegar wipe, dry the stove with a clean towel, and you’re finished!
If there are stuck-on areas that just won’t come off, you’ll need to get out the major weapons, which include knives and razor blades. Holding a sharp razor blade at a 45-degree angle, gently slip it under the gunk with steady pressure. It’s better to do this while the stove is still damp, but keep your hands dry to avoid slipping. Then add vinegar again, and voilà. Be aware that this approach may scratch your stove surface, so only use it as a last resort—and at your own risk.
Keep your Stovetop Clean
You may eat from the stove now that it is gleaming clean. You could also cook on it. Just remember that a little wipe-down after every use will save you a lot of work in the long run. If you are someone who likes to keep their house spotless all the time then if you clean a stove after each use you also get the extra benefit of a stove to be proud of.