Microfiber cloth
Hot water and dish soap
Vinegar
Bicarbonate of soda
Stove tops can be a tricky part of the house to clean, and they're also one of the parts that need the most cleaning as they're used to cook every day. Thankfully, these six stove top cleaning hacks will help you cut through the grime and grease to restore your gas stove tops' sparkle.
The first thing to do if you intend to clean your stovetop is to check the manufacturer's user manual for cleaning instructions. Induction hobs, gas, and electric stoves all have different cleaning requirements. I'll focus on gas stoves for this article, but some of these hacks apply to all three types.
My gas stove needed a thorough cleaning, so I used the hacks below to make it shiny again. Follow on to see the results!
To upgrade your appliance, check out our guide to the best gas ranges.
How to clean a gas range: quick steps
- Use non-abrasive cloths
- Soak the grates and burner heads
- Cut through the grease with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda
- Use a hot tea towel to get rid of built-in grime
- Avoid harsh chemicals
- Give your stove top a daily clean
How to clean a gas range: step-by-step guide
Below are a few tricks to upgrade your stove top cleaning routine and get rid of even the toughest grease. Read on to find out how to get your range spotless with household ingredients.
1. Use non-abrasive cloths
It might be tempting to reach for a scourer to tackle built-in grime to give your stovetop a good clean. However, this can damage your stovetop, whether a glass induction hob or a stainless steel gas stove. Harsh cloths can mark the stove's surface and leave unsightly scrapes.
Instead of an abrasive cloth, use the non-scouring part of a sponge or a microfiber cloth to buff and polish your stovetop.
2. Soak the grates and burner heads
If you have a gas stove, you can probably remove the grates and burner heads to clean them. Giving them a thorough clean can be a hassle, but you can just soak them to get rid of any built-in grease. Some stovetop grates will go in the dishwasher, but check the user manual to make sure that's possible.
Fill your sink with hot water and a few pumps of dish soap, then leave your stovetop grates and burner heads to soak for at least half an hour. Alternatively, you can use a dishwasher tablet as a detergent.
Once the grates and burner heads have soaked in the soap, rinse them and dry them well before replacing them on your clean stovetop.
3. Cut through the grease with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda
If you're dealing with tough grease and bits of food stuck to the stovetop, you can make a cleaning paste from two simple pantry ingredients: vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
Prepare the paste with two parts vinegar for every part bicarbonate of soda and spread it on the stovetop. Leave it to rest for a minute or two, then wipe it off and buff it clean with a microfiber cloth. The vinegar and bicarbonate of soda will work together to dissolve the grime and get any food residue on the stop unstuck.
4. Use a hot tea towel to get rid of built-in grime
If even bicarbonate of soda and vinegar can't get rid of a tough grease spot, you can use a tea towel. Use a clean towel and soak it in boiling water. Take it out and wring it out (once it's safe) before placing it on top of the grime on your stovetop and leaving it there for a few minutes.
After removing the towel, scrub the food residue with a non-abrasive cloth.
5. Avoid harsh chemicals
As your stovetop will be used near food, it is best to clean it with harsh or toxic chemicals. Avoid products that include bleach or other components that aren't safe to ingest.
Using natural ingredients like vinegar and bicarbonate of soda or natural, non-toxic cleaners like Method products (available on Amazon) is a good solution to clean your stovetop.
6. Give your stove top a daily clean
The best thing you can do to make your job easier when cleaning your stove top is to give it a regular wipe-down. That way, you're preventing grease and grime from building up. Ideally, you should clean your stovetop after every use to avoid having to deal with tough food residue.
I hope these hacks help you care for your gas stove top - the results on mine were pretty convincing!
How to clean a gas range: FAQs
Can you use Dawn to clean a gas stove?
Remove the grates and any removable pieces from your gas stove before cleaning it with Dawn. Fill a sink or large container with warm water and add a few squirts of Dawn. Let the grates soak for 15-20 minutes to help loosen food stuck on them. Scrub the grates gently with a scrub brush or sponge, ensuring you get into every nook and cranny.
For the stovetop itself, make a paste with Dawn and warm water. Use a damp cloth or sponge to spread the paste over the surface, letting it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing. The Dawn will break down grease and food residue. Check the burner caps and igniters because they get really dirty.
Once you've scrubbed the entire surface, wipe away Dawn residue with a clean, damp cloth. Make a new batch of Dawn paste and let it sit for a bit more before scrubbing any stubborn spots. You might need to do this a few times to ensure the stovetop is sparkling clean.
You can then put the grates back in place and admire the freshly cleaned gas stove.
How do you remove burn stains from a gas stove top?
Baking soda is one of the best ways to eliminate burn stains. Mix some baking soda with a little water, then rub it on with a damp sponge or cloth. Let the paste sit for 15-20 minutes, then scrub it in a circular motion. Baked soda's abrasiveness will help lift the stains and remove them.
When you have tougher stains, you can make a paste with Bar Keepers Friend, a powerful cleaning product designed to remove tough stains and buildup. If the stain is really stubborn, you'll need to repeat this process a few times. Apply the paste, let it sit, and scrub it hard.
Spray or wipe white vinegar onto the stains, let it sit for a few minutes, and scrub. The vinegar's acidity helps dissolve the burnt-on grime.
If baking soda, Bar Keepers Friend, and vinegar don't work, you can use a small amount of oven cleaner. Be very careful with this method, as oven cleaners contain harsh chemicals. Apply it sparingly, let it sit, then rinse it well.
Can you use a magic eraser on a stove top?
A magic eraser on a stovetop is great for cutting through tough, stuck-on messes. Melamine foam is a fine abrasive, making it easy to scrub off built-up food, grease, and even burned-on stains. It's especially great for the grates on gas stoves and the burners, where grime gets stuck.
If you use a magic eraser on a stove, you've got to be careful, as the foam can scratch or dull it, especially if it's smooth or glass. Scrubbing can also create heat that can damage your stovetop.
To use a magic eraser safely, dampen it with water and gently rub it over the stain or grime. Apply light pressure, and don't scrub too hard. First, try the eraser on a small, inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't leave any unwanted marks.
Following the magic eraser treatment, wipe the stovetop with a damp cloth to remove any residue. You may also want to apply a stovetop polish to restore the luster.
