It’s not tough to clean a gas stove if you have the know-how. My preferred way is to disassemble the parts and soak the removable parts in a vinegar/water solution. But that’s far from the only way!
I’ve always preferred a gas stove to electric or induction. A gas stovetop may not be as easy to use as electric, but I like the idea of using fire to cook, just like our ancestors did. Whatever the reason, gas stoves are my top choice for cooking.
One thing is for sure, though–electric stoves are much easier to clean! You just wipe them down once they’re cool. A gas stove? Well, let’s just say our cleaning relationship has been a little complicated in the past. But cleaning gas stoves doesn’t have to be that difficult.
Once you’ve read this guide, you’ll be wondering what all the fuss is about! I’ve put together three methods that vary in difficulty. There’s the super easy method, the fairly easy method, and the most thorough method. Which one you use will depend on your stove and how long it has been since you last cleaned it.
Ready to get started? Let’s jump right in.
Contents
Before Cleaning: Prepare The Stove
Before you can do anything, you must prepare your stove. This step applies to all the methods.
Switch Off & Cool Down
Turn off your stove, ideally at the mains – there should be a little switch near it. Mine looks a bit like a light switch, except it’s red and has the word cooker. It’s better to turn it off as the sparkers use a very high voltage.
Let your stove cool down completely. If you’ve used it recently, this should take several minutes.
Take Apart the Burners
Lift the gas stove grates off the stove and then…stop! Before you start taking apart the burners, be sure you’re confident you can put them back together again. The last thing you want to do is clean your stove, only to realize you can’t use it because you don’t know how to put it together. Yikes.
My stove has two pieces for each burner. On top is a burner cap, then underneath is the burner itself. It’s pretty simple to put together. If you’re not sure about your gas stove, take a photo of each step as you disassemble the first burner.
When you’re ready to put it together again, just reverse the photos to get a ready-made photo instruction set. You only need to do this for one burner, since all the burners are built the same.
Take off the burner caps and everything you can easily lift. You shouldn’t need any tools or excessive force. Anything screwed in place should stay where it is. If it is too hard to remove, that piece probably shouldn’t come off! If in doubt, you should always consult the user manual. They are most likely on the Internet if you’ve lost them!
As you take apart the gas stove, note where the sparkers are. These are two little metal rods, sometimes partly coated in plastic. They are close to each other and will be close to the point where the gas comes out. Since these are electric, I would be extra careful with them. Don’t cover them with chemicals and make sure they are dry before turning on the stove. I doubt you will have a problem; I never have. But better safe than sorry…
Pre-Clean the Stove
Wipe your gas stove down with a damp cloth, and remove any large pieces of food or dirt.
The Super-Easy Cleaning Method: The Dishwasher Method
Before getting started, check the manufacturer’s instructions to see if you can put the pieces in the dishwasher. If you can, you’re ready to go! Follow these super-easy steps:
1. Stick everything you removed in the dishwasher and turn it on.
2. While you’re waiting, wipe down the stove top itself with a soapy sponge. Rinse by wiping it with a wet sponge.
3. Dry everything, then put it all back together.
Voila! Your gas stove is now clean and ready to use again.
This is by far the easiest way, but it’s not for everyone. This particular method isn’t as thorough as some of the other methods below. It might not get rid of every discoloration or mark. You also might need something heavy-duty if your gas stovetop has been neglected.
Of course, you can always pop some pieces, like the grates, in the dishwasher, and use one of the below methods for the rest.
The Fairly-Easy Cleaning Method: Vinegar Soak and Soap Wash
What you will need
- Vinegar
- A large container to hold the parts
- A toothbrush
- Dish soap or detergent
- Oven / Stove Cleaner
- Spray Bottle
- Gloves
Step-by-Step Instructions
This is the method I normally use. It’s not 100%, and it doesn’t remove every discoloration. But it works for me, and I don’t want to pull my hair out after cleaning my gas stovetop. I’ll happily take that win.
So here’s what you do:
- After taking apart the burner caps, gas stove grates, and gas burners, soak all the removed pieces in a cleaning solution of 50% vinegar and 50% water. Leave them to soak for at least half an hour. Some pieces don’t fit (like the grills), so I don’t put them in. These pieces clean easily, anyway. If you put anything in the dishwasher, it should be the grills. Alternatively, you can simply wipe them down.
- Meanwhile, spray your gas stovetop with an oven cleaner spray bottle. Be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands from any harsh chemicals. After spraying the cleaner, wipe down the stove. For those hard-to-reach places, use a toothbrush to scrub away any stains or residue.
- After 30 minutes (or more), remove all the burner parts from the cleaning solution and rinse. Scrub the pieces with a toothbrush, where needed. It’s a good idea to use dish soap and water for this step.
- After scrubbing the stove burners and pieces, make sure everything is completely dry before putting it all back together.
That’s it! This method requires a little more time and elbow grease than the first method, but it’s effective and relatively easy. If you want an ultra-deep clean, however, there’s a better way.
The Most Thorough Way: Baking Soda Deep Clean
What you will need
- Vinegar
- A large container to hold the parts
- A toothbrush
- Dish soap or detergent
- Oven / Stove Cleaner
- Spray Bottle
- Gloves
- Baking Soda (also called Sodium Bicarbonate, or Bicarbonate of Sodium)
Step-by-Step Instructions
I rarely use this method as I find it a bit much. However, if you want your stove to look as good as new, then I recommend it.
- Do everything from the fairly easy way, except putting it back together. This should get rid of most of the dirt and grease, but not all of the discoloration.
- Now it’s time to make a paste with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and water. I suggest three parts baking soda to one part water; Hunker has a guide on how to do this.
- Scrub all the stains and discolorations with the baking soda paste. Don’t rinse it with water! Scrub well and leave it to sit.
- When you’ve finished, use your 50% water 50% vinegar solution to gently rinse off the baking soda paste. You should see plenty of bubbling. That is the vinegar and baking soda reacting. Rinse the pieces carefully over the sink. This can get messy if you aren’t careful. (Vinegar is an acid, and baking soda is an alkali, so they react when combined. You can have a lot of fun with this.)
- Once the bubbling stops, scrub away any remaining baking soda. If there is still any discoloration left, rinse and repeat.
Cleaning Alternatives
If none of the above gas stovetop cleaning methods sound appealing, there are plenty of variations and alternative ideas you could consider:
- Use lemon juice instead of vinegar; they are both acidic.
- Use baking powder instead of baking soda and vinegar. The baking powder has bicarbonate of soda and an acid in it, so the vinegar isn’t needed; rinse with water instead.
- If you have time, wipe and dry down the stove immediately after use. This will stop grease from hardening, and help stop any oxidization.
- When soaking the parts in vinegar, consider soaking them in a closed bag overnight.
How to Clean a Gas Stovetop: Final Thoughts
I’ve written about what I found works for me, but I don’t worry about a bit of discoloration. The color of my stove doesn’t show stains anyway, so the important part is that it is clean.
The best way of finding something that works for you is to try different methods. It’s always a balance between effort and results – experiment until you are happy and find what works for you!
