Annoying spills and splatters, especially on stovetops, are bound to happen in the kitchen. The hardened stains of food cause bacteria to build up, which is not great for our physical health and our need for a clean space. The good news is, you can easily clean all kinds of stoves, whether it’s gas, electric, or induction, and we’re going to break down all of that today.
But first, how often are you supposed to clean your stove?
The truth is, the best way to keep your stovetop sparkling, is to clean it whenever you use it. This task can be as small as wiping down surfaces with a damp microfibre cloth or a soapy sponge. And as with many things in our home, the more often you do the small clean, the less often you’ll have to do the big clean. But if it’s been a while and you need the big clean, don’t worry, you have come to the right place.
How to Clean a Gas Stove
Besides the stovetop surface itself, a gas stove usually has three main components that require cleaning:
1. The Grate: this is the section on which pots and pans sit on.
2. The Burner Caps: these are the removable disks that distribute flames from the burners.
3. The Burner Heads: these are attached to the stovetop and are where the fire comes from.
Step 1
The stove grates and burner caps (1 & 2) are where we recommend that you start your big clean-up.
To do this, remove the grates from the stovetop and the burner caps from the burner heads by lifting them off and placing them into your sink.
Step 2
If your grates and burners are already relatively clean, you’ve made it to step 2 but, if they are very dirty, skip to step 3 now.
To avoid stripping off any enamel or coating, soap up a non-abrasive sponge and give the grates and burners a thorough wash. You may need to rinse and repeat as necessary.
Tip: you’ll know they’re clean by how they look and feel. There should be no grime or stains, and they should not be greasy or tacky to touch.
Step 3
To remove seriously caked grease, we’re going to break this step into three parts:
1) Wash the grates and burners with a soapy sponge.
2) Combine 1 part vinegar with two parts baking soda, add a few drops of dish soap, and cake the mixture on.
3) Let the mixture sit for 20 min, then wash it off with a soapy sponge and a little elbow grease.
Step 4
Once the grates and burner heads have been cleaned, dry them off well.
Tip: Unpaper Kitchen Cloths are a perfect tool for the job. They’re super absorbent, lint-free, and best of all won’t leave any scratches.
Step 5
Now it’s time to clean item (3) the gas stove burner heads:
1) Wipe the burner heads with a damp cloth to remove any particles.
2) The trick is then to use a pointy end of a paper clip or safety pin to scrape any narrow notches. You also want to gently poke into the clogged ignition port or burner holes, where the gas comes out.
3) Wipe the burner heads with a damp cloth again, then gently scrub with vinegar to remove grease and stains.
Step 6
Now, this is where everything comes together: cleaning the surface of your stove:
1) Wipe your stovetop down with a damp cloth to collect any bits of scraps.
2) Use a non-abrasive soapy sponge to get rid of any greasy spots.
Tip: if the grease has really solidified, whip out that vinegar and baking soda mixture again and spread it on. Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes before gently scrubbing it off with a soapy sponge.
3) Dry the stovetop with a clean cloth, put the burner heads, and the grates back.
How To Clean An Electric & Induction Stove
Electric stoves come in two varieties:
1) Metal coil burners
2) Glass-topped
Induction stoves have a glass-ceramic top, and they can be cleaned using the same method as a glass-topped electric stove.
Cleaning with Metal Coil Burners
A metal coil electric stove generally has four main components that require cleaning:
1. The coils: these transmit the heat.
2. The drip pans: these are the metal bowls that hold the coils.
3. The underside of the stovetop.
4. The stovetop surface itself.
Step 1
If your coils are reasonably clean, stay here, if they are very dirty, skip to step 2!
Electric coil burners can get really dirty, but the neat thing about these guys is that they’re also self-cleaning.
1) Give the coils a gentle wipe with a damp cloth.
2) Turn the burners on high for roughly 3 minutes. Any accumulated grime should burn off immediately (you might want to open a window here).
3) Now turn off the burners and let them cool down completely, then wipe them off again.
Step 2
This step is for very stubborn and dirty coils:
1) Heat the coils for a couple of minutes to burn any residue, and then let them cool off completely.
2) With a gentle lift, pull the coils out of the stove. These should easily pop out.
3) Also, lift out the drip pans: wash them with warm soapy water, then soak them in that same vinegar and baking soda mixture. Let the drip pans sit with this coating for 10 to 15 minutes.
4) While the drip pans are resting, it’s now time to clean the coils. Do this by laying out a few sheets of newspaper and grab a dry toothbrush.
5) Gently scrub the coils to scrape anything crusted on; it’s supposed to flake off to the newspaper.
6) Wipe off the coils with a damp cloth, then dry them well with a dry cloth, and head back to the sink.
7) Wash off the mixture of baking soda from the drip pans and give them a final wash in warm soapy water.
8) Use a lint-free cloth to dry them well.
Cleaning Under The Electric Stove
If your electric stove is giving off a smell of burning when you turn it on, it may be time to clean under your stovetop:
1) Start by lifting the front of your stove like a car hood, and it should prop open in the same way a car hood would.
2) Use a damp (not wet) sponge to wipe out the underside to remove any stray bits of crumbs that might have been caught.
3) Use a soapy sponge for any necessary scrubbing or use a vacuum to suck everything up.
Cleaning An Electric Stovetop
To clean an electric stovetop:
1) Wipe the stovetop down with a damp cloth to collect any bits of food.
2) Use a soapy sponge to wash off any grease.
Tip: for tough stains and built-up:
Evenly spread the vinegar/baking soda mixture on the stovetop surface, then let it sit for 10-15 minutes before wiping it off.
3) Dry the stovetop with a clean cloth.
4) Return the metal coils in the drip pans and then place the drip pans back in the stove.
For tougher spills and stuck-on food
1) Liberally dust the stove’s underside with baking soda, then spray vinegar on top. The mixture should bubble up.
2) Allow the baking soda and vinegar to sit for 10-15 minutes, then scrub the surface with a non-abrasive scrubber.
3) Dry well with a lint-free cloth, and don’t forget to give the top of the hood a wipe-down, too!
Prevent Dirt and Food from Falling between the Stove and Countertop with Kohzie Stove Counter Gap Cover.
Cleaning Glass-Top Electric Stoves Or Induction Stoves
If you own one of these, you can breathe a sigh of relief. These stoves could not be easier to clean:
1) With a dry cloth, wipe down the surface to collect any food bits or crumbs.
2) Sprinkle the entire stovetop with baking soda.
3) Spray white vinegar all over.
4) Fill a small bucket or pot with hot water and soap, so it’s foamy. Dunk a kitchen towel in hot soapy water, then wring the towel out, so it’s damp but not dripping wet.
5) Now lay the towel on top of the stove and set a timer for roughly 15 minutes. The soapy heat from the towels will activate the baking soda and cleans your stovetop for you.
6) Pick up the towel when the timer dings, and use it to scrub away at the stovetop. When all the dirty spots have been cleaned, wipe off the baking soda.
7) Using a clean towel, wipe once more with vinegar, then dry the stove.
And you’re done!
Now that your stove is bright, you can go ahead and pat yourself on the back. Just remember that a quick wipe-down after every use will save you loads of time in the long run. What’s more, you get the added benefit of a stovetop (and kitchen) you can be proud of.
