How to clean cast iron stove

How to clean cast iron stove grates to make them look brand new

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Cast iron stove grates (Image credit: Shutterstock)

If you cook regularly, you'll probably need to know how to clean cast iron stove grates. Grates tend to pick up caked-in food, grease and grime build-up over time if they're not properly cleaned.

What’s more, grease and dirt residue can often dull the overall look of our grates, making stoves look lackluster. While the idea of cleaning cast iron stove grates seems time-consuming, it’s actually simple to do. So, for a gleaming stove, follow these top tips on how to clean cast iron stove grates to make them look brand new.

Do you have electric? Check out how to clean a glass stove. Also, if you want to keep the glass looking good, you'll also want to read how to prevent scratches on your glass stove.

How to clean cast iron stove grates with soapy water

1. First, allow the burners to cool completely before removing the cast iron grates. Place in an empty sink or tub.

2. Fill the sink with hot water until they cover the grates, and add some dish soap into the water. Allow the cast iron grates to soak in the soapy solution for around 10-15 minutes. This will allow the soap to get to work in lifting and cutting through the grease or stuck-on food on the grates.

Removing iron stove grate (Image credit: Shutterstock)

3. Then, use a non-metal, soft bristled brush, pad or sponge to scrub away at and remove any food residue or grease on the grates. Ensure to get into all the crevices and awkward places to get rid of dirt.

4. Once the grates are all free from grime, rinse with warm water until there are no traces of soap. Dry thoroughly with a clean cloth before putting them back on top of the stove.

TIP: Cast iron grates can easily get worn down if using the wrong cleaning materials. Avoid using abrasive, metallic scouring pads or harsh cleaning substances like ammonia.

Soapy water (Image credit: Shutterstock)

How to clean cast iron stove grates with baking soda

1. First, mix three parts baking soda to one part water to create a thick paste.

2. Take a soft, bristled brush or cloth to coat the cast iron grates with the paste, making sure to get into all the crevices and awkward spots.

3. Leave to sit for about 15-20 minutes to allow the baking soda to get to work in lifting off any greasy residue.

4. Next, use a soft scrub brush or toothbrush to remove caked on residue before rinsing off thoroughly in warm water. Finally, wipe down the grates with a soft, clean cloth.

Baking soda and water in glass (Image credit: Shutterstock)

How to clean cast iron stove grates with white vinegar

1. First, mix one part of distilled white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. White vinegar is a popular, natural cleaning product along with baking soda. If you want to know why, check out what makes baking soda and vinegar so good at cleaning.

2. Next, spray the solution over your grates and leave it to sit for 15 minutes before wiping thoroughly with a clean damp cloth.

If you want a nicer smell, you can add a few drops of essential oil, but there are ways on how to clean with vinegar without the smell.

White vinegar and spray bottle (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Do you need to season cast iron stove grates?

Similar to knowing how to season a cast iron skillet, you would need to season your cast iron stove grates to prevent rust. After they have been cleaned, apply a light coating of cooking oil on the bottom of the grates. Next, bake the grate at 350°F for about 30 to 40 minutes.

To keep your kitchen looking shiny and new, check out our guides on how to clean a microwave, how to clean an oven, how to clean a garbage disposal, and how to clean stainless steel appliances. Want to give your stovetop an upgrade? Invisible stovetops look like the next big thing — check out the benefits and drawbacks.

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As the Homes Content Editor, Cynthia Lawrence covers all things homes, interior decorating, and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial experience testing the latest, ‘must-have’ home appliances, writing buying guides and the handy ‘how to’ features.

Her work has been published in various titles including, T3, Top Ten Reviews, Ideal Home, Real Homes, Livingetc. and House Beautiful, amongst many.

With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she also has an interior design blog for style inspiration and savvy storage solutions (get rid of that clutter!). When she’s not testing cool products, she’ll be searching online for more decor ideas to spruce up her family home or looking for a great bargain!

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Step-by-step guide to cleaning your cast iron stove

While there are many different types of stoves available today, made from many different materials, old-fashioned cast iron stoves are still extremely popular. This is because the material is perfect for storing and then slowly radiating heat throughout your room over a prolonged period of time. However, unless you clean your cast iron stove on a regular basis you will see a buildup of residue which can impact the efficiency as well as the amount of fuel required.

We have put together a step-by-step guide to cleaning your cast iron stove, the do’s, the don’ts and ways in which you can increase efficiency and improve the longevity of your stove.

Cleaning the inside of your stove

The most visible buildup of waste material will be in the body of your cast iron stove. Unless you clean it on a regular basis this will very quickly impact heat output, fuel efficiency and can cause parts of your stove to wear more quickly. So, how do you begin the basic cleaning process?

Cast-iron wood-burning stoves

It is going to get messy!

The first thing to do is to place newspaper in front of your stove as you look to remove all of the excess ash. With the best will in the world, even the most careful cleaner, while scooping ash from the body of your stove particles will fall to the floor. However, before you even think about scooping ashes from within your stove make sure they have cooled!

Get ready with your ash bucket

Using one of the many tools available, place the ash bucket in front of your stove and then simply scoop all left over material into the bucket. Those who simply scoop out the majority of the ash are wasting their time. You need to ensure that all of the excess ash is scooped from within your stove and into the ash bucket. As we mentioned above, it is essential that the fire is cold and there are no burning ashes.

Emptying your ash bucket

Once you have scooped all of the residue ash into the bucket, carefully fold up the newspaper, and dispose of this. It is essential that you place a lid on your ash bucket as soon as you are finished because one gust of wind and you could have a mess on your living room carpet. While many people have specific facilities for disposing of ash, it is a very good ingredient for your garden – it is an excellent source of lime and potassium.

So, now we have done the basics, the stove has been emptied of residual ash and disposed of in an efficient and timely manner. What next?

Cleaning the outside of your stove

Even the most durable of materials such as cast-iron will eventually attract grease, grime and potentially rust. While a small element of rust is not necessarily the end of the world you should address this on a regular basis when cleaning.

Using an old-fashioned wire brush

Over the years we have seen many new products and materials released to help clean and maintain cast-iron stoves. When it comes to signs of rust, a good old-fashioned wire brush is just the job. It will depend upon the degree of grease, grime and rust which has accumulated on the surface of your stove but it can be a time-consuming job. However, if you are able to remove elements of rust before they have “grabbed hold” then you should have no long-term problems.

Becareful of rust

One word of warning, when cleaning the outside of your stove it doesn’t pay to go at it half-heartedly. Ensure it is as clean as possible and especially focus on areas where there are visible signs of rust. There may be other areas of rust which are not necessarily visible to the naked eye at that moment in time but these can be addressed further down the line.

Finish off with sandpaper

Once you have taken as much rust and grime off your cast iron stove as possible you can remove the remnants using sandpaper. Focusing on areas where there has been visible rust and grime, start with relatively coarse sandpaper gradually moving down to a fine-grained finish. At this point it is also a good idea to give the whole outer surface a moderate rubbing with the sandpaper. This will ensure that scratches and marks made by the wire brush/coarse sandpaper are removed. Remember, these cleaning instructions are only applicable to cast-iron stoves.

Wipe down the surface

With the best will in the world, using a wire brush and course/finally grain sandpaper, you will get the vast majority of the rust and debris off the outer layer of your stove but not everything. Therefore, the best way to finish off cleaning the outside of your cast-iron stove, and getting into those nooks and crannies, is to wipe down with a cloth dipped in vinegar cleaning mixture. We are not talking about a full-blown vinegar rubdown but more of a two-part water, one part vinegar solution. Many people also add a small amount of traditional soap which can aid cleaning and the finish.

Cleaning your chimney and stove glass door

Those who have experienced the delights of a wood-burning stove will be well aware that one of the main attractions is watching the flickering flames and the burning embers through the stove door glass. As a consequence, it is important to ensure that your stove glass door is clean so that you can enjoy the full experience!

Glass cleaner

Such is the importance of ensuring that your stove door glass is clean that the vast majority manufacturers have brought out their own brand of glass cleaner. From a distance it may look as though the glass is relatively clean but when you get close-up you will notice the amount of soot and debris it can attract. It is probably sensible to remove the larger particles from the glass before you begin to use the glass cleaning solution – this reduces the risk of scratching.

Keep your stove glass as clean as possible

So, once the larger elements of soot and debris have been removed you simply spray the glass cleaning solution onto an old rag. Using circular motions, you can go to work cleaning either side of the glass to ensure maximum visibility. It will make a significant difference!

Traditional glass cleaner

It is advisable to use glass cleaning which has been specifically formulated for cast-iron stoves. However, many people choose to use a traditional mix of two parts water, one part vinegar and a dash of normal soap. Place these into an empty spray bottle, shake and then spray onto a rag and using circular movements, clean the glass in your stove door. If you try this traditional mix of glass cleaner you will find that it does just as good a job as the manufactured products.

Removing debris from your chimney

If you have been operating a stove for some time you will no doubt be aware of the general buildup of creosote within your chimney/flue. This is perfectly natural but if left it can create a thick tar like material which can in some cases set fire. While some people may be confident enough, and have the appropriate safety equipment available, to go onto the roof to clean the chimney, it is advisable to hire a professional.

Is creosote dangerous for wood-burning stoves?

While the process is relatively simple, using a stiff bristled chimney brush (after removing the chimney cap) it is fairly easy to scrape the remnants of creosote and other debris from the chimney/flue pipe. The structure of the chimney brush will allow you to drag the majority of the debris up towards you although some will inevitably fall down. Due to the way in which flue systems are created there will be a means of removing debris via a hatch just before the flue enters the chimney. Make sure you remember this!

Summary

The idea of cleaning your stove and chimney/flue may seem a little daunting but when you split this down into individual actions it is fairly straightforward. Aside from the cleaning of your chimney/flue from the roof, which does involve a degree of risk/safety measures to be taken it does not take too long. The removal of excess soot/debris will ensure that the efficiency of your stove is maintained towards the high-end of the range. This means that you will not need to burn as much fuel as prior to the cleaning process.

There is a general misconception among some people that traditional cast iron stoves will go for ever without being cleaned. Yes, they will still burn fuel and create heat but the retention of soot and other debris will gradually reduce the overall efficiency. Indeed, there will come a point where it is potentially dangerous to have that much debris within your stove. So, whether you are confident enough to carry out the whole cleaning process yourself, or prefer the help of professionals, it is certainly worth doing.

Cast Iron Stove Cleaning Guide

There are many different types of stoves today, made from many different materials, but old-fashioned cast iron stoves are still extremely popular. This is because cast iron is ideal for storing heat and then slowly radiating it throughout your room for an extended period of time. However, if you do not regularly clean your cast iron stove, you will see a buildup of combustion residues that can affect efficiency as well as the amount of fuel used.

We've put together a step-by-step guide to cleaning your cast iron stove, do's and don'ts, and how to increase efficiency and extend the life of your equipment.

CLEANING THE INSIDE OF THE OVEN

The most noticeable buildup of combustion residue will be in the body of your cast iron stove. If you don't clean it regularly, it will very quickly affect heat output, fuel efficiency, and can lead to faster wear of oven parts. So, how do you start the basic cleaning process?

It will be dirty!

The first thing to do is place a newspaper in front of the stove when you are about to remove all the excess ash. With the best will in the world, even if it is done by a very careful person, when raking the ashes from the stove, the particles will fall on the floor. However, before you even think about taking the ashes out of the oven, make sure they are cold!

Ash pail

Using one of the many tools available, place an ash pail in front of the stove and then simply scoop out any remaining material into the pail. Those who simply shovel out most of the ash are wasting their time. You must make sure that all excess ash is taken out of the furnace into the ash bucket. As we mentioned above, it is important that the fire is cold and that there is no burning ash.

Emptying your ash container

Once you have collected all the remaining ash in the bucket, carefully fold the newspaper and dispose of it. It's very important to put a lid on the ash pail as soon as you're done, because one gust of wind and you can mess up the floor. While many people have dedicated ash disposal products, this is a very good ingredient for your garden - it's a great source of lime and potassium.

So now that we've done the basics, the furnace has been cleared of residual ash and it has been disposed of in an efficient and timely manner. What's next?

CLEANING THE OVEN OUTSIDE

Even the most durable materials such as cast iron will eventually attract grease, dirt and potentially rust. While a small piece of rust isn't necessarily the end of the world, you should address this issue regularly when cleaning.

Using a wire brush

Over the years, many new products and materials have been introduced for cleaning and maintaining cast iron stoves. When it comes to signs of rust, a good old wire brush is indispensable. Depending on the degree of grease, dirt and rust that has accumulated on the surface of the oven, this process can take a long time. However, if you can remove the rust elements before they set, you shouldn't have any problems.

Attention: when you clean the outside of your oven, don't do it in a slipshod manner. Make sure it's as clean as possible, and especially focus on areas where there are visible signs of rust. There may be other areas of rust that are not necessarily visible to the naked eye at this point in time, but they may be under a layer of dirt.

Finish with sandpaper

After you have removed as much rust and dirt as possible from the cast iron stove, you can remove the residue with sandpaper. Focusing on areas where rust and dirt were visible, start with a relatively coarse sandpaper, gradually moving to a fine-grained surface. At this point, it is also advisable to lightly rub the entire outer surface with sandpaper. This will ensure that scratches and wire brush/coarse paper marks are removed. Please note that these cleaning instructions only apply to cast iron stoves.

Wipe the surface

Using a wire brush and sanding paper will remove most of the rust and debris from the outside of the oven, but not all. Therefore, the best way to finish cleaning the outside of a cast iron stove is to wipe it down with a cloth dampened with an vinegar cleaning mixture (two parts water, one part vinegar). Many people also add a small amount of regular soap, which can help with cleaning and finishing.

Chimney and glass door cleaning

Those who have experienced the delights of a wood-burning stove know well that one of its main advantages is watching the flickering fire and burning coals through the glass of the stove door. As a consequence, it's important to make sure the stove's glass door is clean so you can enjoy the fire to the fullest!

Glass Cleaner

From a distance the glass may look relatively clean, but when you get closer you will notice the amount of soot and debris it can pick up. It probably makes sense to remove the larger particles from the glass before using glass cleaning solution - this reduces the risk of scratches.

So after removing large soot and debris, you simply spray glass cleaning solution onto a cloth. Using circular motions, you can get to work cleaning either side of the glass to ensure maximum visibility. This will make a significant difference!

Chimney Soot Removal

If you have used a wood stove for a while, you will no doubt be aware of the general accumulation of creosote in the chimney. This is completely natural, but if left on, it can create a thick, tar-like material that can catch fire in some cases. You can clean the chimney from top to bottom and from bottom to top, it all depends on the design of the pipes, your skills and the availability of the necessary tools. While some people may be confident enough and have the proper safety equipment available to go up to the roof to clean the chimney, others may want to hire a professional.

Although this process is relatively simple, using a stiff wire or plastic chimney brush (after removing the chimney cap) is fairly easy to scrape off creosote and other debris from the chimney pipe. With the bottom-up method, deposits on the pipes can also be easily removed. Remember that the creosote and soot will fall off, so be sure to take care to collect any fallen residue.

SUMMARY

The idea of cleaning the stove and chimney may seem a little complicated, but when you break it down into individual steps, it's quite simple. Apart from cleaning the chimney from the roof, which requires certain safety measures to be taken, it does not take much time. Removing excess soot/debris will ensure that your stove's efficiency is maintained at the highest level. This means you won't need to burn as much fuel as before the cleaning process.

There is a common misconception among some people that traditional cast iron stoves need not be cleaned at all. Yes, they will still burn fuel and create heat, but the buildup of soot and other debris will slowly reduce overall efficiency. And there will come a time when it is potentially dangerous to have so much trash in your oven.

How to clean a cast iron stove

Added on 2022-08-25

Many indoor wood stoves are made entirely of thick cast iron. While this material is effective at containing fire and providing warmth in a room, it also needs to be cleaned from time to time. Ashes at cast iron stove will build up in the firebox after each use, and the interior may be covered with ash and smoke residue. You can clean the stove by cleaning the firebox regularly and using a wire brush and sandpaper to clean the outside of the stove.

Place an old newspaper on the floor in front of the oven. Do this as a protective measure before you start digging the ashes out of the furnace, as they may fall to the ground. The newspaper will make cleaning much easier. Open the air damper so that the stuck ash falls into the firebox.

The air damper will be a small knob on the front of the cast iron stove that you must pull outward to open. If the stove is still warm, use a piece of hooked metal to open the choke.

Clean the ashes from the firebox. Open the glass door at the front of the cast iron stove and use a metal shovel to scoop out the remaining ash inside the stove. Place the ash shovels in the metal ash bucket.

Before you start digging up the ashes, make sure the fire is completely out and there are no live embers in it. If there are still hot coals, wait for them to cool and extinguish them before shoveling them.

Cover the ashtray. After you have finished raking the ash from the firebox, put the lid back on the ashtray. Place the jar on a non-combustible surface such as brick or tile. It is important that the ashes be allowed to settle for at least 48 hours before the ashes are disposed of if there are still live coals in the ashes.

It is important to keep the jar closed, as a light breeze can lift the ash and soot out of the jar and send it into your home.

After you have thrown away the ashes, you can also take the newspapers that you first spread out on the floor.

If it is windy outside, wait for the wind to die down before throwing the ashes out. Dormant embers can ignite again in high winds.

Cleaning the outside of the oven

Scrape off the rust with a wire brush. Depending on how old the oven is and how much rust and dirt has accumulated on its outer surface, it may need some serious cleaning. Focus on applying the wire brush to the top of the cast iron stove and other areas where rust is visible.

Rust is especially likely if you put metal on top of a cast iron stove. People often leave kettles on top or use the heat of the oven to cook food or raise dough. Such use will contribute to the formation of rust and dirt on the stove.

Apply sandpaper to the surface of the oven. Once you've removed most of the rust and accumulated dirt with a wire brush, you can use sandpaper to remove any remaining rust and generally clean the outside of your cast iron stove. Start with coarse sandpaper. Then move on to finer grit sandpaper.

Sand the entire outer surface of the cast iron oven. This will remove any marks or scratches made with a wire brush or coarse grit sandpaper.

Wipe the oven with the cleaning mixture. After you have finished sanding the oven, you can remove any remaining ash or dirt from the outside surface using a cleaning solution. Spray the solution onto the surface of the cast iron stove and wipe it with a clean cloth. Let the stove dry before lighting it.

To make a cleaning solution, find an empty spray bottle and mix two parts water with a part vinegar, then add a small amount of dish soap. Shake the spray bottle and the cleaning solution is ready to use.

Glass door and chimney cleaning

Buy glass cleaning solution.