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How to deep clean stove grates


How to Clean Stove Grates (3 Easy Methods)

Stove grates get covered in all kinds of dirt, grime, oil and food residue. Are you cleaning yours enough? If you’re not sure how to clean stove grates, it can be an overwhelming task. We’re here to recommend you a few different methods so that your stove grates are super clean on a daily basis.

How to Clean Stove Grates

Pour boiling water over the stove grates while they’re in the sink. Then fill up the sink with hot soapy water. Soak for 10 minutes. Scrub clean with a sponge. Rinse under warm water and wipe off excess debris with a cloth. Dry thoroughly. Replace.

Table of Contents

What Are Stove Grates Made From?

Yours are likely made from cast iron. Some have a porcelain finish which needs to be cared for well, since exposed cast iron can rust easily. Cast iron needs to be treated with care so make sure to avoid metal scouring pads and harsh chemicals such as ammonia.

Top Tip

Always dry your stove grates thoroughly before putting them back on your stovetop. If too much moisture stays on cast iron, it can rust.

How to Clean Stove Grates

We’ll share a few different methods so that you have multiple options up your sleeve, depending on what supplies you have in the house.

Baking Soda Paste

For this method, we’ll make a baking soda paste that can deep clean your stove grates.

What You Need
Step by Step Instructions
  1. Pour the baking soda and water into your bowl. Mix with a spoon to form a paste.
  2. Wearing gloves, use your hands to spread the paste evenly over the stove grates.
  3. Let it sit for 20 minutes.
  4. Scrub the paste with the brush. This will help remove loosened dirt.
  5. Rinse under cold water while scrubbing the excess residue with a cloth.
  6. Dry thoroughly with a dish towel.
  7. Return it to the stovetop.

Dish Soap

You can clean your stove grates like you do with the rest of your dishes. We do this with ours and it works great!

What You Need
Step by Step Instructions
  1. Place the stove grates in a sink with the drain open. Pour boiling water over the grates to help loosen dirt and debris.
  2. Put the plug back in the sink and fill with hot soapy water.
  3. Let the grates soak for 10 minutes. If yours are larger than the sink, let them soak for 10 minutes on each side.
  4. Scrub them clean with your brush or sponge.
  5. Rinse them under warm water and scrub using your microfiber cloth to give them one last wipe.
  6. Dry thoroughly with a dish towel.
  7. Return to the stovetop.

Use a Commercial Degreaser

If you need to follow through with a heavy-duty clean, we recommend using a commercial degreaser. Make sure that it’s suitable for the material of your stove grates.

What You Need
Step by Step Instructions
  1. Spray the grates, burners and stovetop with your commercial degreaser.
  2. Let it sit for half an hour.
  3. Scrub hard with your brush or sponge until you’ve lifted all dirt and debris.
  4. Repeat if necessary.
  5. Wipe down with a damp microfiber cloth.

How to Care for Stove Grates Daily

The above methods are good for deep cleaning which we recommend doing once a week or so. But what about keeping the grates clean daily? Here are our top tips.

  1. Clean with vinegar daily. Mix together a 1:1 ratio of distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Add some essential oils for a nice scent, if you like. Spray over your grates and let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping with a clean damp cloth.
  2. If you spill a liquid or food onto the grates, clean it up right away. It’s really easy for food to harden over the grates and be almost impossible to remove.
  3. Keep the stove grates dry. If they get particularly damp or wet during cooking, give them a quick dry with a towel. Make sure to do this after the vinegar spray method, too.
  4. Use a scrubby brush to loosen baked on food if you can’t remove it with just your fingers. Do this every evening as you clean your kitchen.
  5. Spot clean when you notice a nasty spot but don’t have time to deep clean. Dip a cleaning toothbrush in baking soda or salt and scrub the area. This will help lift the dirt or stain.

Clean Stovetop

Cleaning a stovetop is by far one of the most laborious and slow cleaning jobs in the kitchen. There are tons of small parts that need to be individually and carefully cleaned. But now that you know how to clean the stove grates, hopefully you feel a bit more prepared for a clean kitchen.

You can use a baking soda paste, dish soap or a commercial degreaser. All three will deep clean your grates. For daily cleaning, spray with a vinegar spray and spot clean with baking soda or salt.

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About the Author

Beth McCallum

Beth McCallum is a 20-something freelance writer & book blogger with a degree in creative writing, journalism and English literature. Beth firmly believes that a tidy house is a tidy mind. She is always looking for new ways to sustainably clean and tidy her house, that's kind on the environment but effective in the house, too!

How to clean stove grates |

(Image credit: Morse Design Photograph: Tara Carter)

Keeping your stove grates clean not only makes culinary tasks more enjoyable but it’s also more hygienic, too. 'Cooking grates are used on gas stoves to hold pots and pans above the gas burner,' says Lucy Searle, Global Editor in Chief for Homes & Gardens. 'They may be strong, sturdy and safe but they can get pretty grubby pretty quickly. Food splashes, spills and stains can all get burnt on and can be tricky to remove unless you carry out a regular deep clean.'

You may not want to clean stove grates thoroughly every time you cook, but by making this task part of your regular kitchen cleaning routine, it becomes second nature and is easier each time you do it. Follow our guide on how to clean your stove grates and your kitchen will get a new lease of life, too.

How to clean stove grates – step-by-step

When cleaning an oven, it's likely you'll want to deep clean stove grates, too. Most stove grates are made of cast iron as it’s a really hardwearing metal. If you are cleaning cast iron, never use steel wool or a metallic scouring pad as this will scratch the grates. Instead, use a heavy-duty non-metallic brush or non-scratch pad. If using a strong-smelling cleaning product such as ammonia, always rinse well in hot soapy water and dry thoroughly to prevent rust. Use this as an opportunity to clean stove burners, too.

Homemade cleaning solutions are naturally better, and they are kinder on the environment as well as using up everyday household items and store cupboard essentials. 

1. Prep the stove grates for cleaning

First, make sure the grates are completely cool then take them off the stovetop and pop into an empty sink. Fill the sink with hot soapy water using your usual dish liquid and leave the grates to soak for a good 15 minutes.

2. After soaking, scrub the grates

Next, give them a good scrub, especially in all the nooks and crannies, to remove burnt-on food. You can also use an extra cleaner here for really tough areas. We recommend baking soda applied with a stiff, non-metal brush or non-scratch nylon pad. 

3. Remove stubborn grease from stove grates

According to Taste of Home , unlike most surfaces, which can be cleaned using grapefruit juice or microfiber cloths, a stove’s burner grates are uniquely difficult to clean: 'Grease and oils stick to the metal surface and, depending on your style of grate, it can be frustrating to clean all the little nooks and crannies. Luckily there are tried-and-true methods that work all the time, every time.

'One common kitchen assumption is that degreasers should work immediately. I know many friends and family members who protest that degreasers are ineffective. To clean burner grates on a gas stove effectively, you have to let the chemicals soak for a while.

'Powder degreasers work better on burner grates if you wet the surface first. The degreaser will slowly decompose build-up on the grating. Let the degreaser sit for a minimum of 15 minutes, but feel free to let it sit for 30 if the build-up is heavy. I don’t have a preference for any particular brand, but I have found that lemon oil degreasers tend to work better than other base types.'

4. Rinse the stove grates

Once you’re done, rinse the grates clean and dry with a clean cloth.

What is the easiest way to clean stove grates?

The easiest way to clean stove grates that are very dirty, create a paste by mixing three parts baking soda to one part water. Coat the grates in this mixture and set aside for 20 minutes. Wipe down the burners with a soft cloth. If you have coated the burners in baking soda paste, rinse this off first to avoid damaging the finish.

Can stove grates go in dishwasher?

Do not clean burner grates in the dishwasher. Burner grates are not dishwasher safe. Surface rust can occur if burner grates or oven racks are soaked for long  periods or not dried thoroughly. Rust can be removed using fine grade steel wool and by cleaning with a no-scratch pad and a mild abrasive cleaner.

Hayley is an interiors journalist, content provider and copywriter with 26 years experience who has contributed to a wide range of consumer magazines, trade titles, newspapers, blogs and online content. Specialising in kitchens and bathrooms, she has twice won the CEDIA Award for Best Technology feature. Hayley writes for H&G about kitchens, bathrooms, cleaning, DIY and organizing.

HOW TO CLEAN THE GRATE ON THE STOVE

“The stove will tell about women's cleanliness,” say the wise men. A big sin or not - this is the question of neatness. And the grills of the gas stove are a clear marker for this.

Remains of food and gradually increasing fat layer do their dirty work, getting rid of them is not so easy. But nothing is impossible. See for yourself by reading the text and taking note of our life hacks for setting up a marafet in hard-to-reach places.

Universal ways to clean the grate on a gas stove

Solving the problem without chemicals, which flies into a penny, is within the power of an experienced and novice hostess. With what is in the kitchen. How to clean the grate on a gas stove - later in the article.

Useful article: The best bread makers for home in 2021: an overview of the TOP 9 models The container should be such that the rods are placed in it, and the water completely covers it. Boiling water will soften the fatty coating, after which it will be much easier to get rid of it. It is enough to rub the rods a little with a scraper. If the dirt is minor, a sponge or cloth will do the trick.

Steaming

If there is a steam cleaner, the problem is solved once or twice. The device perfectly softens deposits. To do this, direct a jet of steam to the rods, passing from site to site. Then wipe thoroughly with a cloth.

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Soda

To remove fat, it is enough to mix water and soda to the state of "slurry". Suitable food or calcined. The optimal ratio of ingredients is 2:1.

The resulting substance is spread on the wire rack and left for 60-90 minutes. During this time, an elementary chemical reaction will occur, as a result of which body fat will begin to dissolve. After that, the rods are cleaned with a stainless steel scraper or brush, washed in water and dried.

Mustard powder

This option may seem strange, but believe me, after trying it, you won't want to use expensive chemicals. The effect is amazing.

How to clean cast iron and enameled gas stove grates in four steps.

  1. Spread the mustard powder evenly in a thick layer on pre-moistened rods. The powder is mixed with water in a ratio of 2:1.
  2. Leave the plate component in this state for 1.5-2 hours.
  3. Clean and rinse off residue.

This method will not only get rid of dirt, but also disinfect the grate.

Vinegar

A 9% vinegar solution will clean the grate on the stove very well. The product has a strong, specific smell, so it is better to work in a ventilated area:

  • take a container, place the rods, and pour vinegar generously;
  • within 90-120 minutes the acid will work with deposits;
  • after - rinse the rods, having previously worked hard with a scraper.

How to clean the cast iron gas stove grate

Cast iron is practical, it does not deform due to minor damage. But the raid is insidious. It comes from nowhere as quickly as on steel or enamel. So, in addition to your experience, a couple of working methods for cleaning the gas stove grate will come in handy.

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Laundry soap

Two liters of boiling water and grated soap should be mixed in a basin or bath. One bar will be enough.

Leave the bars in the soapy substance overnight, preferably overnight. Then wipe with a soft cloth. Grease and soot will easily leave. Rinse under a tap.

Baking

The grate must be exposed to a fire, blowtorch or burner. It will stink, because when heated, fat is melted. So ventilation is inevitable if you do it indoors.

To remove scale:

  1. Fasten the grate over the flame. Turn periodically to ignite the entire area.
  2. After intensive annealing (15-20 minutes), allow the rods to cool down so as not to burn themselves.
  3. Wipe, wash and dry.

Mechanical cleaning

A washcloth, scraper or hard bristle brush is indispensable in this case. It will be easier to clean if the rods are steamed or ignited.

Cleaning the enamel grate

Enamel peels off if you remove deposits with a knife, rub with hard sponges or a brush. Therefore, excessive zeal is useless. Below in the text, it is detailed how to clean the enamelled grate of a gas stove sensibly, but sparingly.

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Household chemicals

You can get rid of deposits if you arm yourself with chemicals with a note about the purpose. The agent is applied to the lattice faces and kept for the time specified in the instructions.

After - wipe and wash. The exfoliated ugliness will remain on the napkin.

Dishwasher

Cleaning the rack in the dishwasher is the easiest option. You will need cleaning tablet washers for washing, which are placed in the appropriate compartment of the device. This agent forms a lot of foam and intensively cleans the plate component.

In tandem with dishwasher salt, you will get a good result. It is used to improve the quality of washing, cleaning the machine itself from scale and plaque, softening water and restoring sodium reserves. The agent is poured up to the top into the salt tank, which is located under the lower basket.

The grates are placed in the chamber, an intensive washing program with hot water is selected, because to wash the grate from grease, you need a lot of water and foam. Upon contact with hot water and steam, the dirt will soften, begin to flake off and wash out. If in the end the result does not suit you, it is worth repeating the wash or finishing with your hands.

Melamine sponge

No extra cleaning pad. Melanin contains abrasives and everything you need for productive cleansing. Wet the sponge and get to work. The resulting foam is washed off, wiped dry. The twigs are transformed into the proper form.

Features for cleaning steel gratings

Any detergent, hard abrasive, including sand, will do. Cleaned at the discretion of the above methods.

The article looked at the most effective cleaning methods. It remains to choose the option you like, which corresponds to the material of the lattice. Finally, we recommend that you wash off the cleaners and detergents from the rods so that the chemicals do not damage the coating. And dry the grate before putting it on the stove. So it won't rust.

It is better to wash the grates as often as possible, then deposits will not have a chance. Cleaning will be much easier and faster whichever option is adopted:

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Despite the strength of cast iron, it is dangerous to rub it with a metal scraper or aggressive acids - the surface will become worn. The sinuous shape of the gratings adds problems when cleaning, so it is better to use folk methods, the effectiveness and safety of which have been tested by many experienced housewives.

Boiling water

One of the easiest ways to clean cast iron grates is by boiling.

It is enough to do the following:

  1. Take a deep baking tray, immerse the grates in it and fill with water so that it completely covers them.
  2. Preheat oven to approx. 220°C.
  3. Place a baking sheet there, wait until it boils, and soak the grates in boiling water for about 5 minutes.
  4. Take out the tray, drain the water, allow the metal to cool slightly.
  5. Then brush them with a brush and rinse with water.

Soda

Baking soda is an abrasive that can be used to clean tough dirt as well as using a metal sponge.

Clean with soda as follows:

  1. Mix any amount of baking soda with water until a thick slurry is obtained.
  2. Spread the soda mixture over the entire surface of the grates with a sponge and leave for half an hour.
  3. Scrub everything with a brush and rinse with water.

Hydrogen peroxide can be used instead of water - it will increase the effectiveness of soda.

Steam

A steam cleaner can quickly remove burnt grease and grime from surfaces, but if you don't have one, an oven will do. Steam softens any deposits, making subsequent cleaning easier.

To remove steam stains in the oven:

  1. Pour water into a deep pan and place it in the oven.
  2. Set the maximum temperature and wait for boiling.
  3. Lay out all the cast iron elements of the hob on the built-in grate and place it as close as possible to the steam.
  4. Wait about 15 minutes for all dirt to be thoroughly steamed.
  5. Remove the grates, let them cool down and then clean with a scraper.

Ammonium chloride

Ammonia can also be used to remove carbon and grease by doing the following:

  1. Place the grills in a tight trash bag.
  2. Pour ammonia into it and tie the bag tightly.
  3. If possible, shake or invert the bag several times to get the alcohol on all contaminated surfaces, and leave for 2 hours. You can also just generously rub the grates with ammonia, and then place in a bag.
  4. After scrubbing the surfaces with a brush and wash off the dirt with water.

Laundry detergent and silicate glue

A mixture of glue and washing powder, to which baking soda should also be added, will help get rid of carbon deposits.

The process is as follows:

  1. Take 1 tbsp. warm water and add 1 tsp to it. washing powder, 50 ml silicate glue, 3 tbsp. l. soda and mix thoroughly until a paste-like mass is obtained.
  2. Brush all grates with the mixture, wrap them in a plastic bag and leave for an hour.
  3. Brush off dirt and rinse with water.

Stationery glue and laundry soap

Laundry soap contains a lot of alkali, which can effectively corrode grease, and when mixed with stationery glue, it can even cope with soot.

Cleaning procedure:

  1. Grate one bar of laundry soap into a basin and add 150 g of glue, mix.
  2. Pour the mixture with water, put the basin on the fire and stir the mass until smooth.
  3. Then place the grates in the hot mixture and boil them for about an hour.
  4. Finally, rinse all surfaces under running water and rub with a sponge if necessary.

Mustard powder

Mustard is also suitable for cleaning grates, as it is not only an abrasive, but also has antibacterial properties.

Clean burnt dirt with mustard as follows:

  1. Add a little water to the mustard powder until a paste is obtained.
  2. Rub the grates with the resulting mixture and leave for 2-3 hours.
  3. After cleaning the grates with the rough side of a household sponge and rinse with water.

To keep your stove and grates sparkling clean, you don't have to use harsh chemicals that attack not only grease, but also the skin of your hands. It is much safer to use folk remedies that are not harmful to health, and cope with pollution no worse than purchased ones.

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