Where most of the households nowadays have electric stoves, there still are millions of people who own or feel comfortable with gas ranges.
Having trouble with Gas Range cleaning?
Recently moved into a new home and finding yourself stuck with a gas stove is also one of the reasons most people use gas as a source of power for their stoves. Even with a personal choice of using a gas range, most people are unaware of how to take care of a cooking range.
It is easier than it sounds to take care of your stove!
If you ask, daily, weekly, or monthly; how often you should be cleaning your range?
Then, most of the time, it is about wiping or scrubbing? Here’s your gas stove maintenance checklist.
The Basics; daily and weekly cleaning.
Well, you know the daily grind!
Wiping your stove after cooking meals is important, not to let those spills get stubborn over time.
- Wait until your stove is cool enough to touch.
- If there are any spills, make sure to instantly wipe them with a soft cloth or sponge.
- Use a mild cleaning solution for all the grease.
- Once a week, scrub your grate and the surface below to prevent grease buildup.
Day to day easy cleaning solutions/DIYs
Vinegar
A perfect and the most effective and convenient way to clean your stove is “vinegar”.
- Spray the burners after they are cool, with vinegar.
- Let it settle for 1 to 20 minutes.
- Use a cleaning cloth to wipe down the stove.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is known to remove stubborn grease on the stove.
- Make a paste with a spoonful of water and a cup of baking soda.
- Coat affected parts with the paste.
- Let it sit for a while.
- Scrub the stovetop with a sponge.
Ammonia; The King!
Ammonia is one great way to clean your burners that otherwise seems impossible to clean.
- Take off the burners.
- Put them in zip-lock bags with ammonia and seal.
- Leave them overnight.
- Rinse the burners off and voila, you see them shining.
Thorough cleaning; monthly or yearly.
On a monthly or yearly basis, it is important to completely take apart your stove and scrub each and every piece thoroughly.
Step 1: Remove the grates
Grates are the most important in gas stoves as the utensil directly sit on the grates and the spills directly get in contact with the grates. To clean the grates completely, remove them from the stove.
Step 2: Sock them up
Fill your sink with hot water and add some soap. Leave the grates in, to the least for forty minutes. After every 10 to 15 minutes, you can scrub them with a wire sponge to remove all the cooked-on grit.
Step 3: Scrub down the surface
While the grates take their time in the solution, scrub down the surface underneath. It can get challenging depending on how much it is dirty down there. The drip pan under the grates is the most tricky to clean, especially if you do not wipe the surface on a daily basis.
The best way to soften the buildup is to spray the surface with vinegar or mild soap. Let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe it down with a wet sponge. Once the build-up is softened, scoop all the excess material and scrub with a soapy sponge.
The most important is to keep excess water or any liquid away from dripping into the stove. Keep wiping all the excess throughout the process.
After the scrubbing is done and the stove is completely clean. Go for the final round with a clean soapy sponge and a soft dry cloth.
Time for the burners
How to clean gas stove burner heads is of vital importance because gas stoves are all about the burners. Burner caps have a tiny maze of metal channels on the inside that distributes the gas evenly. If the burners get clogged, they fail to distribute the gas evenly or even fail to do so at all.
The only best and efficient way to clean burners is pipe cleaning or straw cleaner as other materials like toothpicks and food sticks can break, ending up getting stuck.
Care and maintenance of the cooking range are not as much of a task if you keep on cleaning it on a daily or weekly basis.
Gas stove safety tips; Don’ts!
After emphasizing over what to do, here are some of the simple rules to keep your gas range last longer.
- Avoid using too much water while cleaning around the knobs and burners.
- Do not use a material that could scratch or break, getting stuck into smaller parts.
- Avoid harsh cleaning products on knobs and decals as they can wear off with time.
- Use anti-tip brackets, especially for gas ranges under 1000 that help in preventing mess.
How often should I clean my stove?
It is recommended to clean your stove after every use. To the least, wipe off all the excess that drips onto the surface or with time the grease starts building up. If you see any difference in the performance of the stove, know that it is time for deeper cleaning.
What are the best stovetop cleaners?
Different construction material and the type of stove require cleaner as per their kind. Here are some of the best cleaners for various stovetops.
- Gas grates: Austin’s Clear Ammonia Multipurpose Cleaner.
- Baked enamel: ZEP Heavy-Duty Citrus Degreaser.
- Ceramic stovetops: Weiman Cooktop Cleaner Max.
- Electric drip pans: Mr Clean Magic Eraser.
Is it necessary to get professional service for the gas stove even after daily cleaning?
Even if you are cleaning your stove on a regular basis, there are small holes that are not reachable. To make sure that your gas stove is safe to use and work at its full potential, get it professionally serviced at least once a year.