Stove tops can be a tricky part of the house to clean, and they're also one of the parts that need the most cleaning as they're used to cook every day. Thankfully, these 6 stove top cleaning hacks will help you cut through the grime and grease to restore your gas stove tops' sparkle.
The first thing to do if you're intending to tackle cleaning your stove top is to check the user manual for any cleaning instructions from the manufacturer. Induction hobs, gas and electric stoves all have different requirements when it comes to cleaning. For the purpose of this article, I'll be focusing on gas stoves, but some of these hacks are applicable to all three types.
My own gas stove was in dire need of a thorough clean, so I used the hacks below to get it shiny again. Follow on to see the results!
If you're looking to upgrade your appliance, check out our guide to the best slide-in ranges (opens in new tab) and the best electric cooktops (opens in new tab) to help you decide.
Stove top cleaning hacks
Below are a few tricks to upgrade your stove top cleaning routine and get rid of even the toughest grease. Read on to find out how to get your range spotless with household ingredients.
1. Use non-abrasive cloths
In order to give your stove top a good clean, it might be tempting to reach for a scourer to tackle with built-in grime. However, this can be very damaging to your stove top, whether it's a glass induction hob or stainless steel gas stove. Harsh cloths can mark the surface of the stove and leave unsightly scrapes on it.
Instead of an abrasive cloth, use the non-scouring part of a sponge, or a microfiber cloth to buff and polish your stove top.
2. Soak the grates and burner heads
If you have a gas stove, you can probably remove the grates and burner heads to clean them. It can be a hassle to give them a thorough clean, but you can just soak them to get rid of any built-in grease. Some stove top grates will go in the dishwasher, but do make sure to check the user manual to make sure that's possible.
Fill up your sink with hot water and a few pumps of dish soap, then leave your stove top grates and burner heads to soak for at least half an hour. Alternatively, you can use a dishwasher tablet as a detergent.
Once the grates and burner heads have soaked in the soap give them a rinse and dry them well before replacing them on your clean stove top.
3. Cut through the grease with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda
If you're dealing with tough grease and bits of food stuck to the stove top, you can make a cleaning paste from two simple pantry ingredients: vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
Prepare the paste with 2 parts vinegar to every part of bicarbonate of soda, and spread it onto the stove top. Leave it to rest for a minute or two, then wipe it off and buff it clean with a microfiber cloth. The vinegar and bicarbonate of soda will work together to dissolve the grime and get any food residue on the stop unstuck.
4. Use a hot tea towel to get rid of built-in grime
If even bicarbonate of soda and vinegar can't get rid of a tough grease spot, you can use a tea towel. Use a clean towel and soak it in boiling water. Take it out and wring it out (once it's safe to do so) before placing it on top of the grime on your stove top and leaving it on there for a few minutes.
After removing the towel, scrub off the food residue with a non-abrasive cloth.
5. Avoid harsh chemicals
As your stove top will be used near food, it is best to use harsh or toxic chemicals to clean it. As such, steer clear from products that include bleach or other components that aren't safe to ingest.
Using natural ingredients like vinegar and bicarbonate of soda or natural non-toxic cleaners like Method products (opens in new tab) (available on Amazon) are a good solution to clean your stove top.
6. Give your stove top a daily clean
The best thing you can do to make your job easier when cleaning your stove top is giving it a regular wipe down. That way, you're preventing grease and grime from building up. Ideally, you should be cleaning your stove top after ever use to avoid having to deal with tough food residue.
I hope these hacks help you care for your gas stove top - the results on mine were pretty convincing!
