How to deep clean gas stove grates

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?
  • How to Clean Stove Grates
  • How to Care for Stove Grates Daily
  • Clean Stovetop


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.

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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

  • Soft bristled yet powerful scrubbing brush.
  • Three tablespoons of baking soda.
  • Three tablespoons of cold water.
  • Bowl.
  • Spoon.
  • Rubber gloves.
  • A cloth.
  • A dish towel.

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

  • Liquid dish soap.
  • Sink or basin.
  • Boiling water.
  • Rubber gloves.
  • Soft scrubbing brush or sponge.
  • A microfiber cloth.
  • Dish towel.

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.

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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

  • A commercial degreaser.
  • Rubber gloves.
  • Scrubbing brush or sponge.
  • Microfiber cloth.

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.

How do you clean the cast iron grates on a gas stove?

Dip a stiff-bristled nylon scrub brush in the hot, soapy water and scrub the grates. If there are any food particles that won't come off, sprinkle the damp grates with baking soda to act as a mild abrasive. Keep scrubbing until all of the grime is removed. Do not allow the uncoated cast iron grates to soak.

How do I make my gas stove grates look new?

Baking Soda Clean off whatever you can with soap and warm water, gently scrubbing each grate one at a time. Then wet some baking soda with water and mix until it forms a thick paste. Apply this paste directly to the burners. Make sure you get all the tiny and hidden recesses in the grating.

How do you clean burnt gas stove grates?

How to Clean Stove Grates, Step By Step.
Remove the oven grates from your stovetop and place them in an empty sink..
Mix a soapy water bath..
Scrub with powder cleanser to loosen excess debris..
Rinse, dry, and replace the grates..

What to soak stove grates in to clean?

Soak your cooking grates and burner caps in hot, soapy water for a minimum of 20 minutes. If your grates are cast iron, don't soak them unless they're coated or seasoned. If you're not sure how to clean stove grates that are uncoated cast iron, check your owner's manual.