How to Clean Stove Grates
This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we’ll earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. For more details, please read our disclosure.
Gas stoves are super convenient when it comes to cooking. There is no time spent waiting for them to heat up and you can easily adjust and control the heat settings.
Like any cooking surface, they can become quite messy from all the food splatters and spills that go along with the cooking process. You may be wondering the best way to clean your gas stove, specifically when it comes to how to clean stove grates.
To clean a gas stove, be sure to disassemble and remove all parts of the stove to clean separately. It is important to realize that when cleaning the stove grates, which are generally made from cast iron they will require some specific tools and products to get them sparkling clean and free from any food debris or oil buildup.
Here, we are going to talk you through the best way of cleaning your stove grates without any harsh or toxic ingredients and without damaging the surface of the grates.
Related: How to Clean Oven Racks Naturally
How to Clean Stove Grates
What You’ll Need
- A non-abrasive sponge or brush
- Rubber gloves or cleaning gloves of your choice
- A sink full of warm water
- White vinegar and water
- A clean, empty spray bottle
- Baking soda
- Your choice of natural detergent or soap
What to Avoid
Most stove grates are made from cast iron and have a black porcelain finish, so you need to be careful not to use anything too abrasive while cleaning them as this will damage the coating of the grates.
As always, avoid any toxic or harsh chemical ingredients. These are harmful to you, your loved ones, the environment, and also potentially your stove grates. Opt for natural products whenever possible. Castile soaps are great for use in place of regular dish detergents.
Dr. Bronner’s – Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
Step 1: Pre-treat the Grates
Depending on how clean or dirty the stove grates are, to begin with, you might want to pre-treat them to loosen any particularly stubborn food debris, oil residue, or burnt-on dirt as your first step in How to Clean Stove Grates. This will make it much easier to scrub away the dirt build-up in the next step.
To pre-clean your stove grates, take your empty spray bottle and fill it with equal parts white vinegar and warm water. You can also add some lemon juice if you like; this will also help the solution cut through any grease and grime.
Remove the stove grates from the stove and place them on an old towel or rag on a hard surface. Spray the mixture over the grates and leave this to soak for around ten minutes. If, after ten minutes, the dirt still appears to be pretty stubborn, give them a quick scrub with your non-abrasive brush or sponge, and then, without rinsing, spray the solution over once again and leave for a further ten minutes.
Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Scrub Sponges
White vinegar is great for breaking down grease and oil residue and will also cut through food debris and stubborn dirt; perfect for stove grates!
Step 2: Place in a Sink with Soapy Water
After pre-cleaning your stove grates, place them in a sink filled with warm to hot water and your chosen natural soap or cleaning detergent. Be sure to wear your cleaning gloves for this step so that you don’t burn yourself if you’re using hot water.
Again, let the stove grates soak in the soapy water mixture for five to ten minutes before moving on to the next step. See our post on The Best Non-Toxic Dish Soap for our reviews and recommendations.
| Image | Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Most Versatile  | Dr. Bronner’s - Pure-Castile Liquid Soap (Peppermint)
| 9.9 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Eco Me Dish Soap
| 9.4 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Better Life Sulfate Free Dish Soap (Pomegranate)
| 9.3 | Check Price on Amazon |
Step 3: Scrub Using Baking Soda and a Non-Abrasive Sponge or Brush
Next, take your cleaning brush or sponge and dampen this before saturating it with a generous amount of baking soda. Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent and is also lightly abrasive, meaning it is great for scrubbing stubborn dirt without damaging the surface of the stove grates.
Use the brush or sponge and baking soda combination to scrub away any remaining dirt, debris, and grease. You should find that after effectively pre-cleaning and soaking the grates, any residual dirt can be lifted away pretty easily.
You might find that you need to repeat this step with some fresh soapy water to thoroughly remove all of the dirt.
Related: How to Clean Copper Mugs
Step 4: Rinse and Dry
Once you are satisfied with your stove grates and have thoroughly removed any dirt build-up, you can rinse them off using some lukewarm water and then dry them with a kitchen towel or microfiber cloth that will prevent any watermarks from being left on the grates.
If you want your stove grates to really sparkle and shine, once you have dried them off, spritz them once again with your white vinegar mixture and then polish with a dry microfiber cloth to remove any finger or watermarks and leave them looking brand new! Now you know how to clean stove grates in a few easy steps.
Related: How to Wash Fruit and Vegetables
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my stove grates?
This really depends on how often you use your stove and how much mess you make while doing so!
As a general rule of thumb, you should give your stove grates and stovetop a quick wipe down after each use and carry out a deep clean roughly every two to four weeks, or whenever it appears to be getting a little greasy or dirty.
Can I use the same products to clean the stovetop?
All of the products used in this article can be used to effectively clean your gas stovetop, just be sure not to let any water get into the gas ports or on the electrical starters as this could seriously damage your gas stove.
Can I spot clean my gas stove?
Yes! To spot clean your stove or stove grates, simply spray the area with your vinegar mixture and allow to soak for a few minutes before dipping an old toothbrush or a small cleaning brush or sponge in some warm water and sprinkling with baking soda to scrub away the dirt before wiping away with a clean, damp microfiber cloth.
Related: How to Remove Rust from Knives with Baking Soda (and Other Natural Remedies)
Final Thoughts on How to Clean Stove Grates
Lots of people are put off from investing in a gas stove simply because they have heard that it can be super hard to keep clean. While they might not be as easy as flat top stoves which can simply be wiped down after each use, gas stoves are extremely convenient when it comes to cooking, and cleaning the different components does not have to be a laborious chore.
Hopefully, with these 4 easy steps on how to clean stove grates, which tend to get the bulk of the mess and grime on a gas stove, the cleaning process will be less intimidating. And, as an added bonus, it can all be done without using any harsh or toxic chemical ingredients!