How to Clean the Burners on a Gas Stove

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Cleaning gas stove burners can be difficult to do by yourself, especially if you don't have the right tools. There are many different kinds of cleaning products available in your local store, but not all of them will work for all types of stoves. If you're looking for a quick and easy way to clean your burners on a gas stove, then look no further. 

This article will help you eliminate any build-up of grime from inside your stove's ports as well as its burners within minutes. If you follow these tips, you’ll understand why you should not ditch your gas stove as it will be as clean as new. Let’s get started!

How Gas Burner Works

The burners on your gas stovetop consist of a burner assembly attached to a small gas intake valve on the front or at the top of the stove. Gas stove burners operate by receiving an air-gas mixture that is sent through the main gas line. Gas stoves have a gas valve that attaches the main gas line to the stove and sends the air-gas mixture to each burner. 

How Gas Burner Works
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When the burner control knob opens the intake valve, it allows gas to flow through the venturi tube. The gas then enters the venturi tube through one of the wide ends, increasing in pressure as it passes into the narrow section of the tube. The burner head is a hollow metal disk with holes and slots in the outside edge.

The burner head sits atop and directs flames emerging from the burner head. The older burners have a pilot light, while the newer gas stove burners have a small spark pilot located on the side of each burner. A light pilot or electric spark pilot controls the airflow, allowing you to generate more or less flames as possible.

How Often Should You Clean Your Stove's Gas Burners?

Gas stoves are simple and trouble-free. Typically, you can clean the burner once a year. But, it's important to clean it when the flow of gas becomes hindered due to food residue that may spill on the pots and pans. Food residue can clog the ports around the burner heads.

If left unattended, this food residue can be quite hard to remove. Clean your burners whenever the burner becomes irregular and exhibits a yellow color. Below are the steps you need to take to clean your gas stove burner properly. Take time and refer to your owner's manual if necessary:

What You'll Need

  • Old toothbrush
  • Non-abrasive scrubbing pad
  • Dish soap
  • Dry towel
  • Baking Soda
  • Paper clip
  • Damp cloth

Read Manufacturer's Instructions

Before you start cleaning, it's always a good idea to refer to your owner's manual. This can serve as a safety reminder, and it may reveal some tips on the best way to clean your burners.

If your cooktop didn't come with the manual, you could always download a manual online via the manufacturer's site. The manual will recommend tools and cleaning products, saving you from many hassles.

Turn Off Gas Supply Valve

Clean gas stove burners before turning them off. Make sure you shut off the valve before doing anything else. Before removing the burner caps, ensure your gas is off. Look under the burner caps and access the burner heads. 

Proper gas flow is dependent on clean burner heads, so ensure you clean stove burners first. A valve will be nearby, connecting your stove to the main gas line. Make sure you turn off the valve before cleaning. Also, ensure the stovetop and burners are completely cooled before you begin cleaning.

Remove Burner Caps

Remove the burner caps and set them aside. Once a sturdy grip is established, twist each cap counter-clockwise to remove it from the stovetop. The order of the caps does not matter because you will reattach them later on during the cleaning process.

Remove Burner Caps
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Many gas burners have a removable ceramic disc that sits atop the burner to diffuse flame. If you have this kind of burner, lift the disc off the burner, making sure that the burner is completely cool before doing so.

Remove Burner Heads

Use a flathead screwdriver or other suitable tool to loosen and remove the burner heads and caps. Take care not to damage the gas line connected to the burner because you will be reinstalling them later on during the cleaning process. Set aside and inspect each burner head as you remove it from the stovetop.

Look for built-up debris inside the gas jets, at the edge of the burner head, where it sits on top of the stovetop surface. Be careful not to damage the venturi tube beneath when lifting the burner head.

Soak and Scrub the Removed Parts

Place the burner heads and caps into a bowl or other suitable container. Fill this with warm water and liquid dish soap and let it soak for 30 minutes. If you find that there is still residue on the parts, try soaking them overnight instead.

Once they've soaked, pull them out and scrub them with an old toothbrush to remove debris. If the toothbrush can't remove some debris, use a straightened paper clip to unclog the head and cap holes. Make sure you don't damage the metal of the burner head as you clean. 

You can also use one part water and one part baking soda to remove stuck-on debris. You can also make your cleaning paste with one cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar. Apply a paste on the surface of your stove using a clean cloth or sponge.

Rinse the Parts

Use whatever you used to make the paste and rinse it off with running water. Make sure the area is dry before replacing the parts. Shake to remove excess water, then dry with a damp cloth.

Rinse the Parts
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Allow all the parts to air dry completely before reassembling the burners. As the parts are drying, turn your attention to cleaning other parts of your stove. Make sure you learn how to clean drip pans and grills. soak and scrub all these parts well.

Reassemble and Test Your Burners

After you've washed and rinsed your burners, pat them dry with a towel and set them aside. Let them air dry until they're entirely free of water. Once the burners are dry, reassemble them. Reassemble the drip pans, grills, burner heads, and caps. 

Reassemble and Test Your Burners
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Before turning on your stove, inspect all of them to make sure they aren't dripping water. On electronic ignition stoves, take care not to bend or damage the ignition electrode as you install the heads.

Relight the Pilot Lights

After you've reassembled your burners, relight the pilot lights by pressing down gently on each knob. Open each gas valve slowly and light the burners. If there's no flame, ensure that the knobs are turned to the pilot setting. 

As you do this, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions for relighting the pilot flames. Test the burners to ensure they operate correctly as unusual flame color and shape may indicate that the burner heads are not completely dry.

FAQs on How to Clean the Burners on a Gas Stove

How do you clean the grates and burners on a gas stove?

If the grates contain dirt, grime, or grease, mix three parts of baking soda into one part of water. Coat the grates in the mixture and wait for 20 minutes. Wipe down the burners with a soft cloth and if you have burners coated in baking soda paste, rinse first to avoid damaging the finish.

How do you deep clean a gas stovetop?

You can use a soft bristle brush and a mixture of vinegar and water in a spray bottle with baking soda paste when deep cleaning your gas stove top. If you notice sputtering, shut off the burner and clean out any food build-up left in the gas line before turning the gas back on.

Final Thought on How to Clean the Burners on a Gas Stove

Cleaning your gas stove burner shouldn't be an uphill task. Take your time and be thorough with your cleaning process. Make sure everything is properly rinsed before drying. This way, you'll have clean stove top burners that are ready to fire up your next meal. 

 

Heather Hardy

Heather Hardy

Heather is a professional writer with a background in real estate and home renovation. She enjoys research and contributing to DIY publications and loves to review home products and appliances.

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