How to Clean the Burners on a Gas Stove

Read Manufacturer's Instructions

Knowing what kind of care is best for your appliance will go a long way in protecting your investment. The product manual that comes with your cooktop will help you know which areas are safe to remove for cleaning, making your job a much easier one. The manual may even suggest recommended cleaning products (or products and ingredients to avoid). This can be a good starting point in learning how to clean and unclog your burners. If you no longer have the printed manual, you can probably download it from the manufacturer's website.

Remove Burner Caps

If you have an older cooktop with a standing pilot light, you'll need to shut off the gas valve before you begin. Many gas burners have a removable ceramic disc that sits atop the burner to diffuse the flames. If this is the case with your stove, simply lift this disc off the burner, making sure the burners are completely cool before doing so.

Remove Burner Heads

Beneath the caps, the burner head sits atop the venturi tube. Remove the burner heads by lifting straight up. Take care not to bend or damage the ignition electrode if your stove uses this design.

Soak the Parts

Soak the burner heads and caps in a mixture of liquid dish soap and warm water for about 20 to 30 minutes. This will help loosen debris that is hardened on.

Scrub Burner Heads and Caps

Using a non-abrasive scrub pad and an old toothbrush, scrub away food stains from all surfaces of the burner heads and caps. If debris remains in the port openings, use a straightened paper clip to dig it out, but take care not to damage the metal. Don't try to dig around too deeply in the portholes, and never use a toothpick, as there's a risk that the wooden pick will break off and further clog the ports.

For extremely stubborn stains, make a paste of half baking soda and half water. Apply it to the surfaces of the burner heads and caps, and scrub with a non-abrasive pad and toothbrush. This may take repeated applications, but it will usually remove even the most stubborn stains.

Rinse the Parts

Rinse all parts thoroughly under running water, shaking them to remove excess water, then drying with a cloth. Allow all the parts to then air-dry completely before reassembling the burners. As the parts are drying, you can turn your attention to cleaning other parts of your stove, such as the grills and drip pans. The same soak-and-scrub method is a sure-fire way to clean these parts, as well.

Reassemble the Burners

Once completely dry, you can reassemble the drip pans, burner heads, caps, and grills. On electronic ignition stoves, take care not to bend or damage the ignition electrodes as you reinstall the burner heads.

Relight the Pilot Lights

On stoves with standing pilot lights, follow the manufacturer's instructions for relighting the pilot flames. Test the burners to make sure they operate correctly—any unusual flame color or shape may indicate that the burner heads are not completely dry, or that the caps are not seated correctly over the burner heads.