Cleaning your cooking range is the first step to preparing healthy meals at home. Just imagine the raw food and grease that the stove top gets stuck onto it every day. If the cleaning of those greasy stains isn’t done timeously, they might turn into a cradle for bacteria to contaminate your meals. Another reason to clean and maintain your cooking range is to prolong its life. No one wants to make such an investment every couple of years. The good news is, cleaning a cooking range is easy if you know the right technique and have all the supplies. If your cooking range has developed a crusty top, here's a way to make it brand new again. Irrespective of what model or type of cooking range you have, we’ve got the best cleaning guide—just scroll down.
In this article, we’ll cover:
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How often should a range be cleaned?
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How to clean an electric range
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How to clean a gas range
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How to clean an induction range
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Cooking range cleaning checklist
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FAQs about range maintenance
How Often Should a Range Be Cleaned?
Before going into the detailed cleaning guide, let's check out the factors that determine how often you should clean your cooking range. It might save you a lot of hard work if you can practice routine cleaning. Ideally, a cooking range should be wiped down with a kitchen cleaner and clean rag after every use. This will ensure the stove top remains free from any stains or debris that might become stubborn spots later. You should always clean off any spills or splatter before it cakes itself onto your range and turns into stubborn build-up.
However, spot cleaning or daily cleaning doesn't mean you can skip the more extensive periodic cleaning. It might sound a little tedious, but you can ace it in a few minutes with the right technique. How often you deep clean a cooking range depends on how often it's used, like the number of times it is used per week or the amount of food it cooks every day. A cooking range that cooks meals for a large family deserves a deep clean at least once a month. If your cooking range is used less frequently, then deep cleaning it once in 3 months will be enough for it to remain hygienic and function at its best.
How to Clean an Electric Range
An electric cooking range adds a sleek look to any kitchen, and that glass stovetop elevates the décor. However, the glass top is delicate and needs to be handled with a lot of care during the cleaning. Otherwise, it can develop scratch marks or even ugly cracks. Most electric ranges have coils that are equally tricky to clean but don't worry. With this guide, you can clean an electric cooking range perfectly in just a few simple steps.
Here is a step-by-step guide for cleaning an electric range:
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Get all your supplies ready, including a towel or microfiber cloth, glass cleaner, sponge, baking soda, warm water, a tub, and dish soap.
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Remove the electric coils (if any) and drip pan.
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Scrub away the burnt-on food from the coils and the drip pan with a sponge and warm soapy water. Rinse the soapy residue under clean running water and dry the coils with a towel.
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Mix three parts baking soda and one part warm water to form a paste. Apply it generously to the stovetop, covering all the greasy stains and debris.
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After about 15 to 20 minutes, wipe off the paste with a microfiber cloth.
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Apply glass cleaner to the stovetop and outer body of the range, including the buttons and panels. Use a towel for a final wipe-down to get a good shine.
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Replace the coils and drip pan.
How to Clean a Gas Range
This is a popular cooking range and is preferred by those who love to cook on real flame. Obviously, the chances of burnt-on stains increase with a gas range. There are several burner options available with gas cooking ranges, and the best way to clean them can be found in the user manual provided by the manufacturer. You can also refer to it to learn which cleaners and tools are best for deep cleaning your gas range. Here is a list that can help you with a general gas range. You will need a microfiber cloth, dish soap, a soft sponge, a gas stove cleaner, a dry towel, and a toothbrush.
Here is a step-by-step guide for cleaning a gas range:
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Start by removing the grates from the stovetop. Now that the burners are exposed, remove the burner heads.
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Soak the grates and burner heads in warm soapy water to let the grime and dirt loosen up.
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During this time, spray gas stove cleaner all over the stovetop, covering it generously.
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Let it sit for a while, and then wipe it away with a sponge or microfiber cloth.
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Scrub away the dirt from the grates and burner heads using a sponge or toothbrush. Rinse them in clean water and dry them.
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Now wipe off the residue of the cleaner with a damp towel and replace the burner heads and grates.
How to Clean an Induction Range
An induction range can transform not only your cooking experience but also enhance your kitchen décor. The sheen and seamless look it provides should never be allowed to fade away with a film of grease and grime over it. But if there are some neglected spots and stains that you are concerned about, here is a guide you can follow to restore your induction range so it looks brand new.
You will need a cleaning solution, a scouring pad, a scraper, a microfiber cloth, a sponge, and kitchen gloves (optional). You can also replace any store-bought cleaning solution with a homemade one. Just add an equal amount of water and vinegar to a bowl and mix in a tablespoon of baking soda. Your homemade degreasing cleaning solution is ready to be filled into a spray bottle. You can also keep glass cleaner handy to get that perfect finish.
Here is a step-by-step guide for cleaning an induction range:
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After the cooktop surface has cooled down a bit but is still warm, use a scraper to get rid of all the tough deposits. Hold the scraper flat to the surface to prevent any scratch marks and remove the debris.
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To remove the stubborn stains, use a cleaning solution. Spray the solution generously over the cooktop and let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes.
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Wipe away the stains with a microfiber cloth.
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Scrub off the stubborn spots using a sponge. Be careful with the glass top, but be consistent in your effort. You can spray some cleaner to further loosen those spots before scrubbing.
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Wipe away any residue of the cleaner with a dry cloth and finish off with a final wipe using the glass cleaner.
Cooking Range Cleaning Checklist
Whether you own an electric range, a gas range, or an induction range, maintaining it can be challenging if you don’t follow a routine. This is why you need to know which parts require spot cleaning the most and which can be cleaned monthly or quarterly. Also, keeping all the tools and supplies needed on hand in the kitchen can make spot cleaning a breeze, helping you maintain the look and feel of your cooking range with almost half the effort. Here is a checklist that can be your go-to cleaning guide for your cooking range.
| Cleaning instructions | Supplies required | Electric range | Gas range | Induction range |
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Stovetop |
Cleaning solution, cloth, and sponge |
After use or weekly |
After use or weekly |
After use or weekly |
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Burners/coils, and grates |
Soapy water, cloth, sponge, and toothbrush |
Weekly/after cooking for a crowd/when you notice burnt-on food |
Once or twice a week/after cooking for a crowd/when you notice burnt-on food |
Not applicable |
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Buttons, knobs, and controls |
Glass cleaner or kitchen cleaner and cloth |
Once a month or every 3 months based on usage |
Once a month or every 3 months based on usage |
General wipe down every week |
FAQs About Range Maintenance
How do you clean a dirty cooking range?
A dirty cooking range can be a nightmare, but cleaning it is always possible. Use a paste of baking soda and water to cover the cooktop completely. If you have a gas range, then remove the grates and burner heads. For an electric range, remove the coils. Soak the detached parts in warm soapy water to loosen stubborn gunk. Now gently spray a solution of equal parts vinegar and water on top of the baking soda paste. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, depending on how tough the build-up is.
Now wipe away all the dirt using a microfiber cloth. For tough spots, use a sponge to scrub away stubborn spots. You can also scrub off the dirt from the coils or grates and burner heads with a toothbrush. Now wipe everything with a clean cloth to ensure no residue of the cleaner remains. Use a glass cleaner or stove top cleaner to wipe off the buttons or knobs and the outer body of the range. Replace the parts, and your cooking range is ready.
What is the best way to clean a gas range top?
Start by removing the grates and burner heads. Soak them in warm soapy water to melt away the grease and gently scrub off all the stubborn build-up. Now rinse them with clean water and let them dry. Generously spray a cleaning solution on the stovetop and let it sit there for a while to loosen the muck. Wipe off the solution with a clean cloth to reveal the spotless stovetop of your gas range. Now that it’s hygienically clean, replace the parts, and your range is ready to cook meals.
You can follow the user manual to determine which cleaning solutions will be compatible with your gas range. Use a cleaner specifically formulated for your gas range to lessen all the muscle work and make cleaning a breeze.
How do you clean an electric range?
First, you have to remove those electric coils and scrub out the gunk using dish soap and warm water. You can use a sponge or toothbrush here. Now spray a cleaning solution on the stovetop and let it sit for about 15 minutes to melt away the grease and grime. Wipe away the dirt with a cloth and replace the clean, dry coils to finish. Be careful not to use harsh scouring pads on the stovetop as they can leave scratch marks, damaging the sheet of glass on top of your electric range.
What is the first thing to do in cleaning a gas range?
The first thing to do before you start cleaning a gas range is to refer to the user manual and check the cleaning instructions specified by the manufacturer. Then let the range cool down to begin the cleaning process.
Why are gas ranges so hard to clean?
Modern gas ranges have intricate burner heads and some can be complicated to remove. Moreover, these ranges are often not compatible with store-bought cleaning solutions. Any harsh chemicals or degreasers can damage the sheen of the stovetop. The best way to clean them is to use a cleaner that is specifically formulated for your range. To clean the burners separately, read the user manual to learn how to detach them without causing any damage.
What is a good cleaner for an electric stove top?
A store-bought cleaner that is made to clean electric ranges is capable of melting away all the grease and gunk. Another option can be a homemade cleaner using a mix of half water and half vinegar. To increase its potency, you can add a tablespoon of baking soda to it. You can also use a paste of baking soda and water as a degreaser to clean electric stovetops.
What is the best way to clean the grates on a gas stove?
Grates are easier to clean as you can remove them and soak them in a cleaning solution to loosen the build-up. You can also use warm water and dish soap to soak them and then scrub away the stubborn stains using a scouring pad or toothbrush. Rinse under clean running water and dry them with a towel. You can now replace them on the gas range.
Final Thoughts
Modern cooking ranges always add a sleek, classy look to a kitchen. Whether it is a gas range, an induction range, an electric range, or a dual fuel range, all options can be efficient in cooking and enhancing the look of your kitchen. We a wide collection of various types and models of cooking ranges from top brands. You can explore our range collection or check the range buying guide to find the right one to suit your needs.
