Need help cleaning stove burner grates!

[minnie1928]

I have a gas range with full length cast iron (I believe) grates. They don't look terrible, but I haven't really cleaned them in the 18 months I've had the stove (I don't cook much). But, underneath the grates (where the actual flame comes out) there are these grayish/silver pieces that have black stains on them. These pieces are removable which should help to clean them, but I haven't found what to clean them with that's effective. I've soaked them for hours hoping to loosen the black so it could be scrubbed off, but it didn't make a difference.

Any ideas? Can I throw them in the dishwasher? Or, should I try something else?

 

[We-R-A-Partyof 5]

I'd refer to your owners manual to find the prefered method. Using the wrong chemical or putting them in the dishwasher may do more harm than good. If you don't have your manual, go to the internet and look it up.

 

[NVDisMom]

I have used two different methods to clean non ceramic stove pieces. Put them in the oven on the short self clean cycle OR Place in a large black garbage bag, spray them down with oven off type cleaner, tie bag closed and allow to sit for a few hours. Rinse in warm soapy water.

 

[TLuvsD]

I do the oven cleaner...outside! Works well, and a lot less work for me!

 

[NYCDiane]

As the above posters have said, oven cleaner works wonders.

I've also tossed them and just bought new ones at Home Depot (but that was when they were really, really bad and I didn't want to take the time or energy to clean them)

What causes the "black", anyway?? I don't do all that much cooking, either, and mine always get that "black" on them. (and when I do cook, I never have any spillover or anything like that)

 

[minnie1928]

I can't locate my manual...which is surprising because I'm usually very anal about keeping stuff like that.

I read on another site about putting the grates/burners in a plastic bag and then spraying them with ammonia and letting them sit in the sealed bag for several hours. Has anyone tried that?

I'm worried about really discoloring things by using the wrong chemicals. I'd rather not have to buy new stuff, but we are possibly selling the house and I'm trying to get it looking as good as possible without blowing any more cash.

How bad does oven cleaner smell? I'm asthmatic. If the smell is too bad, then I'll have my DH do it when I'm not home.

 

[Mickey527]

I did my grates with the oven cleaner and wound up going to an appliance store to buy more.
the oven cleaner plugged the holes so the gas didin't come out anymore.
I am not sure if these are the same parts that you are talking about but mine were a silver type metal and went onto where the flame comes out and the flames were dispersed through the tiny holes in this part.
I do clean all the other parts using the plastic bag and oven cleaner, it works great on barbeque ovens too, but will never try and clean those little things again.
They cost $25 each....

 

[apennel]

I've done the ammonia in bags and it worked really well.

My grates are gray porcelain covered and they did not discolor or chip at all. I just put them each in a gallon sized ziplock bag and poured about 1/2 cup ammonia into the bag along with about 1 cup of water. I let them sit outside all afternoon, brought them in and rinsed them off. There were a few spots that I scrubbed a little, but the ammonia did most of the work.

I've also put them in the dishwasher, which worked OK, but the ammonia soak did a much better job.

 

[Brancaneve]

When cleaning my stove I am a BIG fan of using baking soda and vinegar. I sprinkle then baking soda, then spray vinegar or just pour it on. The reaction causes all the gunk to lift up. I just leave it there for a bit and let the bubbles do all the work. This is also easy on the lungs and environment. Good luck!

 

[hambirg]

I have a flat glass type electric stove now, but back when I had the electric coils, I would soak the drip pans in baking soda and hot water and that worked well. I use quite a bit of backing soda, so you can still see some that didn't dissolve.

 

[shortbun]

Yep, oven cleaner.

 

[Gina]

I'm so glad you posted this, OP! This is one of those things I always want to ask, and always manage to forget. I'm totally going to try the oven cleaner outside method for the heavy grate things.

But I have a question hopefully you smart people can help me with. How do you clean the part *around* the gas burner itself, the recessed part that catches all the gunk and fuses it nicely to the stove... None of the regular kitchen cleaners I've tried seem to work, and I'm always scared I'm going to either clog up the actual burners or start a chemical fire next time I cook or something. Any suggestions??

 

[hambirg]

Gina. . .have you tried one of those magic eraser things? I find they work well on my glass stop stove for that ring of greasy, dark, gunk that tends to build up around the burners. It might work for what you are describing.

 

[csharpwv]

If your grates and oven racks are porcelain I would do the clean cycle on your oven.

If they are just black metal or an unfinished type of metal I would use baking soda and vinegar in a baking dish. The reaction between baking soda and vinegar can really get things clean - BUT - BE SURE - to do it outside as it will make quite a bit of a mess!

I would be a little hesitant to use oven cleaner unless you consult your owners manual. As there are a few different types of finishes for grates (I used to work in Appliance/Electronics retail) and some can be damaged by harsh chemicals.

the black is soot from a few sources - the actual gas itself, burned/baked on food from the bottom of pots and pans - and having the burner too high for the type of pot or pan you are using. The cheaper the cookware - the less heat it will actually take on in a good way. Copper pulls the heat up and away from the burner - but the really inexpensive cookware will hold heat on the bottom of the pan causing the pot itself to scorch and leave black soot on your stove grates.

 

[mdrob214]

When we lived in base housing we always had to clean and be inspected before we left. One of the inspectors suggested this to me for cleaning the clack, burnt on food off the stove/oven grates: Pumice stone. I was shocked, but it really works, and it doesn't scratch. I keep one in my kitchen (and I also keep on in the bathroom just for cleaning those super hard water stains on the toilets. No scratches and the rust and hard deposits come right off!)

I'm not a big fan of all those chemicals in oven cleaner, so this is a great alternative.

 

[Neesy228]

LOL! This is SO me...my stove is awful and I have no idea how to fix it....I'm going to try the baking soda and vinegar, I actually never thought of that! Thanks

 

[trip]

I can't locate my manual...which is surprising because I'm usually very anal about keeping stuff like that.

I read on another site about putting the grates/burners in a plastic bag and then spraying them with ammonia and letting them sit in the sealed bag for several hours. Has anyone tried that?

I'm worried about really discoloring things by using the wrong chemicals. I'd rather not have to buy new stuff, but we are possibly selling the house and I'm trying to get it looking as good as possible without blowing any more cash.

How bad does oven cleaner smell? I'm asthmatic. If the smell is too bad, then I'll have my DH do it when I'm not home.

Did you check to see if the manual is available online?

 

[minnie1928]

I'm so glad you posted this, OP! This is one of those things I always want to ask, and always manage to forget. I'm totally going to try the oven cleaner outside method for the heavy grate things.

But I have a question hopefully you smart people can help me with. How do you clean the part *around* the gas burner itself, the recessed part that catches all the gunk and fuses it nicely to the stove... None of the regular kitchen cleaners I've tried seem to work, and I'm always scared I'm going to either clog up the actual burners or start a chemical fire next time I cook or something. Any suggestions??

I can't help with the cleaning, but I line the entire bottom of the stove (under the grates) with aluminum foil. That way I don't have to clean as often.

I didn't look online for the manual, I am too lazy to try and find out the model number. Eventually I'll have to though...

 

[minnie1928]

Just a little update...

I decided to use the baking soda/vinegar method. Of the 5 burners, the two with the lightest amount of soot came out pretty good (with some additional scrubbing). The remaining 3 burners I'm going to let soak over night. They look better than they did, but I'm hoping they improve some more.

 

[fallcolors]

I recommend that you go into the Sears Appliance Department and show them what part of your stove you want to clean. Let them advise you, they also sell products.