Are you searching for how to clean black stove top grates? This guide explains how you can do this successfully. Here, you will also find the best cleaning supplies to use, including homemade cleaners. Read on!
Cooking can come with lots of other things which you may not have planned for, like oil and food spills on the stove top grates. Though most people will probably try to clean that while they cook, you cannot completely clean all of them then. You will need to make out time and properly clean them later on.
How Do You Clean A Cast Iron Stove Top?
Oil, residue and food debris can create the need for you to clean your cast iron stove top. When that happens, you need a reliable method that can truly get rid of all the dirt, grime and stains.
While there are several methods to do this, we have outlined some of the best below.
- Cleaning Your Stove Top Grates With A Degreaser
One of the most effective ways of cleaning your stove top grates is to use a degreaser. A degreaser is usually a cleaning formula containing ingredients that break up oil, dirt and even stains. When cleaning a cast iron stove top, the formula can completely get rid of food debris and oil residue.
While it is true that a degreaser can be so powerful that it removes all kinds of dirt from your stove top grates, you need to learn how to properly use it. Without that, you may not achieve the kind of result you desire. To think that you can just apply it on the grates and all of a sudden the dirt will be gone, is quite absurd.
Thankfully, we have revealed the right way to use it below.
- The first thing you need to do is to add enough of the formula in a container and then soak your stove top grates in it. Enough to completely soak the grates.
- After soaking your stove top grates in the degreaser, leave them in there for some minutes. Depending on how badly messed up they are, you may have to leave them soaked in there for up to 30 minutes or more.
- Within this period, the active ingredients in the formula will work on them. It will break up the oil, dirt, and stains so they can be easily removed.
- As soon as you sense it is time, gently scrub the stove top grates. You can use an old toothbrush or any non-abrasive sponge, to avoid scratching and damaging the surface of the grates.
Since this is one of the most important parts of the cleaning process, do not do it in a hurry. Take your time and scrub every part of the grates. Once you have achieved your desired result scrubbing, rinse and leave them to dry before using them again.
- Using Vinegar Solution To Clean Your Cast Iron Stove Top
The good thing about this method is that it is natural and safer, unlike using other chemical cleaners for cleaning the stove top grates. The only challenge is you may need to leave the grates in the solution for a longer period compared to chemical formulas.
When using vinegar solution for cleaning a stove top grate, the active elements in the vinegar work on the dirt and stains, thereby making it easier for you to get rid of those junk.
To clean your grates using this solution, all you need do is simply combine 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a container. A spray bottle can also be used for this as it makes the application a lot easier.
Ensure the solution completely covers all the parts of the grates that you need to clean. Once you have applied the solution, let it sit on the grates for some minutes, say around 30 minutes or longer.
After that, scrub the stove top grates to fully get rid of the dirt, grime, and stains. Just like I mentioned in the first cleaning method above, it would be better to use an old toothbrush or a non-abrasive sponge to do the scrubbing.
Once you have achieved the kind of cleaning result you desire, rinse and dry the stove top grates.
If the result is not yet as great as you would want it to be, you can repeat the process or choose from any of the other methods explained in this guide.
- Cleaning Your Stove Top Grates With Baking Soda And Vinegar
This is a stronger alternative to the method we just discussed. Combined with vinegar, baking soda becomes a very powerful cleaning agent. No dirt, grime, and stains can withstand it.
The paste you get out of that combination can be a perfect DIY cleaner for cleaning many types of surfaces at home. To clean stove top grates using baking soda and vinegar, combine equal parts of the two ingredients in a container.
Since you will be using it to coat the grates for a long period, you may have to consider making a large quantity of the paste, I mean enough to completely coat the stove top grates.
After that, apply the paste on the grates and let it sit for some minutes. Just like we did with the degreaser and vinegar solution. The mixture will greatly work on the burned-on food, debris, oil, dirt, and stains on the stove top grates, causing them to be removed without much difficulty.
Once you allow the paste to stay on the grates for about 20 to 30 minutes, begin the scrubbing. Depending on how badly stained a grate is, you may need to leave the paste on, for a longer time.
After that, use a non-abrasive sponge or an old toothbrush to carefully remove dirt from the stove top grates by scrubbing. Once you are done with that, rinse and dry the grates before using them again.
This method is highly effective. It is, in fact, one of the best you can use to get your stove top grates looking brand new. If you do not achieve your desired result the first time, repeat the process.
Best Cleaners And Degreasers To Use For Cleaning Stove Top Grates
The following are some of the best cleaners and degreasers to get rid of junk from your stove top grates and restore the shine on them.
- Weiman Cooktop Cleaner Kit
If you do not want to use any of the homemade cleaner options provided in this guide, consider buying this cooktop cleaner kit on Amazon. The kit comes with a 10 oz cooktop cleaner and polish, a scrubbing pad, a cleaning tool, and a cooktop razor scraper. That’s almost everything you need to thoroughly clean stove top grates.
The cleaning formula is very effective in removing splattered food, burned on foods, oil, fingerprints, and stains. The product does not contain any ingredient that may likely scratch or damage your surfaces. With it, you can clean and get your stove top grates looking all new.
- Ruthland Products Stove & Grill Liquid Stove Polish
This is one of the best cast-iron stove top cleaners you can come across right now. The product is non-toxic and also non-inflammable, making it one of the safest cleaners you can use on stove top grates.
You can use it to clean and polish a cast iron stove top in just minutes. It doesn’t even require a heat cure like similar products. You will be so thrilled at the results if used for cleaning stove top grates.
To use this polish, simply apply it all over your stove top grates and let it sit for some minutes. Afterward, scrub the grates with an old toothbrush and then rinse.
In Summary
To clean a stove top grate, you need to, first of all, decide whether you are going to use a commercial cleaner or a homemade cleaner.
Regardless of the type of cleaner you choose, you will have to soak the stove top grates in the formula and leave it for some minutes. Depending on how messy the grates are, you may have to leave it for up to 30 mins and then scrub it with a non-abrasive later.
Are you searching for the best way to clean stove top grates? I hope you find the answers provided here useful.
