Best Ways to Clean a Gas Oven

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Gas stoves have been a first choice among many chefs and home cooks for its quick control over heat moderation. However, this exact function can cause the gas ports to clog up and reduce the efficiency of the stove. Worse still, remnants of food can either get burnt up and leave permanent stains on the stovetop, or cause a fire hazard.

To prevent your gas oven from falling into disrepair from the wear and tear, here are the best ways to clean a gas oven.

How Often to Clean Gas Oven?

The most obvious indicator that your gas oven needs cleaning is if there’s visible material on the stove itself, or if the flame is weak or yellow in color. In general, it is good practice to clean your gas stove once every month. For the perfect result, clean it once every week. Additionally, remember to clean your stove every time you notice a spill.

Easy Ways to Clean a Gas Oven

Cleaning Gas Oven Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

The most popular household cleaner in use is baking soda and water. The most simple application is mixing 4 tablespoons of baking soda with water to make a paste which you can apply over your stove and its different components. It will cause the residue to turn into a dark powder-like substance which makes it easier to clean off.

Alternatively, you can mix baking soda and vinegar in a 1:1 ratio to have it be sprayed from a spray bottle. Both applications of baking soda need 10-12 hours (if not overnight) to finish their reaction.

Cleaning Gas Oven Using Ammonia

Ammonia is another popular cleaning agent, as long as you take proper caution when using it. All you need is ammonia and some water. Read on to find a detailed guide on how you can use ammonia to clean your gas oven!

Cleaning Gas Oven Using Lemons

Believe it or not, but you can achieve the same results with lemons! This method requires two cut lemons in a bowl of water. Keep this bowl in an oven that has been preheated to 250 degrees for an hour. Once you let the oven cool off, you can use gloves and a damp cloth or sponge to wipe down the insides.

Cleaning Gas Oven Using Stove Bought Cleaners

Finally, we come to the most obvious solution which is store-bought cleaners. While some consider it to be a little too harsh, store-bought cleaners work perfectly in cleaning out residue and grime. Store-bought cleaners take lesser time as well. It can be used for both the inside of the oven, as well as the components. Just remember to check if the oven manual comes with recommended cleaning products, and to never put it in the space where the gas comes from.

Buy the best gas oven cleaner.

Cleaning the Grates

You need to be extremely careful in extracting and cleaning the space around the grates. Grates can usually harbor food remnants and stains that have formed a crust from prolonged neglect. Here is how you properly start the cleaning using baking soda:

• Carefully extract the grates
• Pour baking soda and vinegar on top till they foam up
• Leave them for 10-12 hours minimum, ideally overnight
• Wipe away loose bits of debris and gunk with a damp cloth (no scrubbing)
• Add more vinegar with a spray bottle if the residue still sticks to the grates

Cleaning the Burner Heads and Control Knobs

• Extract the burner caps and control knobs
• Soak them in equal parts warm water and dish soap
• Rinse thoroughly and dry

If you don’t have baking soda with you, you can choose to use detergent or dish soap mixed in warm water to soak these components overnight and wipe them clean.

Cleaning the Oven

When it comes to a gas oven, you need both patience and extreme caution. Remember to always use safety glasses and gloves.

There are several ways to approach cleaning the inside of the gas oven, like with baking soda paste:

• When using baking soda paste, apply the mixture thoroughly to all corners of the inside.
• Spread evenly except for the area of the gas input.
• Leave for 10-12 hours, if not overnight.
• Use a damp cloth to wipe the loose hanging residue.
• Repeat this process for the glass and oven doors as well.

While the steps here use baking soda paste made by combining it with water, you can follow this guide when using a combination of vinegar and baking powder mixed in a spray bottle.

If you were to use ammonia, keep in mind you need to take precautions like turning the pilot light off and keeping proper ventilation to let the fumes out. Do not mix ammonia with any bleach-based substance as it has a toxic reaction. When using it to clean, here is what you need to do:

• Blow out the pilot light inside the oven.
• Preheat the oven to 150 degrees.
• Pour 1 cup of ammonia and place it on the top rack.
• Boil 3/4 cup of water and place it in an oven-safe bowl on the second rack.
• Leave it overnight.
• Open the oven door and let out the air for a few minutes.
• Mix liquid soap in 4 cups of water with the ammonia.
• Use the mixture to wipe off loose bits of residue.

Do’s and Don’ts while Cleaning the Gas Oven

Do’s:

• Check the manual for manufacturer-recommended cleaning methods, appliances, and safe removal of oven parts.
• Wipe away stains and spilled food immediately.
• Make sure the oven has been turned off completely, there is no gas coming in, and the pilot light is switched off.
• Keep the place around and under the stove hygienic when cleaning, and have proper ventilation.

Don’ts:

• Don’t handle chemical substances without proper safety gear.
• Don’t mix chemicals without proper knowledge.
• Avoid blocking the gas input with cleaning agents.
• Don’t use sharp tools to scrape off the residue.

Conclusion

A dirty gas oven is not only an eyesore but a hazard with blocked-out gas outlets and burnt scraps of food. While it might seem like a monumental task, getting into the healthy habit of cleaning your gas oven regularly can reduce the overall effort needed to remove the unhygienic gunk and residue sticking to your oven. And to help you do that, we listed the best ways to clean your gas oven!