How to Clean Enameled Grates on Gas Stoves With Ammonia

Safely clean food stains from enameled grates with ammonia.

Enameled grates on your stovetop require non-abrasive yet powerful cleaning, as the enamel can easily be scratched with abrasive scrubbing pads that ruin the grates' finish. Ammonia, a potent cleaning solution that removes grease from the grates without harming the enamel finish, effectively eliminates tough stains without requiring excessive scrubbing. Ammonia is safe to use in well-ventilated areas.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Ammonia
• Hot water
• Rubber gloves
• Non-abrasive sponge
• Soft cleaning cloth

Instructions

1. Fill a bucket with 1 cup of ammonia and 2 gallons of hot water.

2. Remove the enamel grates from the gas stovetop and place them in the solution-filled bucket to soak.

3. Leave the grates in the bucket for an hour to loosen food spills and caked-on residue from the enamel surface.

4. Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands from the ammonia. Pick up each grate from the bucket and rub a damp sponge against the grate to remove remaining stains.

5. Rinse the grate under hot running water to remove ammonia from the enamel surface.

6. Wipe the grate dry with a lint-free cloth and place the grate back onto the stovetop.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't remove grates from the stovetop until they have cooled off completely.

References

• "Reader's Digest": Home and Garden Uses for Ammonia
• "Good Housekeeping: The Complete Household Handbook"; Editors of Good Housekeeping; April 2007 (p. 54)