How to Clean Stove Burner Grates With Ammonia
Cleaning the stovetop is often one of the more challenging aspects of kitchen maintenance. Stove burner grates get splattered with sauces and crumbs, which then get burned in place and take a lot of scrubbing and cleansers to remove. If burner grates aren't regularly cleaned, the buildup can become impossible to deal with. However, with some ammonia and a bit of patience, you can cut down on the amount of effort needed and still attain a clean stovetop with grime-free burner grates.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Gallon size zipper closure plastic bags
- Ammonia
- Well-ventilated area to work
- Kitchen scrubber sponge
- Tarp and bucket of water
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1
Turn the oven hood exhaust fan on if you have one. Crack open a window or door while you are working with the ammonia, even if it's wintertime. Ammonia fumes are potent, and excessive exposure can be harmful. Put on rubber gloves to protect your hands against irritation.
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2
Remove one stove burner grate and place it inside a plastic bag. Add the burner cover, if you so desire.
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3
Hold the bag upright in the sink. Pour 1/4 cup of ammonia into the bag. This small amount is enough, as it's the fumes, not the liquid, that will clean the grates.
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4
Quickly seal the bag and close the lid on the ammonia bottle.
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5
Repeat steps 2 through 4 for the remaining burner grates.
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6
Place bagged grates in the sink in case of accidental leaking of ammonia. If that is not convenient, store them out of the way in a dishpan or other open container.
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7
Leave grates in the bags for one hour. If you haven't cleaned your grates in a long time and they are extra soiled, leave them in for up to three hours.
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8
Open the bag in the sink, wearing gloves and aiming the opening away from you. Quickly pour ammonia out and then remove the stove grate and burner cover from the bag. Rinse the bag and discard it.
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9
Clean the grate and burner cover with a scrubber sponge and water. The baked-on food should just slide right off with minimal or no scrubbing at all.
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10
Rinse the grate and cover and towel dry, or allow it to air dry.
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11
Repeat steps 8 through 11 for all stove burner grates and covers.
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1
Tips & Warnings
In favorable climates, it's a good idea to do this project outside in the fresh air. Spread a tarp out on which to work, preferably in the shade. Use a bucket of water for the final cleaning of the grates. Let the burner grates and covers dry on the tarp.
Read and follow all the guidelines on the ammonia bottle. Do not mix ammonia with any other cleansers, especially those containing bleach.
Keep ammonia and this cleaning project away from children and pets.
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References
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
Comments
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My friend told me about this. Her stove looks really nice afterwards. The only thing, sne used more ammonia. I will only use the 1/4 cup. I am sure it will wor just fine. Thannk you so much for your advice.
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I tried this. It works so nice. I did soak them over night. When I washed them in the morning it all came right off. And they were pretty nasty from the renters.
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ValerieDavid
Jan 21, 2009
Janinab, I don't think you can use ammonia on black iron grates--they may be too porous. If you still have the manual for your stove, I would check that for cleaning instructions--sometimes you can pop them in the dishwasher or the oven's self-clean cycle. -
janinab
Jan 17, 2009
does this work on the black grates????? and will the amonia discolor the black grates.... my stove is only 1 yr. old but my room mate already got gunk on the grates....
