How to Clean Gas Stove Jets

The pop and hiss of a well working jet when it's turned on to prepare a sumptuous meal is a relief if you've ever had to deal with clogged gas stove burners. The jets that rest beneath the burners supply the fuel to the ignition system through tiny vents. These can get filled with the bits of food, splatters of grease and slops of sauce that collect on a stove top. When the gas burner is clogged, there are a few simple, affordable and safe methods to return the fixture to its properly working order.

Clean gas stove jets can be quickly tidied up with a soft cloth and mild detergent. However, for jets that spit or simply don't work, you will need a few more tools to quickly remove layers of gunk. You should gather:

• Toothbrush
• Handheld wire brush
• Miniature wire set
• Soft cloths

A good tool is a gas jet cleaning wire brush. These can be used to go around the edges of the burner and scrub away stubborn grease. Spend about 10 minutes giving the jet a good scrubbing before wiping it off with a damp cloth. Allow it to dry before you turn the jet on and see if the abrasive brush worked.

For more stubborn issues, use tools from a miniature wire set to poke within each and every jet vent. Wipe away loosened grime with a soft cloth. If the jets are caked with old food and grease, Good Housekeeping recommends using a degeaser to cut down on the time it will take to bring them back to good condition.

Vinegar, baking soda, lemons and salt can quickly take down layers of grease that have been left to build on the jets. Pair these with a good scrub brush, soft cloth, toothbrush and set of small wire brushes and you will have the jets working well in an afternoon.

The Maids recommends a good bath in lukewarm water and a mild dishwashing liquid to remove the first layer of grease and grime. For truly clogged jet vents, a paste of two parts baking soda and one part water applied to the surface and left to work its magic for 20 minutes can get under stubborn grease globs. Use a soft scrub brush or toothbrush to rub the paste and gunk away before rinsing thoroughly.

Once you've done all the work of cleaning out the jets and bringing them back to full fiery life, you can keep them in good working order with a few simple techniques.

• Clean the wells of the burners and gas jets with a quick spray of straight vinegar from a spray bottle at the end of the day or after all the cooking has been completed. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes before wiping down. This also cleans the stove top to a nice shine.
• If the stove top burner covers are removable, pop them in the upper rack of the dishwasher at least once a week or monthly if you don't cook often.
• Clean out the wells and under the stove top covers on a weekly basis to cut down on grease finding its way into the small vents of the gas stove jets.