Here's How You Should Be Cleaning Your Stove Burners

It's possible you might be neglecting the brain of your kitchen operation – the stove. It's the workhorse of any kitchen, almost taken for granted, so more often than not, skipping the stove on cleaning day isn't surprising at all. In fact, we believe it might be one of the top things people decide to skip as soon as they take a glance at the dried up stubborn sauce stains that we just know will serve as our penance when it comes time to attempt their removal.

After several days of cooking, it's incredibly easy to see what you've been up to in the kitchen — a roadmap of leftover bits and spills that now have taken up residence on the stove's top. But as many of you know, when it comes to evicting these new residents from the stove, sometimes a bit of elbow grease just won't cut it and certain measures must be taken to remove the layers of grease and grime after weeks or months of cooking. Fear not. Here's how.

First (as the Bob Vila website advises us), allow the stove burners to cool down completely before you begin the cleaning process, and make sure the stove itself is off. Once cooled, remove the grates and burner caps from your gas stove and pile them in your sink. Next, combine lukewarm water and dish soap (we recommend something that's tough on grease) into a bowl and grab a sponge. Scrub like your life depended on it. If stains won't budge, bring out the miracle paste: one part vinegar, two parts baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap. Cake the mixture on. Allow the mixture to sit for 20 minutes, then remove with a soapy sponge (via Food52).

If you still can't cut through the grease, simply reach for the ammonia and a few Ziploc bags. The Bob Vila website advises us to lace each burner in a bag with a quarter-cup of ammonia and let sit overnight in a well ventilated area. The next day, give the burners a thorough rinse using a sponge, and they should be clean. Don't forget to pat them down and let them air-dry before use. Voilà, clean stove burners!