How To Clean A GE Gas Stove

Cleaning options for a GE gas range depend on the type of range you have. Certain models have self-cleaning ovens, others have a steam-cleaning option and some are still manual-clean only. You'll also clean a GE stove top differently than the oven, but it's easy to keep everything shining and in tip-top shape with regular cleaning.

To clean GE stove top burner caps and grates made of cast iron or steel, GE recommends washing them in hot, soapy water before rinsing them with water. Thoroughly dry them before putting them in place on the stove top. You can also clean grates and caps in the dishwasher if they are coated with enamel on the bottom. Be sure not to use any type of chemical cleaner on or around the stove top, which could ignite the gas.

For stubborn soil that's burned on, GE notes that you can scour the grates or caps using a nonmetallic soap pad after soaking them in a diluted liquid cleanser solution. If the grates and caps need further cleaning, place them in a covered container or a sealed bag with ¼ cup of ammonia. Let them sit for at least three hours or as long as overnight to loosen any remaining soil before rinsing them and drying with a soft cloth.

If the grates do not have rubber pads on the bottom, you can clean them in the oven by using the self-clean cycle and placing them on the oven racks instead of the oven floor. Be sure to check your owner's manual to determine if you can safely clean the grates in the oven.

A GE gas stove with a self-cleaning feature uses heat that's higher than average cooking temperatures (approximately 880 degrees F) to burn off baked-on residue. The residue decomposes and leaves only ash, which you simply wipe away with a wet cloth. Depending on the amount of soil, the self-cleaning cycle will take up to three hours to complete.

While running the self-clean cycle, GE cautions against using any type of chemical cleaner in or around the oven. Consult your user manual, because some models must be cleaned with the oven racks removed, specifically stainless steel racks.

Some GE gas stove models have a steam-clean option, which you'd use for quickly cleaning minor food spills. Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the oven. Select the "Steam Clean" option after closing the door. After about 30 minutes, wait until the oven has cooled and wipe the loosened food spill with a soft cloth.

To clean a GE gas stove manually, scrub with soap, water and a scouring pad if you're cleaning a lightly soiled oven. If you're cleaning stubborn stains, place ½ cup of household ammonia into a shallow glass container into your cold oven and let it sit overnight. The fumes from the ammonia will help to loosen the burned-on food and grease to make cleaning easier.

GE notes that you can use a commercial oven cleaner, but be sure to follow all label recommendations for a gas oven. Choose a fume-free commercial oven cleaner in gas ovens.