Easy & Effective Ways to Clean Your Stove’s Drip Pans & Burners

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Tackle a dirty stovetop with common DIY household cleaners
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If the drip pans underneath your stove burners are starting to look messy, then it’s time to give them a good cleaning. The drip pans catch spilled food and grease while you’re cooking to spare your stovetop, and thankfully they're easy to clean (even if they’re caked with burnt-on buildup). Keep reading for the most effective ways to make your drip pans look spotless no matter how dirty they are!

Best Ways to Clean Stove Drip Pans

Remove your drip pans and wash them in hot soapy water for small messes. When they have burnt buildup, soak the drip pans in vinegar or hydrogen peroxide with baking soda, then rinse and dry. For the most stubborn residue, seal the drip pans in a bag with ammonia overnight and scrub them the next day.

Section 1 of 7:

How to Clean Drip Pans with Dish Soap

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  1. Fill your sink with the hottest water from your faucet and add a few squirts of dish soap. Lift up the burner and gently pull it forward to remove it, and lift up the drip pan underneath. Keep the drip pans in the soapy water for at least 30 minutes, or leave them for a few hours for tough grease. [1]
    • Cleaning with dish soap and warm water is best for light buildup or regular maintenance. If you have stubborn or burnt-on residue, try a more intense cleaning method below.
  2. Use a sponge, magic eraser , or another non-abrasive tool to break apart the food and buildup on the drip pans. Try to scrub away as much residue as you can. [2]
    • Avoid using abrasive cleaners like steel wool because they could scratch or permanently damage the drip pans.
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  3. Use hot water to remove any cleaner and leftover residue. Then, wipe them dry with a lint-free cloth. Set the drip pans back on your stove so they line up with the burner ports. Finally, reinsert the burners to finish cleaning.
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Section 2 of 7:

Removing Burnt Food with Vinegar & Baking Soda

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  1. Use the standard baking soda that you keep in your kitchen. Remove the drip pans from your stove by pulling out the burners and lifting the pans out. Set the drip pans in your sink, and coat them with an even layer of the baking soda. [3]
    • Baking soda works as a cleaner because it’s a mild abrasive that helps scrub away residue.
    • The vinegar and baking soda combo is mild enough not to damage your drip pans, but strong enough to clean residue that dish soap can't.
  2. Either distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar works for cleaning your stove’s drip pans. Pour enough vinegar into the sink so the drip pans are completely submerged. While the drip pans soak, the baking soda reacts with the vinegar, which will help loosen more residue. [4]
    • Vinegar is a natural acidic cleaner, so it breaks down tough stains and buildup.
  3. Drain the vinegar from your sink. Wet a sponge or scouring pad with hot water and clean off the drip pans. For a little added cleaning power, add a few drops of dish soap or some baking soda to the sponge to scrub away stubborn stains.
  4. Run the drip pans under hot water to rinse away any remaining cleaner or residue, and use a lint-free cloth to dry them off. To reinstall your drip pans, just set them in your stove and plug the burner back in. [5]
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Section 3 of 7:

Deep Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide & Baking Soda

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  1. Remove your drip pans from your stove and set them in your sink. Any baking soda you have in your kitchen will work great. Just sprinkle it in an thin layer over your drip pans. [6]
    • Use hydrogen peroxide for super tough or burnt-on residue that vinegar can't cut through.
  2. Use enough hydrogen peroxide to completely submerge the drip pans. Add a little bit at a time because it will react with the baking soda and bubble up. [7]
  3. Leave the drip pans while the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda fizz and bubble. The chemical reaction will help break apart stubborn food and grease so it rinses right off of your drip pans. [8]
  4. Use hot water to remove any cleaner and leftover gunk from the drip pans. Then, follow up with a lint-free towel to dry and polish the drip pans before reinstalling them. [9]
    • If there’s still residue on the drip pans, use a non-abrasive sponge to gently scrub it away.
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Section 4 of 7:

Removing Grease from Drip Pans with Ammonia

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  1. Use a large resealable bag or plastic container with an airtight lid. Take out the burners and lift the drip pans off of your stove, and set them in the bag or container. Add 1 ⁄ 4 cup (59 ml) of ammonia and seal the bag or container completely. [10]
    • Ammonia can cause skin and lung irritation, so wear rubber gloves and keep the area well-ventilated.
    • Use ammonia for the worst messes, toughest buildup, hard grease, or other debris that other cleaning methods just can't clear up.
  2. Keep the drip pans sealed with the ammonia for at least 12 hours so it has time to loosen the food and grime. It’s okay if the ammonia doesn’t cover the drip pans because the fumes break down the grease. [11]
    • If you used a bag, set it in your sink or on a baking sheet in case there’s a leak.
  3. Open the container and pour the remaining ammonia down the drain or into your trash can. Wet a scouring pad with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap. Gently scrub the drip pans to remove all of the loosened residue. [12]
    • Avoid using strong abrasive cleaners because they could scratch or damage your drip pans.
  4. Use clean running water to rinse any remaining cleaner off of your drip pans. Then, use a lint-free cloth to dry them off. Set the drip pans back into your stove and reattach the burners to finish cleaning. [13]
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Section 5 of 7:

How to Clean Stove Burners

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  1. When the burner is cool, lift it up and give it a light tug to remove it from your stove. Wet a cloth with warm water and gently wipe at any marks or stains on the burner’s surface. [14]
    • Avoid submerging or coating electric burners with cleaners because you could damage the electronic connections or cause corrosion.
    • If your burners are extremely dirty or not working properly, purchase replacement coils that fit your stove.
  2. When you clean a gas stove , simply pull the burner pieces straight off and set them in a large bowl. Sprinkle baking soda over pieces and fill the bowl with warm water and few drops of dish soap. Let the burners soak for 20-30 minutes before scrubbing them with a cleaning brush. [15]
    • Dry the burners thoroughly before reinstalling them or else they may not light properly.
    • If there’s gunk or residue stuck in the ports on the burner, use a toothpick to break it apart.
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Section 6 of 7:

How often should you clean stove drip pans?

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  1. When you’re finished cooking and the burners have cooled down, remove them from your stove. Wipe the drip pan with a damp cloth to prevent any grease or residue from building up. [16]
  2. Include the stove drip pans as part of your weekly kitchen cleaning routine . When you clean once a week, soap and water will usually do the trick. If you did a lot of messy cooking, then you may need to use a more powerful cleaner.
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Section 7 of 7:

Drip Pan Cleaning FAQ

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  1. Yes, try oven cleaners for the most stubborn stains and buildup. Every oven cleaner has unique instructions, so follow the directions on the package. [17]
    • Oven cleaners often contain chemicals that can irritate your lungs. Make sure you turn on a vent fan or open windows while you’re cleaning to keep your kitchen well-ventilated.
  2. Yes, your stove drip pans are dishwasher-safe! Just place them on the top rack of your dishwasher, run a normal cycle, and dry them off completely once they’re clean. [18]
  3. Typically, your drip pans will last for the lifespan of your stove, but it’s better to replace them if they’re extremely dirty or rusty. Check your stove’s manual to order drip pans directly from the manufacturer, or get new drip pans that are the same size as the old ones. [19]
    • To replace your drip pans, simply remove the burner when it’s cooled down, lift out the old pan, and place the new one on your stove. [20]
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      Tips

      • Wipe out the area underneath the drip pans each time you clean them. This helps prevent grease buildup from catching fire. [21]
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      Warnings

      • Even though it seems like a good idea, avoid lining drip pans with foil to keep them clean. The foil could shock you or cause damage to your stove. [22]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/1301133/best-ways-clean-stove-drip-pans/
      2. ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/1618957/clean-stove-drip-pans/
      3. ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/1301133/best-ways-clean-stove-drip-pans/
      4. ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/1301133/best-ways-clean-stove-drip-pans/
      5. ↑ https://www.mashed.com/1444398/how-clean-stove-drip-pans/
      6. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1442830/clean-stove-drip-pans-gunk/
      7. ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/1301133/best-ways-clean-stove-drip-pans/
      8. ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/1301133/best-ways-clean-stove-drip-pans/
      9. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1442830/clean-stove-drip-pans-gunk/
      1. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1442830/clean-stove-drip-pans-gunk/
      2. ↑ https://www.thedailymeal.com/1442830/clean-stove-drip-pans-gunk/
      3. ↑ https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-89622.PDF
      4. ↑ https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-89622.PDF
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/7HZKenV4YHU?t=188
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/ErhX9L9PB54?t=137
      7. ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/1618957/clean-stove-drip-pans/
      8. ↑ https://www.housedigest.com/1301133/best-ways-clean-stove-drip-pans/
      9. ↑ https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-89622.PDF
      10. ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/1618957/clean-stove-drip-pans/
      11. ↑ https://youtu.be/mXhONowlaDk?t=9
      12. ↑ https://www.summitappliance.com/document/258
      13. ↑ https://www.geappliances.com/content/older-pdfs/49-89622.PDF

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