Do you know how to clean stove drip pans in an easy, effective way? If not, don’t worry – we’re here to help. Here, we’ll share some tips and tricks for cleaning your stove drip pans without damaging them or hurting yourself.
Whether your drip pans are made from aluminum, stainless steel, or porcelain, we have you covered. Keep reading and find simple methods that will leave your stove drip pans sparkling like new!
Tools and Materials for Cleaning Drip Pans
- A drop cloth, or old towels
- Rubber gloves (optional)
- Bucket or a sink
- Spray bottle
- Dish soap, ammonia, oven cleaner, or other chemicals
- Hot water
- Sponge or cloth
- Wire brush or tooth brush
You can use a drop cloth or old towels to protect your floors from water damage during cleaning (this is especially important if you have hardwood flooring). In addition, keep a quality hardwood floor cleaner within reach in case of debris spilling out when you remove the drip pans.
It is also a good idea to protect yourself with rubber gloves while cleaning with caustic chemicals like bleach because they can cause irritation.
An essential step in every checklist on how to get stove drip pans clean is soaking them in a mix of hot water and cleaning agent. So, you’ll need a bucket, a plastic container, or a sink to do this.
Alternatively, you can spray the cleaning agent mix directly onto the drip pans with a spray bottle. Depending on how stubborn the accumulated debris and gunk is, you’ll need to remove it with a sponge, cloth, toothbrush or a wire brush for the stickiest gunk.
Clean Stove Drip Pans in 5 Easy Steps
Now that we’ve gone over what things you need to get for cleaning stove drip pans, lets get into the nitty-gritty of doing it. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Remove the rings and drip pans from the stove.
Unplug your stove and remove the drip pans, rings, and other components. Keep in mind that once the cleaning is done, you will need to reinstall these, so try to remember how everything fits together.
2. Prepare a cleaning solution.
Choose a cleaning chemical depending on the type of material your drip pans are, and how dirty they are. To clean electric stove drip pans, you can use natural or other chemicals. Whatever product is used, it can be diluted in water in a bucket or sink where you can submerge the pans.
3. Soak or spray the drip pans
Most of food debris needs around 30 minutes to losen up. So, soak your drip pans for at least half an hour in the pre-prepared cleaning solution.
Alternatively, you can skip this step if you’re trying to clean stove drip pans with dryer sheets. You can also spray an oven cleaner, vinegar or other cleaning agent directly on the pans.
4. Wipe, Brush, and Scrub
Try to mechanically remove what the cleaning solution has left behind. Stubborn gunk needs to be scrubbed or brushed.
5. Rinse, Dry, and Reinstall
Use hot water to rinse off your drip pans and let them air dry. Once it’s done, put them back on your stove.
Whether you want to clean gas stove drip pans or other similar household appliances like electric grills, you’ll find that you’ll need to follow the same basic steps. The only difference is in the first step—the removal of the components and drip pans.
Cleaning Agents for Stove Drip Pans
After you have removed the stove drip pans from the electric stove, the next step is to determine what cleaning agent to use.
There are a variety of agents you can use to clean your stove pans, but some will be better than others. These household cleaners also work well on other types of appliances in the kitchen like rings or toasters.
Natural Cleaning Agents
White Vinegar
White vinegar is one of the most effective cleaning solutions for removing hard-water stains and grime. So here’s how to clean stove drip pans with vinegar.
Fill up a small bowl with white distilled vinegar (which can be found at any grocery store), soak your drip pans, and let them sit there for at least an hour. Next, scrub the drip pans with steel wool or scouring pad until they’re clean, and dry them off before placing them back in their rightful spot on your stovetop.
Since white vinegar with hot water can help cut through mineral deposits, you can also use it to clean your tea kettle.
Lemon Juice
Thanks to citric acid, lemon juice is effective in removing grease just like white vinegar. While these natural cleaning agents may not be as effective as more powerful agents like bleach, they are safe for use on food contact surfaces like plastic cutting boards.
If you don’t have time to wait for the solution to work its magic, try adding some salt onto your rag before applying it to the pan so that abrasive action can help loosen the grease.
Pour boiling water onto the pan and wait for a few minutes before scrubbing with a stiff brush or scouring pad. Rinse well and dry completely before replacing it on your stovetop.
Baking Soda
The procedure for cleaning stove drip pans with baking soda is the same as for cleaning other kitchen appliances like slow cookers.
Baking soda is one of the best eco-friendly ways to clean your drip pans. You can mix it with vinegar to make an abrasive paste, or with water (one part baking soda and two parts water).
This solution removes any grease buildup without damaging the finish on your electric stovetop.
If there’s any baked-on food that won’t come off easily, add vinegar to the sink and let your drip pans sit in it for 30 minutes. Then use a little bit of baking soda on a damp sponge to help loosen it up before scrubbing with scouring pad or steel wool.
You’ll see that cleaning stove drip pans with baking soda and vinegar is very effective in eliminating gunk buildup.
Mild Chemicals
While not as ecologically friendly as the natural agents, mild chemicals can effectively make your drip pans shine, without damaging them.
Dishwasher Soap
If your stove drip pans are greasy, you can use dishwasher soap to clean them. First, fill the sink with hot water and add a few drops of dishwasher soap. Then put the drip pans in, and let them soak for about 30 minutes. After scrubbing and rinsing them with water, let them air dry.
When diluted in hot water, dish soap is one of the best ways to clean the drip pans on an electric stove. Plus, you don’t risk damaging the pans, and you’re safe from chemical burns.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Have you ever thought of cleaning that yucky gunk off your stove drip pans with hydrogen peroxide? Yes, it is possible, and pretty easy too.
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts water, then use this solution to clean the drip pans. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing off with hot water.
Harsher Cleaning Chemicals
Ammonia
If there are any stubborn stains that won’t come off, you can use ammonia as a cleaning agent. Simply add a few drops of ammonia to hot water and submerge the pan in it. Next, scrub with a toothbrush until clean.
Ammonia works wonders in breaking down oils and stains, but it is a hazardous material that must be handled with caution. Therefore, you’ll need rubber gloves and a face mask to clean stove drip pans with ammonia.
Also, be sure to open windows for ventilation when using cleaning agents that contain ammonia.
Bleach
If you’re looking for a more powerful cleaning agent, you can opt for bleach, which will get rid of grease from difficult spots. You’ll need about 2 or 3 caps worth of bleach to put in your cleaning solution and you’re done.
Protect yourself, be careful, and read through instructions, because this is also a hazardous chemical. Do not mix bleach and ammonia since this can cause the release of toxic fumes.
Oven Cleaner
Some people may choose to use oven cleaner on their electric stove. However, these products are very caustic and should only be used with extreme caution.
You must wear protective gear such as rubber gloves when you want to clean stove drip pans with oven cleaner.
You can spray it directly on the pan or fill the sink with boiling water and a teaspoon of oven cleaning. Allow the drip pans to soak for around 30 minutes before scrubbing them clean using a sponge or brush. Finally, rinse them under hot water.
WD-40
Cleaning your stove drip pans with WD-40 is probably one of the fastest way. Just spray the pans with WD-40 and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, scrub them with a sponge or brush until they’re clean. Rinse them off with hot water, and you’re done!
Use Your Dishwasher
The best way to thoroughly clean your drip pans is by hand. That said, not everyone knows how to get stove drip pans clean, nor wants to spend their time and effort to clean stove drip pans. Here’s what you can do instead.
If your drip pans are stainless steel or aluminum, you can easily wash them in your dishwasher. Just make sure that they’re not too greasy before placing them with other dishes that need washing.
How Often Should I Be Cleaning My Drip Pans?
Cleaning stove drip pans is a tedious task that many people avoid. However, if you want your stove to last as long as possible and work properly, then it’s important to regularly clean your drip pans.
If you don’t do that, food particles that keep getting stuck within their cracks can damage the material your stove drip pans are made of. This could lead you down an expensive path of having to replace them faster.
So, sooner or later, you’ll need to find out how to clean the drip pans on your electric stove quickly and effectivelly.
How often you need to clean your stove drip pans will depend on how much use they get. If they’re only used occasionally, then a good wipe-down every few months should suffice. But, if you cook frequently or have a large family, then it’s best to clean them at least once a week.
However, if there are old stains on them, then repeat treatments might also prove necessary at times depending upon how bad the mess is!
Conclusion
You know that old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” When you keep your stove pans clean and free from cracks or other major damage, they will work better! Therefore, we’re happy to share our tips for keeping your drip pans clean.
While those pesky stains can be hard and messy to get rid off, keeping drip pans clean can become easy with a few tips and tricks. You’ll just need a few household items every kitchen has. No more excuses. Happy cleaning!
FAQ
What can I use to clean my stove drip pans?
You can use lemon juice, vinegar, and baking soda to clean your stove drip pans without damaging them. These natural cleaners will help you get rid of the accumulated gunk so your drip pans will be looking and smelling fresh.
For stickier stains, you can use ammonia, bleach, oven cleaner, WD-40, or other harsher chemicals.
How do you clean a dirty stove drip pan?
After removing it from the stove, the first step is to remove as much of the food as possible with a scrub brush. Then, soak the pans in hot, cleaning solution for about 30 minutes. If there’s any baked-on food that won’t come off, use a scrub brush.
Finally, rinse the pans thoroughly and pat dry with a paper towel or allow them to air dry before replacing them on your stovetop.
Can you clean drip pans with oven cleaner?
You can use oven cleaner to clean your stove drip pans, but it’s important to take caution when using this type of cleaner. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and wear gloves and a mask while you’re cleaning. Also, make sure to rinse the pans thoroughly afterward.
How do you clean drip pans with apple cider vinegar?
All you have to do is pour the vinegar over the pans and let it sit for about five minutes, then scrub it off with a brush or sponge. Also, you can dip the pans into a diluted AVC and leave them for a half an hour.
For a really stubborn gunk, add a bit of baking soda. Finally, rinse the pans thoroughly and let them air dry.
How to remove rust from stove drip pans?
You can use a wire brush to remove rust from your stove drip pans. First, scrub off as much of the rust as possible. Then soak the pans in a mixture of vinegar and water for about an hour.
After scrubbing off the remaining rust, rinse the pans thoroughly. Finally, you can pat them dry with a paper towel or allow them to air dry before reinstalling them on your stovetop.
If this doesn’t work, spray your drip pans with WD-40, and then scrub the rust off after ten minutes. However, avoid using bleach to avoid damaging your drip pans if they are rusted. Hopefully, our article helped you learn how to clean stove drip pans from rust and gunk effectively.
