Gas Range & Cooktop - Cleaning Grates and Burner Caps

There are various ways to clean burner caps and enamel on steel or cast iron grates. Proper maintenance of the caps and grates will help keep your Gas Range or Cooktop looking new for as long as possible. We are providing several cleaning methods below.

Methods for Cleaning Burner Caps and Enamel on Steel or Cast Iron Grates

• Grates should be washed regularly in hot soapy water, rinsed in clean water and dried before placing them back on the Range or Cooktop.
• Grates and caps can be cleaned in the Dishwasher as long as they are enamel coated on the bottom.
• Brass burner caps can be soaked in a vinegar and water solution. The vinegar and water solution will remove much of any black discoloration with no real scrubbing involved. Brasso or Bar Keepers Friend can make the brass burner caps return to a full shine. This does require a bit more elbow grease and it can alter some of the radial brushing appearance on the brass burner cap.
• For burned-on soil:
  • Soak grates and caps in a slightly diluted solution of liquid cleanser and scour with a non-metallic soap filled pad.
  • Place the grates and caps in a sealed bag or covered container with 1/4 cup of ammonia. Let this sit for 3 hours up to overnight to loosen soil. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft, clean cloth.
• Some models have grates that can be cleaned in a self-cleaning oven. See the Owner's Manual for specific cleaning instructions for your model.
  • If self-cleaning instructions are not mentioned in the Owner's Manual, the grates should not be cleaned in a self-cleaning oven.
  • If the grates do not have rubber bumpers (pads) on their bottom surface, they may be cleaned in the oven using the self-clean cycle. When cleaning in the oven, the grates must be placed on the oven rack(s), not on the oven floor. See our Gas Range - Self-Clean Grates article for more information.
• The Cerama Bryte® Gas Grate Cleaning Kit (WX10X10021) can also be used to clean baked on deposits and revitalize gas grates and burner caps.
  • To use:
    1. Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses.
    2. Mix cleaning powder with water until dissolved.
    3. Gently place gas grates and burner caps in the solution and allow to soak several hours or overnight.
    4. Use the brass bristle brush to remove debris from corners and tight angles.
    5. Cerama Bryte® cleaning pads can be used to clean surfaces as well.
    6. When clean, simply rinse, dry, and return the grates and caps to your cooktop.

The Following Video Demonstrates the Use of the Cerama Bryte® Gas Grate Cleaning Kit

Helpful Hint: To prevent rusting of cast iron grates, apply a light coating of cooking oil to the bottom of the grate.

Additional Support

If burner caps are discoloring or blackening after each use, a flame adjustment may be needed. Too much air mix can cause soot and a yellow flame. We recommend that you contact your gas supplier, or call for service. For service, please schedule a repair appointment with GE Appliances Factory Service.You can also check out our Gas Range - Yellow Flames or Soot on Top Burners article.