Cleaning Stove Top: Non-Removable Drip Pans Maintenance Guide

Stove drip pans are a pain to clean, but it's worth it to keep your kitchen looking and feeling like a place of culinary experimentation. Whether you're a messy cook or not, food spills and splatters are inevitable, and drip pans are there to catch the overflow. While it's best to clean your drip pans after each use, we know that's not always possible, so here's how to tackle the burnt-on, caked-on mess when it's time for a deep clean.

Soak in hot water

Soaking stove top drip pans in hot water is an effective way to clean them without resorting to harsh chemicals. This method is ideal for tackling caked-on food and grimy messes. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Remove the Drip Pans

First, ensure your stove and its drip pans are at room temperature. If you've just finished cooking, wait for the drip pans to cool down to avoid burning your hands. Next, remove the coils, grates, or burners sitting on top of the drip pans. For electric stoves, gently tug on the burner coil to remove it from its socket. Gas stoves usually have metal grates that can be lifted off to access the drip pan underneath.

Step 2: Prepare the Soaking Solution

Fill your sink or a large bucket with hot water. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid or liquid detergent that includes a grease-cutting ingredient. You can also use a mild all-purpose cleaner. Ensure there is enough water to completely cover the drip pans.

Step 3: Soak the Drip Pans

Place the drip pans in the hot, soapy water and let them soak. The recommended soaking time varies depending on the severity of the grime. For lighter soiling, 10 minutes may be sufficient. For heavily soiled or burnt-on food, let the drip pans soak for at least 15 minutes or even longer.

Step 4: Wipe, Rinse, and Dry

After soaking, use a sponge, dishcloth, or a soft cleaning cloth to wipe down the drip pans. For stubborn spots, use a non-abrasive plastic scrubbing pad or a melamine sponge. Rinse the drip pans thoroughly in hot water to remove any remaining soap. Finally, dry the drip pans with a microfiber or lint-free cloth. Ensure they are completely dry before proceeding to the next step.

Step 5: Reinstall the Drip Pans

Once the drip pans are clean and dry, carefully place them back under the burners of your stovetop. Make sure they are fitted smoothly and securely in place. Now your stove should be looking and functioning much better!

Remember, regular maintenance of your stove drip pans will make the cleaning process easier. Aim to clean your drip pans each time you use your stovetop, or at least once a week to prevent food stains from building up.

Use vinegar and baking soda

To clean non-removable stove top drip pans with vinegar and baking soda, follow these steps:

Firstly, ensure your stove is turned off and the drip pans are completely cool. Remove the coils or grates sitting on top of the drip pans. If you have an electric stove, gently tug the burner coil straight out of the socket to remove it. For a gas stove, simply lift off the metal grates. Now, lift out the drip pans.

Shake the drip pans over a bin, scraping them with a dry paper towel to remove any loose or burnt food particles. Next, fill a sink or bucket with enough hot water to completely cover the drip pans. You can also add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the water. Allow the pans to soak for 15 minutes.

Drain the hot soapy water and pour in enough distilled white vinegar to completely cover the drip pans. Let them soak for 30 minutes.

Sprinkle the solution with a generous amount of baking soda and let the mixture sit for at least 15 minutes. If necessary, use a plastic scrubber to scour the pans, sprinkling additional baking soda onto any stubborn stains.

Finally, rinse the drip pans with hot water and dry them with a microfiber cloth before replacing them on the stovetop.

This method is ideal for tackling food build-up that soapy water alone cannot remove.

Use ammonia

To clean non-removable stove top drip pans with ammonia, you will need:

• A 1-gallon ziplock bag for each drip pan
• Household ammonia
• Liquid dish soap
• Rubber gloves
• A well-ventilated space

First, wait for the drip pans to cool down. Then, remove them from the stove top, rinse them in hot water, and place each one inside its own 1-gallon ziplock plastic bag.

Add 1/4 cup of household ammonia to each bag. You don't need to worry about coating the drip pans completely—the fumes from the ammonia will loosen the burnt-on food splatter.

Seal the tops of the plastic bags, then leave them stacked in your emptied kitchen sink overnight, or for at least 12 hours.

The next morning, open the bags in a well-ventilated area and be careful not to inhale the strong, caustic fumes. Remove the drip pans and seal and dispose of the used bags. Wash the drip pans in warm, soapy water and rinse them thoroughly with hot water. Dry the pans with a towel and return them to the stove top.

Ammonia is a very strong cleaner and should be handled with care. Always use it in a well-ventilated area and wear rubber gloves. Dilute the ammonia with cold water before disposing of it down the sink drain.

Use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda

To clean your stove's non-removable drip pans with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, follow these steps:

First, remove the drip pans from the stovetop. Ensure that they are completely cool, then shake them over a trash can to remove any loose or burnt food particles. You can also use a dry paper towel to scrape off any remaining residue.

Next, place the drip pans in the sink and liberally coat them with baking soda. The amount of baking soda used will depend on the size and number of drip pans you are cleaning. Once the pans are coated, pour undiluted hydrogen peroxide over the baking soda. You will begin to see a fizzing reaction, which helps to lift the gunk off the pans.

Let the drip pans soak in this solution for about 30 minutes. The longer they soak, the more effective the cleaning process will be. After soaking, rinse the drip pans under cool water to remove the solution.

If necessary, use a sponge or scrubber to remove any remaining residue. For stubborn stains, you may need to repeat the process.

Finally, dry the drip pans with a towel or microfiber cloth and return them to the stovetop.

This method is not only effective but also uses household items that you may already have on hand. It is important to note that hydrogen peroxide is sold in different concentrations, but even the lowest concentration will be effective for cleaning your drip pans.

Use acetone

Using acetone to clean stove drip pans is not the best method. While it may work for some, it is not the most effective way to clean stove drip pans. In an article for Apartment Therapy, Tara Bellucci tried out three different methods for cleaning stove drip pans, including using acetone. She found that the acetone method was not very successful, even though she used full-strength acetone. She suggests that the acetone she used—nail polish remover—may not have been strong enough, but it should have been, considering it can remove glitter nail polish.

Bellucci's experience with the acetone method was that it required a lot of scrubbing, and most of the dirt stayed put. Therefore, if you are considering using acetone to clean your stove drip pans, you may want to prepare yourself for a lot of scrubbing. You could also try using full-strength acetone, which may be more effective than nail polish remover. However, based on Bellucci's experience, it seems that other methods may be more successful in cleaning stove drip pans.

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