The essentials in 30 seconds
Let the hob cool completely and, on hobs with electric ignition, disconnect it from the mains first (Beko). Lift off the grates and burner caps and wash them in warm or hot soapy water with a soft sponge; rinse and dry completely. Lift the burner head straight up, clear food from its grooves and ports with a paper clip or a piece of wire, and for heavy soiling soak it upside down in mild dish detergent and hot water for 20 to 30 minutes, never in ammonia (GE). Wipe the ignitor gently. Everything must be completely dry before refitting: Whirlpool says never reinstall caps while wet. Put the correct cap on the correct base, flush and level. Clean the hob top with warm water and washing-up liquid and a soft cloth, without acid, bleach or chloride cleaners or metal scrapers (Beko). A yellow or orange flame, soot or a smell of gas means stop using the hob.
- Check your owner's manual: caps and grates vary in material and in what they tolerate.
- Some grates can go in the dishwasher or a self-cleaning oven; Whirlpool says caps cannot.
- Wipe acidic spills such as vinegar or tomato as soon as the hob is cool.
What you clean on a gas burner
| Part | How to clean | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Grates and pan supports | Hot soapy water, rinse, dry; some in the dishwasher or self-clean oven per the manual | Banging them together; prolonged soaking on Bosch grates |
| Burner caps | Soapy water and a soft sponge, or a nonabrasive plastic pad; brass caps in vinegar and water (GE) | Dishwasher and self-clean cycle (Whirlpool); refitting wet |
| Burner heads | Clear grooves and ports with a paper clip; soak 20 to 30 min in dish detergent and hot water | Ammonia, which discolours them (GE) |
| Ignitor | Wipe with a damp cloth and push down gently to seat it (GE) | Leaving residue on it |
| Hob top | Warm water, washing-up liquid, soft cloth; stainless cleaner on stainless steel | Acid, bleach or chloride cleaners; harsh abrasives; sharp metal scrapers |
How to clean gas cooker burners
-
01
Cool and switch off
Make sure the cooktop and burners are cool; on Beko hobs, disconnect the hob from the mains supply.
-
02
Remove the grates and caps
Lift them off and set them aside.
-
03
Wash the caps
Mild soapy water and a soft sponge; Whirlpool suggests a nonabrasive plastic scrubbing pad and a mildly abrasive cleaner.
-
04
Lift the burner head
Lift it straight up and check the grooves for debris.
-
05
Clear the ports
Use a paper clip or the metal wire from a twist tie to clean the pin holes or the slot on the side of the head.
-
06
Soak heavy soiling
Place the head upside down in mild dish detergent and hot water for 20 to 30 minutes; scrub stubborn stains with a soft brush or plastic pad, then rinse until no cleaner remains.
-
07
Wipe under the burner
Use a clean, damp cloth around the screws where the burner sits, and wipe the ignitor.
-
08
Dry everything
All burner parts must be completely dry before you refit them.
-
09
Refit
Line up the pin in the burner base with the hole in the head, put the matching cap on top, and check it sits flush and level.
-
10
Replace the grates
Position the pan supports so the burners are centred, as Beko advises.
GE also describes clearing debris from the orifice under the burner with a paper clip to ensure proper gas flow. Do this only if your owner's manual describes it for your model, and never loosen anything connected to the gas supply.
Burnt-on grime and discoloured caps
For burnt-on soil on grates and caps, GE suggests soaking them in a slightly diluted liquid cleanser and scouring with a non-metallic soap-filled pad, then rinsing and drying with a soft cloth. Brass burner caps can soak in vinegar and water, which removes much of the black discolouration with little scrubbing. Bosch, by contrast, says do not soak its grates, as prolonged soaking can damage the finish: wash them in mild soapy water instead, with its degreaser for grease. Whirlpool warns that acidic spills such as vinegar and tomato may affect the finish and should be cleaned as soon as the parts are cool, and that grates and caps can chip if banged against each other or against cast iron pans. GE's tip against rust on cast iron grates is a light coating of cooking oil on the bottom. If caps blacken after every use, GE says a flame adjustment may be needed: contact your gas supplier or book a service.
Cleaning the hob surface
Beko suggests deep cleaning a built-in gas hob after every use, so spills do not dry on. No special cleaning agents are needed: warm water with washing-up liquid and a soft cloth or sponge, then wipe dry with a clean cloth and refit the caps. On stainless steel, wipe with a non-abrasive liquid detergent in one direction (Beko); Bosch recommends a mild cleaner designed for stainless steel, a soft damp cloth, and buffing with a dry cloth. Do not use acid, bleach or chloride cleaners, harsh abrasives or sharp metal scrapers, which can scratch the surface. For the oven below the hob, see our oven cleaning guide.
After cleaning: what the flame tells you
The HSE lists yellow or orange flames rather than blue, soot or yellow-brown staining around the appliance, and increased condensation inside windows as signs of incomplete combustion that may produce carbon monoxide. Beko says a hob burner giving off black smoke or soot may not be working correctly and must be checked by an engineer before further use, without trying to repair it yourself. GE adds that too much air in the mix can cause soot and a yellow flame. In the UK, gas appliance work is for a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Cleaning gas cooker burners: frequently asked questions
How do I clean gas cooker burners?
Let them cool, lift off the caps and heads, wash them in mild soapy water, clear the ports with a paper clip, dry everything and refit each cap flush.
Can burner caps go in the dishwasher?
Whirlpool says not to wash burner caps in the dishwasher. GE allows grates and caps that are enamel coated on the bottom. Check your manual.
What should I not use on gas burners?
GE warns against ammonia on burner heads. Beko advises against acid, bleach or chloride cleaners and sharp metal scrapers on the hob.
Why is my gas burner not lighting after cleaning?
Make sure every part is completely dry, the head is lined up with its pin, and the matching cap sits flush and level.
Why does my gas burner have a yellow flame?
It can indicate incomplete combustion. Stop using it and have it checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What should I do if I smell gas?
Open doors and windows, turn off the gas at the meter, avoid flames and switches, and call the gas emergency number.
Sources
Manufacturer guidance and gas safety advice, checked on 2 November 2026 (02/11/2026).
- GE Appliances · Cleaning burner heads and under the burner assembly ↗Cleaning critical for performance; cooktop cool; burner head lifted straight up; grooves and pin holes cleared with a paper clip or twist-tie wire; soak upside down in mild dish detergent and hot water 20 to 30 minutes; no ammonia; soft brush or plastic pad; ignitor wiped and seated; orifice cleared; parts completely dry; pin lined up; seated properly and level.
- GE Appliances · Cleaning grates and burner caps ↗Hot soapy water, rinse and dry; dishwasher if enamel coated on the bottom; brass caps in vinegar and water; burnt-on soil, diluted liquid cleanser and non-metallic pad; self-clean oven only if the manual says so; oil against rust on cast iron; blackening caps, too much air, soot and yellow flame, flame adjustment.
- Whirlpool · Cleaning burner grates and caps, gas cooktop ↗Acidic spills cleaned as soon as cool; no banging; caps not reinstalled wet; nonabrasive plastic pad and mildly abrasive cleaner; no self-clean or dishwasher for caps; some grates in the dishwasher; correct cap on the correct base, flush.
- Bosch · How to clean and maintain Bosch gas cooktops ↗Cooled completely; grates and caps in mild soapy water and a soft sponge; do not soak grates; burner heads with a soft brush, gas openings clear; dry completely; stainless steel cleaner and soft cloth, no abrasive tools, buff dry.
- Beko · How do I clean metal gas hobs? ↗Clean after every use; disconnect from the mains; hob completely cool; warm water and washing-up liquid, soft cloth; caps seated correctly, burners centred; no acid, bleach or chloride; one direction; no harsh abrasives or sharp metal scrapers.
- Beko · My gas hob burner is giving off black smoke ↗Soot means the burner may not be working correctly; checked by an engineer before further use; no DIY repair.
- HSE · Domestic gas: frequently asked questions ↗Gas leak: 0800 111 999, open doors and windows, shut off at the meter; illegal to use an appliance suspected unsafe, Gas Safe registered engineer; yellow or orange flames, soot or staining, pilot lights going out, condensation as signs of incomplete combustion and CO.
- Gas Safe Register · What to do in a gas emergency ↗Fresh air, doors and windows; emergency control valve at the meter unless in a basement or cellar; no naked flames or smoking; no electrical switches; emergency numbers by area; gas not turned back on until checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Read in the browser.
Yellow flame or a smell of gas?
Stop using the hob, ventilate, and have it checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer before you use it again.