Between dust, crumbs, boiling sauce overflows and grease splatters, your stove top probably sees the most messes out of all the surfaces in your kitchen. Night after night of putting off post-dinner cleanup can really add up to create a monstrosity reminiscent of your college dorm days.

But not only do dirty, greasy gas burner grates and food particles make your kitchen look dirty, they can also affect your cooking and present a fire hazard.

Commercial oven cleaners are sometimes recognized as the best way to clean gas stove tops, but these are often a harsh mix of various chemicals, including lye and petroleum distillates.

The alternatives, including baking soda, dish soap, and countless other methods, may simply not be strong enough degreasers.

Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner breaks down grease and deep cleans without caustic or abrasive chemicals and won't leave behind residue that can linger long after you've finished cleaning. Learn how to clean burners, grates, and the stovetop surface using the directions below.

To make cleaning your stove top even easier on yourself next time, it's best if you wipe it down after each use. Food and grease won't have a chance to get stuck if you get rid of those spots as soon as they show up.

Directions for Cleaning a Gas Stove Top:

Turn off your stove's pilot light and allow the burners to cool completely before cleaning. Use caution and avoid getting the electric starters wet.

1. Clean the gas stove grates and burner caps.
   1. Remove the grates and the burner caps from the burner heads.
   2. Plug your sink drain and place all pieces in the sink.
   3. Fill the basin with warm water and 2 cups of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner.
   4. Leave the pieces to soak in the solution for about 20 minutes (while you clean the rest of the stove).
   5. If necessary, scrub using a scouring pad on non-coated grates and a sponge on coated grates. Never use steel wool or metallic scouring pads on cast iron grates.
   6. Make sure you dry all the pieces thoroughly before replacing them or you risk damaging your igniters.
2. Clean the gas stove burners.
   1. Use the pointed end of a paper clip or safety pin to gently unclog the ignition ports or burner holes.
   2. Spray a damp cloth with full strength Simple Green and wipe each burner head.
   3. Dampen a new cloth and wipe each head one more time.
3. Wipe the stove top surface with a damp cloth or paper towels. This both gathers any loose bits of dried food and helps the Simple Green penetrate cooked-on soils. Again, make sure you don't get things too wet.
4. Apply Simple Green. Spray a microfiber pad or non-abrasive cloth with full strength Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner. Wipe down the entire top of the stove and allow the product to sit on the surface for a minute. For extra heavy buildup, spray Simple Green directly onto the troublesome spots.
5. Scrub. Use a non-metallic, medium-bristle brush or non-abrasive scrubbing pad to help loosen soils and ensure a thoroughly clean, residue-free surface. You can also use a cooktop scraper. These are usually made of a hard plastic, which will prevent scratches.
6. Rinse. Wipe down the entire surface with a damp microfiber pad or non-abrasive cloth.
7. Dry. Use a clean cloth to wipe dry.
8. Replace grates and burner caps. Make sure you dry all of the pieces thoroughly before replacing them, or you risk damaging your stove's igniters.