Cleaning a KitchenAid Gas Cooktop After a Boil-Over: Caps, Heads and Grates

Boil-overs happen to everyone. The goal after one is to remove the mess without flooding the igniter or bending a burner part.

Let it cool, then take it apart

Wait until the grates and caps are cool. Lift off the grates, then the caps and heads. Keep them in order so each one goes back on its own burner.

Cleaning order

1. Soak grates and caps in hot water with dish soap for about twenty minutes.
2. Scrub with a nylon brush. Skip steel wool, which scratches and leaves residue behind.
3. Rinse and dry completely, then let everything air dry for an hour.
4. Wipe the cooktop surface with a damp cloth, keeping cleaner away from the igniter openings.
5. Clean the burner ports with a straight pin or a soft brush.

Protect the igniter

The igniter is a small ceramic tip beside each burner. Wipe it only with a lightly damp cotton swab. It cracks easily, and wet cleaner can leave a film that weakens the spark.

Reassemble correctly

Seat each cap so it sits flat and centered. Put the grates down last. Light each burner for a moment to check for a steady blue flame. A yellow tip, a ragged edge, or a burner that clicks for a long time usually means a cap is crooked or a port is blocked.

Houston habit

Because of humidity, wipe any cooktop that has been cleaned or splashed and let it dry before a long storm or period away from home. Standing moisture speeds up corrosion on burner parts.

If a burner still will not light after a careful cleaning, our technicians can test the igniter and spark module. Details are on the cooktop repair page, and our coverage map shows the neighborhoods we visit.