How to clean a gas hob

1. Let the hob cool completely before you start

This sounds obvious but is worth saying: never clean a gas hob while it is still warm. Cleaning products on a hot surface can release fumes, and you will burn your hands on the cast iron pan supports.

Give it at least 30 minutes after cooking. An hour is better if it has been on hard. The grease will have hardened a little, which is actually easier to lift than fresh hot fat.

2. Remove the pan supports and burner caps

Lift off the cast iron pan supports and set them aside. Then lift off the burner caps - these are the flat discs that sit on top of the burner heads and spread the flame. Keep track of which cap came from which burner: they are often slightly different sizes.

On most UK hobs the burner head itself is fixed, so you are working around it rather than removing it.

3. Soak the removable parts

Put the pan supports and burner caps in the sink with hot water and a good squirt of washing-up liquid. Leave them to soak for at least 20 minutes - longer if there is serious build-up. Stubborn grease responds well to a soak with a biological washing powder mixed in.

While they are soaking, scrub them with a stiff brush or scourer. Avoid anything too harsh on enamel-coated supports as it will scratch the finish.

4. Clean the hob surface

Spray the hob surface with a kitchen degreaser, or apply a paste of bicarbonate of soda and washing-up liquid. Leave it for five to ten minutes to work on the grease.

Wipe off with a damp cloth, working from the edges inward. For any really stuck-on bits, a plastic scraper is safer than a metal one. Rinse and wipe dry - any water left around the burner heads will cause ignition problems later.

5. Clear the burner ports

The small holes around the edge of each burner head are where the gas comes out. If any are blocked with grease or food debris, you will get an uneven flame or one that will not light at all.

Use a cocktail stick or a straightened paperclip to clear each port. Do not use anything metal that might enlarge the holes - they need to stay the right size for the flame to work properly. A soft brush helps sweep away the loosened debris.

6. Rinse, dry, and reassemble

Rinse the pan supports and burner caps thoroughly - any soap residue will burn off and smell unpleasant the next time you cook. Dry everything fully before putting it back.

Fit the burner caps back onto their correct heads, then sit the pan supports back on. Give the igniter buttons a quick wipe with a dry cloth - moisture on the igniter is often why a hob clicks but does not light.

When to call a handyman

If a burner still will not light properly after cleaning - or if the igniter keeps sparking even when the knob is released - that points to a faulty spark module or electrode rather than a cleaning issue. Call Richard, or contact a Gas Safe registered engineer if the fault is with the gas supply itself.