Is it dishwasher safe to wash cast iron hob grills?

Cleaning the gas stove grates is not often a housewife's priority when it comes to cleaning the kitchen. Over time, food leftovers, oils are bound to lead to a huge, thick crust on top. It is difficult to remove it effortlessly. Using the cleaning methods described below, you can solve this problem. But first, we will find out if it is possible to wash cast iron grates from the stove in the dishwasher?

What happens to the cast iron grate?

In order for the dishwasher to be a real helper, not requiring expensive spare parts, repairs and disappointments, the technique must be used correctly. According to the Dishwasher Instructions (PMM), it is not recommended to load cast iron utensils into the equipment. Hence, we can conclude: since cast iron products should not be placed in the device, it is impossible to wash the grates of the stove in the PMM.

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However, we read conflicting information on the forums. Visitors write that they are not afraid to wash the cast-iron grates in the dishwasher. They claim that this iron alloy cleans well, restoring its original appearance.

To find a definite answer, an experiment was conducted on YouTube. They took an old, dirty grating that had no damage. Placed in a dishwasher. Finish Powerball Classic capsules were used for cleaning. Three wash cycles were carried out. The result is a radiant grille, the fat layer is completely removed, but a slight whitish coating is visually noticeable. The procedure was repeated two more times. Small rust spots appeared on the washed product - a signal of the beginning of the destruction of the alloy. The experiment showed that opponents of washing cast iron products in the dishwasher are right.

The fact is that cast iron, for all its advantages, is a porous material. Its corrosion resistance, depending on the grade of the alloy, is different, but the most expensive, high-alloyed alloys are not used in the grilles for the plate. Any contact with water, especially long-term (as when washing in a PMM), has a destructive, cumulative effect. Salt solutions and hydrates significantly speed up this process. And over time, the grill will simply crumble in your hands or crack from a minor blow.

In addition, if small square structures can somehow still be placed in the dishwasher, then large rectangular ones will not squeeze in in any way.

How to clean a cast iron grate

Cast iron is a brittle iron alloy. It has many advantages: it is not afraid of the highest temperatures, it does not deform, it keeps warm for a long time. But cleaning products from this material requires caution and a reasonable choice of detergent compositions. The best option for giving cast iron grates their original cleanliness and shine is calcination at high temperatures. However, such a manipulation is difficult to carry out at home (you should ignite the product in parts, after ventilating the room well), and not everyone wants to make a fire on the street.

There is another option - a grinder with a fine abrasive nozzle (like sandpaper). But here you should act very carefully and professionally so as not to damage the metal itself.

Therefore, it remains to study folk methods and means of professional cleaning.

Folk ways

Cleaning with vinegar and citric acid

We put the cast-iron grates from the gas stove into a container of a suitable size. Prepare the working composition: pour 150 ml of vinegar essence into 5 liters of water. Pour the liquid into a deep container so that the items to be cleaned are completely covered with the solution. Leave it for a couple of hours, then drain the liquid. Then we clean the grate with citric acid powder applied to a hard sponge. We wash off with running water. Wipe dry.

Cleaning with office glue, soda, washing powder

This method is cost-effective and effective in removing grease and carbon deposits. Dissolve 100 ml of silicate glue in 1 liter of slightly heated water. Add 100 g of baking soda to the mixture. Pour in 50 g of washing powder. We place the cast iron product in a tight plastic bag. We pour in the working solution. Leave to act for 3 hours. We rinse with running water. We use a foam sponge to remove the remaining dirt.

Ammonia cleaning

We measure the size of the gratings. We select polyethylene bags that are suitable for the size. If you want to clean everything at once, we prepare a large garbage bag that can be tightly sealed. We place the products in a bag, add ammonia there, close tightly and turn it over several times. It takes 3-4 hours to clean the grates. We leave heavily soiled items for 8-10 hours.

For a lattice separately sealed in a bag with a zipper, take 60 ml of ammonia solution. If there are several stove parts, we increase the volume of the product to 180-200 ml. We take out cast iron products. We rinse them with warm running water. Exposure to ammonia is an effective and widely used method. Most of the dirt is removed immediately. However, you may need to use a stiff washcloth to remove any remaining dirt.

Cleaning with baking soda

We wash the grates with warm water. Initial cleaning will remove the surface layer, which will allow the baking soda to attack the deeper layer of the alloy. We make a thick paste by mixing sodium bicarbonate with water. We can substitute acetic acid for water for a more powerful cleaning agent. The goal is to make the paste thick enough to be applied to the wire rack.

We apply the composition to the structure. Let stand for 15-30 minutes. This mixture destroys many impurities. We clean off the mud crust with a non-abrasive sponge. We rinse thoroughly. The method brings results the first time. If there is a very large amount of grease or dirt, repeat the procedure.

Vinegar with water

We make a solution of equal parts water and 9% vinegar. Pour the composition into an aerosol spray for easy application. The acetic acid will help break down grease residues on the wire rack. Using this solution is a safer cleaning method than ammonia, but it is suitable for removing light greasy stains. Cover the grill with liquid. Let stand for at least 15 minutes. We wipe the structure with a wet sponge. We use a toothbrush to clean out hard-to-reach corners.

Professional remedies

Cif cream-active shows a good effect for cleaning cast-iron surfaces. An equally effective remedy is Bagi Shumanit anti-fat. Economical product - Clean Drops grease and varnish spray.

When purchasing a means that breaks down fat, you should work with heavy gloves and a respirator. Remember to open all windows in the room.

We process the grate with a sufficient amount of degreaser, completely covering the surface. Leave to act for 15-30 minutes, depending on the layer of accumulated dirt. Remove carbon deposits with a cleaning tool, preferably a non-abrasive sponge. Rinse thoroughly.

With old formations, we increase the exposure time, but everything is very individual and depends on the degree of pollution.

Regular cleaning of the cast-iron grate (at least once every 3 days with daily use of the stove) can be carried out using safe improvised means. With old soot, we need professional tools. In any case, the procedure must be carried out by hand, as cast iron is an alloy not suitable for cleaning in a dishwasher.