A camp stove is a great addition to any outdoor excursion. It makes meals easier, and no fire starters are needed.

Do you use your stove all summer long? Make sure to set aside some extra time to do a thorough cleaning before packing it away for the off season. Like everything else, it’s important to keep them tidy and germ-free so that they stay in good working condition.

Items Needed to Clean a Camp Stove

• Dish Soap
• Plastic Bags
• Paper Towels
• Screwdriver
• Power Washer
• Home cleaners
• Sponge

Remove Extra Components

Before you begin cleaning your camp stove, it’s important to remove any external components that aren’t needed. This includes your fuel canisters, the metallic fuel line, as well as the stove burners. Depending on the kind of camp stove you own, this may require hardware like a screwdriver or pliers.

Carefully Wipe Everything Down

With the components out of the way, it’s now time to get cleaning. Fill a bucket with warm water and a few tablespoons of dish soap. Get a cloth wet and carefully wipe down the exterior and interior of your camp stove. Keep an eye out for grease build-up, food particles, or dead insects. You never know what you’ll find!

Make sure that you don’t let any of the water or soap leak into the interior of the stove via one of the uncovered burners. This can lead to rusting or mechanical problems down the line.

If you aren’t a fan of soap and water, most home cleaners are fine too, just don’t use anything toxic, as you don’t want your food to come in contact with anything poisonous.

Focus on the Burners

Now that your camp stove is wiped down, it’s time to move on to the burners. These are the dirtiest pieces of any stove, and take the brunt of grease and food residue. Dip your sponge in the same water and soap solution, and scrub firmly on both sides.

If you notice that your scrubbing isn’t getting things done, you may want to attach a power washer component to your garden hose. The extra water pressure tends to clear things up much more efficiently. Simple home cleaners can be effective. You just make sure they’re non-toxic.

Drying Time

Did you end up having to use a power washer? If so, you’ll need to set aside extra drying time. After all, you don’t want to put your camp stove away for the season, only to have it rust because you were in a hurry. Tip your stove upside down and let any free flowing water drain out. Now, leave it out in the sun to dry, or if you don’t have time, thoroughly dry all of the stove components.

Polish Up The Exterior

Want to make your camp stove look like it did on the day you bought it? There are a variety of home cleaners that you can use, but one of the most effective and safe options is a combination of vinegar and water. Sure, it’ll smell a little at first but the combination is a powerful cleaner that will provide that extra sheen you’re looking for. You might like reading Tips to Prevent Camping Gear Mold from Forming.

Winter Storage Suggestions

The cleaning, drying, and polishing is out of the way, so now it’s time to think about safe storage. If you plan on keeping your camp stove your organized garage camping section or out back in a shed during the fall or winter, you may want to store it inside of a plastic trash bag, and then knot off the top. This will keep any insects from entering the bag and nesting inside the interior of your stove or blocking fuel lines.

This isn’t a process that needs to be done once a month or even more frequently, but if you make sure to clean your camp stove at least once every camping season, it’s sure to stay in great shape for years to come.