If you’re wearing footwear, make sure it is nonslip to prevent cooking accidents.

In some cases, the fire may not light right away. This is common in old stoves and is nothing to worry about—try turning the stove dial on again until the burner lights.

Use a needle to get food out of hard-to-reach places, like the burner holes. Call a home repairman if cleaning your burner does not seem to help. Your igniter may be broken and need replacement.

For the safest option, use a long-handled lighter. Long-handled lighters can be found at most craft or hardware stores. If you have never lit a gas stove before or seen someone else do it, you may not want to do it on your own. Lighting a gas stove manually can be dangerous if you have never done it before.

If the pilot light is out and you can smell sulfur, leave your home and call emergency services, as your stove may be leaking gas into the home. [4] X Research source

If you have a gas oven, it also should not be used for heating rooms.

Do not light a match, use a flashlight, or turn any electric switches on or off if you suspect your stove might be leaking gas.

Never throw water on a grease fire. Grease fires flare up and may spread if they come in contact with water.

Place your burner caps in the water as well and wash them in the hot, soapy water.