Grease on stove grills, burner caps and removable parts clings like glue. If you attack it straight away with a scouring pad and full force, your arms will do half a gym workout and still some sticky patches will remain.
Letting those parts soak in a basin or bucket of warm water with dish soap for 20–30 minutes softens the grease. The soap starts breaking it down, and heat loosens the hold. When you scrub afterwards, dirt lifts much more easily, and you use less pressure and less harsh chemicals.
It’s a small patience test, but it saves time and energy overall – and parts look cleaner without getting scratched to death.