How to Clean a Stove Top, Including Tough Stains and Grease

How to Clean a Stove Top That's Glass

Glass-topped electric stoves have become a popular choice over the years. They're smooth, flat, and almost undetectable on a kitchen counter. Their safety features have improved, too. The latest electric stove tops use induction cooking technology that can boil water while keeping the cooking surface cool to the touch.

A big selling point for glass stove tops is that they're easy to clean. When it comes to this hardworking room, easy-to-clean kitchen features are a perk. Wiping a flat surface with a damp cloth after every meal is barely considered a chore. (Need a little extra cleaning power? Spritz with a little bit of vinegar before wiping.) However, grease splatters and bubbling sauce can build up over a few days of cooking.

How to Clean Stains on a Glass Stove Top

One of the most efficient ways to clean a glass stove top with tough stains is to pick up a single-edged scraper ($6, The Home Depot) and get to work. The scraper lets you target stubborn buildup and hard-to-clean edges and crevices.

1. Soak Stove Top

   Soak the problem area in a cleaner approved for glass stove tops and let it sit for several minutes.

2. Scrape Stove Top

   Then, scrape slowly, firmly, and carefully, holding the blade at a low 30- to 40-degree angle. Don't press too hard and avoid holding the scraper at a high angle so that you don't accidentally crack the glass.

3. Dry Stove Top

   Wipe the glass cooktop with a clean cloth.

How to Deep Clean a Glass Stove Top

For a general, all-over deep scrub, try this method from cleaning company Merry Maids, which features cleaning with baking soda and vinegar, two of our favorite natural cleaners.

1. Apply Vinegar and Baking Soda

   When the glass stove top is cool, spritz with vinegar and generously sprinkle the stove top with baking soda.

2. Soak with Hot Water

   Wet a cloth with hot water and wring out any excess moisture. Place the towel over the cooktop and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.

3. Wipe off Residue

   Remove the towel and wipe the cooktop with a microfiber cloth. Spray lightly with vinegar again and wipe with another clean, dry microfiber cloth, buffing out any streaks. Repeat these steps until the residue is gone.

4. Dry Cooktop

   Wipe the glass cooktop with a clean cloth.

How to Clean a Stove Top with Gas Burners

Gas stove tops continue to be one of the most popular stove options. They use a real flame that provides responsive, even heating. Modern gas cooktops offer a range of burner sizes and shapes, so you can always find the right surface for the job. Since your cookware sits atop grates, you can use stoneware or cast iron skillets, which would otherwise scratch a glass cooktop.

Although daily cleaning isn't as easy as the "wipe and go" method conducive to a glass stove top, how to clean a stove top with gas burners is still pretty simple.

1. Remove Grates

   When the stove top is cool, pick up the grates and wipe up any spills or crumbs that fell beneath the grates.

2. Clean the Stove Top

   Spray with a cleaner that is designed for gas ranges. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. Wipe the grates with a damp cloth. If grates are particularly dirty, wash them with dish soap and warm water in the sink. See the instructions below for how to deep clean gas stove grates.

3. Dry Cooktop

   Dry the cooktop with a microfiber cloth. Dry and replace the grates.

How to Clean Gas Stove Burners

From time to time, look under the burner caps to assess if the burner heads need cleaning. Proper gas flow is dependent on clean burner heads. Before starting, ensure all the burners are off and the stove top is cool.

1. Soak up Spills

   Remove grates. Use a damp cloth to soak up any spills in the burner head and slots.

2. Remove Crumbs

   Use a nonabrasive brush, like a toothbrush, to remove any crumbs between the burner slots. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

3. Replace Grates

   Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth and put the grates back on the cooktop.

How to Clean Gas Stove Grates

Grates make cleaning a gas stove top more difficult. Grease, oil, and food particles splatter onto the grates until the buildup becomes noticeable. By then, the sticky residue is stubborn. If the manual for your gas stove top says it's okay, you can run the grates in your dishwasher regularly. For cooked-on stains, clean grates with dish soap and warm water.

1. Soak Grates

   Soak the grates in warm, soapy water in the sink. A good grease-cutting soap, such as Dawn dish soap, will help break down the cooked-on gunk.

2. Scrub Grates

   Scrub the grates gently. If they aren't coated, you can use a gentle scouring pad. For coated grates, use a sponge. (Remember that handy owner's manual? It should indicate what types of grates you have.) Use a large storage bin if your grates are too large to place in the sink.
   

3. Dry Grates

   Dry the grates with a clean cloth and return to the stove top.

How to Clean a Stove Top That's Electric

Electric coil stove tops look like gas stoves but cook with electricity. The electric-powered coil burners provide even heating that can be adjusted according to the heat knobs. No flame means a safer cooking method, ideal for families with young kids or curious pets. Electric coil burners are prone to sticky residue from cooking, like the grates on a gas stove top.

1. Remove Electric Coil Burners

   To clean them well, you must first remove the electric coil burners. Once the cooktop is cool, gently unplug the burner.

2. Wipe Burners Clean

   Wipe the burners with a sponge soaked in warm, soapy water. As you clean, be careful not to get the electrical connection wet. Rinse and set aside to dry thoroughly.

3. Clean the Stove Top

   While the burners are drying, wipe down the rest of your electric stove top, getting into every nook and cranny with a damp cloth or sponge. Use an all-purpose cleaner to remove any tough stains.

4. Clean Drip Plates (Optional)

   If the drip plates beneath the burners are removable, remove them and give them a deep cleaning with this vinegar and baking soda method from cleaning expert Mary Findley of Go Clean.

   Heat the vinegar in a microwave. Sprinkle baking soda on the drip pans, then carefully pour hot vinegar into the pans. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes before wiping clean with a wet sponge and rinsing with water.

5. Reattach the Electric Coil Burners

   Use a microfiber cloth to dry the clean cooktop. Replace the drip plates if you removed them in step 4. Once dry, reattach the coil burners.
   

Cleaning Tips for Other Kitchen Appliances

Now that your stove top is sparkling take a peek below and see if your oven needs cleaning, too. Make a point of cleaning one large appliance every few weeks (or when spills occur) to keep deep cleaning to a minimum. Clean your refrigerator to prevent mold and odors from building up and to keep it working properly, and don't forget the freezer (which may need defrosting). Wipe down the inside and outside of the microwave, including the inside top, which gets splattered when dishes are left uncovered.

While you may think cleaning a dishwasher is redundant, it isn't. Food buildup and debris can cause your dishwasher to smell bad and not work as well as it should. When you give your dishwasher a good scrub, make sure to clean the filter, which should be rinsed out at least once a month.