5 Glass-top Stove Cleaning Tips

By: Alia Hoyt & Stefani Newman  | 
cleaning glass top stove
Don't let burns and spills spoil the appearance of your glass top stove. Know the best way to clean them. xefstock/Getty Images
Key Takeaways
  • Glass-top stoves require regular cleaning to maintain their appearance and functionality, with immediate cleaning recommended after use to prevent permanent damage.
  • Common household items like baking soda or vinegar, or a special cream cleanser, can effectively clean the glass surface without scratching it.
  • For tougher stains, tools such as razors or scrapers specifically designed for glass stoves can be used carefully to avoid scratching the surface.

Glass-top stoves are attractively sleek and modern, as well as efficient and easy to use. Sadly, they don't come in self-cleaning models just yet, so they require a bit of maintenance and general upkeep to keep them looking and performing to their potential.

Indeed, glass-top stoves are notorious for being frustrating to keep clean. An oil splatter from homemade french fries will turn into a black burn if not wiped up promptly. The tomato sauce that bubbled over from your famous baked ziti is sure to become an annoying stain the next morning. Let all of those build-up over time and it's easy to imagine the unfortunate mess that is bound to result.

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Fortunately, it requires only basic extra effort to both prevent unsightly buildup and tackle tough stains, so don't go back to cooking on metal coils just yet! Instead, check out these tips to keep your glass-top stove from becoming a grungy, frustrating mess.

5: Prep Your Stove

Dinner was served, the table's been cleared and the dishes are done. By this time, it'd surely be tempting to take a pass on cleaning the glass-top stove, but in the long run it's much easier to spend an extra minute or two on it. Before you dive into cleaning it you must make sure the range is completely cooled. This is done in part to avoid burning your hand as you clean the surface, but also because spraying or applying any cleaning product when the stove-top is hot can burn the solvent right onto the glass, making the task at hand even more challenging. Fortunately, most glass-top stoves have a heat indicator light, which automatically shuts off once safe levels are achieved, so you don't risk personal injury when checking to see if it's safe to clean.

If your stove-top is pretty clean already it's easy to maintain this sparkling appearance. In fact, it's a great idea to get into the daily habit of spraying the surface with a spray bottle filled with either distilled white vinegar or plain water. Then, use a microfiber cloth to gently wipe any liquid and residue away. Use a dry microfiber cloth to buff any streaks from the surface to reveal a crystal clear glass-top stove! [source: Merry Maids].

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Of course, sometimes life gets in the way and we don't care for our appliances as fastidiously as we would like. Keep reading to learn more about how to eradicate truly tough stuff from your glass-top stove.

4: Check Your Pantry

Bowl of lemons
Lemons can also be used as an effective and environmentally friendly way to clean countertops and polish metal.
Brian Yarvin/Photographer's Choice RF/Getty Images

You might be surprised to know that the answer to glass-top cleaning dilemmas are probably tucked snugly away in your kitchen pantry. Household staples like baking soda, white distilled vinegar or lemon juice work wonders for cleaning stubborn food stains from that sleek surface, provided you follow a few easy steps.

Baking soda and lemon are a particularly powerful pair, since baking soda is naturally antibacterial, while lemons are adept at cutting through grease. As always, wait until the glass top has completely cooled. Then, carefully pour/sprinkle baking soda across the glass-top surface. Using a slice of lemon (or you can drizzle bottled lemon juice), rub the entire surface, unless the mess is confined to one area. Once finished, wipe it down with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. The burned food mess should be totally gone. Buff with another dry cloth for good measure [source: Doman].

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Dishwashing soap (the kind you use in the sink, not the dishwasher) is also great for cleaning stovetops. First, mix up some plain, hot tap water with a few drops of dishwashing soap. Soak a few soft cleaning cloths or old rags in the solution. Next, sprinkle the glass-top with baking soda and position the wet towels so that they are covering the stove surface. Keep them there for between 15 and 30 minutes, then remove the towels and re-soak them in the soap/water mixture and clean the surface by moving the towels in circular motions. Finally, use a clean, soft sponge to remove any remaining bits of mess [source: Reddigari].

3: Use a Razor or Scraper

You can use a razor to clean your glass-top stove -- just be really, really careful.
You can use a razor to clean your glass-top stove -- just be really, really careful.
David Troncoso/Workbook Stock/Getty Images

One hotly debated topic about keeping glass-top stoves in good shape is whether to use a razor or sharp scraper to assist in removing tough, grungy food stains. If you choose to go this route, appliance manufacturers recommend purchasing a special scraper, which comes in a kit with a stove-top cleaner and soft cleaning pads.

As always, once the stovetop is cooled down use a damp cloth or paper towel to remove any excess crumbs or other mess. Next, add a liberal amount of the liquid cleaner that came with the scraper (or buy some separately) to the area affected, and use the scraper to lift burnt-on debris. Holding the razor blade at an angle, use some muscle to scrape off any burned-on foodstuffs. Do not use the corner of the scraper or razor blade, as it can scratch the glass top. Although it's tempting for extreme messes to call the whole thing off, it's actually very important to the overall function of your stovetop that the mess be completely eradicated [source: Doman].

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2: Use Specialty Cleaners

There are many effective products on the market specifically tailored for cleaning glass-top stoves. Most are thick, creamy salves that won't damage the stovetop. Here's how a routine cleaning should go when using these products [source: GE Appliances]:

  • Add a small amount of liquid cleaner to the glass-top and quickly spread a thin layer over the surface of the stove.
  • Allow the cleaner to set for about a minute. It should change from a liquid to a milky-white, dry consistency.
  • Use a clean, dry cotton cloth to wipe the top thoroughly. Pay extra attention to any areas that feel rough to the touch.
  • Once the cleaner has been removed, wipe down the surface of the stove again using another dry cloth.
  • The stovetop should feel smooth. If not, repeat the process.

For really caked-on stains, try this method:

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  • Apply the liquid cleaner to the stain area, but don't let it dry. For burnt-on stains, the cleaner is used as a lubricant instead.
  • If you have a scraper, now's the time to put it into action. Gently scrape the crust up from the glass until it's completely removed.

1: Clean Food Immediately

Woman struggling to clean a glasstop stove
If you want to keep your glass stovetop pristine and shiny, you need to wipe up spills before they turn into stains.
Simon Battensby/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images

We can't stress it enough – the sooner you clean your glass-top stove, the easier and better it'll be in the long run. Grease, sauces and spills are tough enough to clean off a glass-top stove. If you get lazy and leave the cleaning for another day, however, those stains will spell disaster. Leaving errant food to sit, fester and become even more difficult to handle or reheating burnt-on stains will only complicate your cleaning, and can turn into a permanent problem.

All food should be removed as soon as the stove is cool, but some foods are worse than others. Sugary or sticky spills, such as syrup or jelly, can actually make their way into the glass, causing pitting and cracking. They should be immediately cleaned once the surface is cool enough to do so [source: Samsung]. Foods that get really stubborn when dried out, such as tomato sauce, grease or even water from a boiling pot require significantly more elbow grease, which can also cause the glass to crack. Since a shattered glass-top is usually not covered under a normal "wear and tear" warranty you would be responsible for replacing it. However, if you're vigilant about keeping your glass-top stove clean, you'll be rewarded with a stain-free, polished appliance that will bring you years of use and many memorable meals!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use steel wool to clean a glass-top stove?
No, steel wool should not be used on glass-top stoves as it can scratch and damage the glass surface.
How often should I deep-clean my glass-top stove?
It's recommended to deep-clean a glass-top stove at least once a month to maintain its performance and appearance.

Lots More Information

Related Articles

  • Do It Yourself. "Induction and Black Glass Cooktop - Stovetop Care and Repair." (June 1, 2012) http://www.doityourself.com/stry/inductblack
  • Doman, Erin. "11 Easy Ways to Clean Your Stove & Cooktop." Compact Appliance. Sept. 7, 2015 (Sept. 13, 2018) https://learn.compactappliance.com/easily-clean-your-stovetop/
  • General Electric. "Range - Cookware Used on a Radiant Smooth Glass Cooktop." Nov. 7, 2010. (June 1, 2012) http://www.geappliances.com/search/fast/infobase/10000221.htm
  • General Electric. "Range - Glass Cooktop Cleaning Instructions." (June 4, 2012) http://www.geappliances.com/search/google/infobase/10001689.htm
  • Merry Maids. "How to Clean a Glass-top Stove." 2018 (Sept. 12, 2018) https://www.merrymaids.com/blog/diy/how-to-clean-glass-top-stove/
  • Reddigari, Manasa. "How To: Clean a Glass Cooktop." Bob Vila. 2018 (Sept. 14, 2018). https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-a-glass-cooktop/
  • Samsung. "Cleaning and Maintaining the Cooktop." 2018 (Sept. 14, 2018) http://support-us.samsung.com/cyber/popup/pop_troubleshooting.jsp?modelcode=NE59J3420SS/AA&idx=359981

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