There’s no worse task than putting the kitchen sponge through its paces trying to scrub away baked-on grime off your stovetop. Even those “magic” cleaners aren’t always effective at eliminating old food stains and splatters.
However, there are easier methods you can use to clean a stove without breaking a sweat or scratching the surface. Whether you have a glass stovetop, electric coils, or gas burners, there are plenty of effective and simple techniques you can use to get your stove clean and sparkling again.
The Best Cleaning Techniques for Different Stovetop Surfaces
The best general method for cleaning a stove is the original soapy water and sponge combo. However, this tried-and-true technique requires a fair amount of elbow grease and sheer scrubbing power. Always be sure to double-check that the stove is completely cool before you start, and never clean a hot stove.
The old saying goes, “work smarter, not harder,” and cleaning a stovetop is no exception. Here are the three most common stove types and the best tips for getting them sparkling clean without harsh cleaning chemicals or non-stop scrubbing.
Gas Stoves
Gas stoves can be tricky to clean since they have removable plates and grates. To clean those, you’ll need a sink full of warm soapy water. Add one teaspoon of dish soap to a gallon of water to dilute the mixture properly.
Put the grates, plates, and knobs in the water to soak thoroughly, at least 15 minutes. Then, use a sponge to scrub away lingering grease or food.
Cleaning the Surface of a Gas Stove
The first step to cleaning the surface of a gas stovetop is to remove any loose crumbs with a soapy rag. Next, you’ll need some everyday household items: vinegar and baking soda. Take a large rag or several small rags, soak them in warm, soapy water, and wring them out.
Spray vinegar over the stove and then sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda, covering the entire surface. The mixture will fizz and foam as it cuts directly through the stuck-on gunk covering your stove. Lay the wrung-out, soapy rag over the thick mixture and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes to loosen old food and grease splatters.
When time’s up, use a soft sponge to scrub and wipe away any grime. Grab a clean cloth, dry the surface, put the burner grates back on, and enjoy your sparkling clean gas stove.
Electric Stoves
For a quick hack to remove crusty, stuck-on food off an electric stove burner, turn the burners on high for about three minutes and watch it burn right off. Allow the stove to cool off completely before cleaning the rest of it. For stubborn leftovers, use baking soda, a sponge, and some scrubbing power to get them off.
Electric stoves are quite simple to clean once you know how to disconnect the coil. Most coils are the plug-in variety and have prongs that will unplug quickly to allow for easy cleaning. Just give them a quick wipe down using a sponge and warm, soapy water.
Don’t put the coils directly into soapy water like you would a gas stove grate. Remember, they’re electric and will become damaged if submerged. However, the drip pans below the coils are safe to soak in soapy water. After soaking, wipe them clean with a rag.
Cleaning the Stovetop
The last step after washing the drip pans is cleaning the oven surface itself. You can spray any burned-on food messes with the soapy water mixture for soaking. For a deeper clean, use the vinegar, baking soda, soak and scrub technique. Once it’s clean, dry all the parts, reassemble, and you’re good to go.
Glass Stovetops
A glass stovetop is also challenging to clean. If you use an abrasive cleaning sponge, expect to see scratch marks all over the glass. It’s essential to avoid harsh scrubbers and use a soft rag at all times when cleaning a glass stove.
The best and simplest cleaning method for glass stovetops is using a soft cloth to wipe the surface clean after cooking. For hard-to-remove food and grease splatters, the vinegar and baking soda soaking technique is perfectly acceptable.
Try a Straight-Edge Scraper for Stuck-On Messes
You can also use a straight-edge paint scraper or razor blade from the hardware store to scrape off baked-on food residue. To start, coat the surface in some vinegar, soapy water, or kitchen degreaser. After a thorough soak, use the tool to gently scrape up the mess and then wipe it away with a rag.
For this technique, it’s critical to ensure you hold the scraper at a low angle and close to the stove’s surface. Always use firm, gentle pressure to avoid cracking the glass or scratching it.
Be generous with the soapy water, as it creates a lubricating barrier that also helps prevent scratches or cracks. After scraping, use your trusty rag to wipe away the mess and reveal a sparkling clean stove underneath.
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