Glass stove tops have a lot of pros to them, but the one major downside is keeping them clean! However, I’ve found the easiest way to get a clean glass stove top. Learn my top-secret and highly-effective method below.
I admit that I’ve never been a fan of cleaning. And there are some things I really despise. Like cleaning the bathroom – especially with three boys (four, if you count my husband). Yuck!
Trying to figure out how to clean a glass-top stove used to be another one of those dreaded cleaning tasks. As hard as I tried, I just couldn’t figure it out. It was frustrating when even the special stovetop products (a.k.a., cooktop cleaner) didn’t work.
And based on reviews of cooktop cleaners, I wasn’t the only one feeling defeated.
I love the guaranteed “even heat” and sleek, modern look of electric black glass cooktops. So, when my new Maytag stove arrived last fall, I was determined to keep it clean and beautiful looking. But good intentions usually aren’t enough, and it didn’t take long for my beautiful new stove to get dirty. Sigh.
However, when I visited the Whirlpool headquarters (aka the ultimate pros!) recently, I finally learned the secret to cleaning a glass cooktop that had been eluding me! Learn how to clean a glass stove top using my top-secret method below.
The secret tool you never knew you needed for a clean glass stove top
Okay, when you hear that you need some new tool to clean glass-top stoves, you probably start wondering how expensive it is and whether it’s REALLY needed.
Well, I have good news! It IS really necessary, it’s inexpensive, and it’s crazy effective! Ready to see it? It’s this handy little razor blade.
If you have built-up grime, this bad boy literally scrapes it right off. And it really works.
Pro Tip: Get the metal razor blade because the plastic kind won’t cut it. You don’t need to buy one labeled for “cooktop cleaning” (which, thanks to marketing, will be more expensive). A regular ol’ razor blade for a couple of dollars is all you need.
How to clean a glass top stove secret #2
Surprise! Yes, this is a two-step secret. And this insider’s trick is completely F-R-E-E!
Clean your glass stovetop when it’s warm.
In the same way that it’s easier to wash dishes with hot water, the most efficient way to clean your stovetop is right after you’ve used it when it’s still warm.
That being said, it might be ideal to clean your stove right after you’ve used it. But let’s face it, “ideal” isn’t often realistic because the kitchen needs to be cleaned, the dishes need to get done, the kids need their baths, and then it’s bedtime (and you’re exhausted).
Before you know it, it’s already the next day, and you’re looking at a stove top with stuck-on food. Bleh!
Never fear; here are two ways you can get it done:
- Method Option #1 – I usually clean the stove while the oven is turned on. The stove top surface will be warm from that, but not too hot. It’s the perfect chance to get it done!
Disclaimer: I won’t recommend this to you because it’s clearly not the safest idea. I’m just sharing what I do. If you try it, you do this at your own risk, and I assume no responsibility if you burn yourself!
- Method Option #2 – The recommended way would be to turn the burner on briefly (just for maybe 5 seconds), then turn it off quickly and scrub away. I do this often, and it works well. But obviously, I have to be very careful not to leave the burner on long at all (it heats up quickly) or touch it directly.
Supplies needed
Here’s everything you’ll need to clean your stove. The good news is that you probably already have most of these supplies at home!
- Paper towels or a cleaning rag
- Cooktop scouring pad
- Cooktop cleaner
- Razor blade (metal, not plastic)
Note: I tried going without the cleaner in favor of using natural cleaners or cheaper alternatives, but I haven’t found a good substitute. The cleaner costs $3 or $4 a bottle and is worth every penny.
Directions for a clean glass stove top
Here’s a close-up “before” picture of my filthy stove.
1. Add cleaner
Start by squirting on the cooktop cleaner and scrubbing with the cleaning pad.
Make sure you use the “approved” cleaning pad because the scrubbing side of your regular kitchen sponge (or even harsher items like steel wool) can scratch the surface (and void the manufacturer’s warranties).
2. Use the razor blade
Some of the grime will come off when you use the cleaner and scouring pad but not all of it. That’s where the razor blade comes in.
See the rings around my burner here? Water boiled over, and we all know what a lovely mess that can make. This picture was taken after I had scrubbed it with the cleaner.
Look what the razor blade did:
Note: This is not always a one-and-done process. You may need to go back and scrub some more with the cleaner and cleaning pad if the grime is really built up. Just wash, rinse, and repeat until you’re satisfied with the results.
3. Buff the clean stove top
Finally, wipe it clean with a paper towel or microfiber cloth and buff your stovetop with a cleaning rag. You’re done!
The results
And with these tips, I was able to restore my cooktop to its former sleek and shiny glory. It practically looks brand new!
And that, my friends, is the secret to cleaning your stove top.
FAQs
Do you have some questions? Based on what I’m seeing in product reviews and from readers, you’re not alone! Here are some answers to the questions I see asked frequently.
Will the razor blade scratch my stove top?
No, it will not as long as you use it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Just keep the razor blade level and use it firmly and smoothly to remove caked-on gunk.
However, if you gouge your stove top with the razor blade by trying to use one of the corners to really work on a tough substance, it WILL scratch your cooktop.
Can I use natural cleaners to clean my electric cooktop?
I totally understand the desire to stay away from harsh chemicals as you clean (I want that, too!). Although I haven’t found them to work better than this method, here are a few DIY alternatives you can try using:
- White vinegar – Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water. Spray the surface, let it sit for a moment to loosen any stains or residue, and wipe the stovetop off with a cleaning rag or paper towel.
- Baking soda – The chemical makeup and mild abrasive qualities of this substance make it a great go-to natural cleanser. Mix a few drops of water with some baking soda to form a paste, and use a cleaning rag to scrub off grime in small circular motions. Note: You can mix baking soda and vinegar together, but the mixture bubbles and foams (think of classic erupting volcano experiments), which can make a bigger mess if you use a lot.
- Lemon juice – Ah, the power of lemons! Lemon juice has the ability to cut grease (and it smells amazing). Simply sprinkle a little baking soda on your stove top, then take a lemon slice (or even spray a little lemon juice on) and scrub away any spills or grime.
Can I use glass cleaner on my stove top?
Since electric cooktops have a glass surface, it may seem logical to use glass cleaner (like Windex) to clean them. Unfortunately, these cleaners are not designed for use on cooktops. Using them can create permanent stains and streaks. Yuck!
I hope this post helps you restore your own glass cooktop to its former shining glory! I promise that the process to clean a glass stove top isn’t hard. And the results speak for themselves.
More cleaning tips + ideas
- Easy Homemade Shower Spray + Soap Scum Remover
- DIY Toilet Bowl Fizzy Cleaner
- The Fast, All-Natural Way to Clean Your Microwave
- How to Clean a Microfiber Couch (+ Remove Pen & Marker)
Pin the image below to save the instructions for later!
Chrystal D says
Great tips! I would have been afraid to use the razor blade until I saw how well it worked!
lisa says
I use a brand called Scotch Brite. It has a cleaning pad and really makes it quick and easy.
smithson32 says
an easier way would be to squeeze water from a sponge on the hard spots. let it sit for 5-10 minutes then watch how easy it wipes off
Erika says
I’ve tried that many times and it never worked. It could be the different stove top types. For my glass stove top, there’s tiny little grooves throughout that make it necessary for something more – the razor blade – to get the grime off.
Dorothy Hubbard says
Thanks for the great tips for cleaning the stove. It too is a job I detest.
Marina says
Erika were you over at my house just a while ago? That’s my stove top, blade and sponge!!! 😉
I have to attest that this does work and the only way I feel a little better about the stains!! 😉
Erika says
Great minds think alike, right Marina!? 🙂
Amiyrah says
This made me wish we had an electric stove-top. So easy to clean! I’m dealing with a gas one, and it is a pain in the butt to clean. Like you, I also loathe cleaning the bathrooms. I’ve been trying to train my son to love cleaning them so I won’t have to do it anymore. Ha!
Erika says
I am trying that too – so far, I’ve got him cleaning the bottom of the toilet (yuck!) haha.
Cyn says
Great ideas! Never thought about warming up the stove before cleaning it but it makes sense!
Susie B. Homemaker says
I have a gas range and it’s tough to clean, especially the tops of the burners (I have 5!). I’ve never tried a razor blade and would be scared I’d scratch it. I’ll have to try it in one little spot to test it out. 😉 I try to clean mine while it’s still warm too, definitely makes it easier to get the messes off.
miccs says
Great tips!
I’m always fighthing against the stove, never get it clean as it should be. I’ll try the razor now.
And cleaning while still warm makes all the sense (but I never figured out).
Sam Dock says
My grandma got me one of those razor scrapers in a housewarming basket when we purchased our first home and it is the BEST on the stovetop! Actually it gets used for a lot of other things too but mostly the stove:)
Erin says
Thanks for the great tips! Its never fun having to clean the stove, but your tips should make it easier now! Thanks for sharing! 😉
saminder gumer says
thanks for the tips. i have a gas stove top so it will be a little different. any tips for that?
Erika says
I’m not familiar with cleaning a gas stove, sorry, Saminder! You might still be able to use the razor blade on sections, but it would really depend on the surface. Good luck!
Jane Stanford Boozer says
thanks for this tip
Carla Bonesteel says
Looks good! Athough, I don’t have a flat topped stove. I just spray Mr. Clean on and let it sit for about ten minutes…stuck on food wipes right off!
Tammy Baugh says
I have gotten so disgusted with my own results cleaning only with a rag and the stovetop cleaner, I admit I have let it go until my spouse will clean it. I mean why do what you can’t really do? Ok I got to thank you for all of the good advice. The end results really do speak for themselves! ANd to think we have all sorts of razors around here!
Maddie K says
Well, that truly is a big difference! We have a gas stove and I have to admit, I hate cleaning that too.
Susan Alban says
Thank you for this! It will make cleaning so much easier now 🙂
md kennedy says
I am always so afraid I am going to scratch my stove top! However, I tried your process and it works so well. Thanks!
Fran D says
You’re working way too hard to do all that. White vinegar will clean a stove top perfectly. It removes grease and stuck on grime in nothing flat, no razor or scrubbing required. Just pour on some white vinegar and wipe it off with a paper towel. Fast, cheap, non-toxic, and a perfect clean every time.
Erika says
That’s interesting, Fran. Perhaps you have a different type of stove top than I do. I have tried white vinegar on my glass stove top and while it does get some of the grime up, it does not remove everything. (I actually use vinegar for most of my household cleaning because it does such a great job.)
Thank you for sharing! Hopefully your tip will help others.
Rust says
I can’t believe I never thought of a razor blade! I have used more energy trying to keep my glass top stove nice and clean than you can begin to imagine! LOL! A razor blade ….
/sheesh
Linda K says
I’ve used your technique with a razor & stovetop cleaner, but honestly, the cleaner that works the best is Bar Keeper’s Friend (it’s a powder cleanser found in the cleaning aisle at Walmart & other stores: http://barkeepersfriend.com/ Nothing works as well!
Erika says
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Bar Keeper’s Friend. Thanks for the tip – I’m going to give it a try!
Dede says
Thank you so much! I thought I was the only one who couldn’t get those water rings off. This is so great, I will have to try it this week.
Erika says
You’re definitely not the only one, Dede! That was my biggest frustration for the longest time too.
Mike Tanner says
Great post Erika, thanks 😀 Up until a few weeks ago I had been battling with the (not so strict!) every few month job of cleaning the awfully stained cooker. We use it a lot – we have a big family and I cook meals pretty much every day leaving my wife to feed and rest with the youngest. Posts like this make me realise how much you can do on your own – especially with natural, non-toxic items from your cupboards! I’ve noticed on a few posts round the web about this kind of thing though that there isn’t a massive emphasis on using “clean as you go” techniques – which, combined with bicarb and things like vinegar or even salt, can really make your life so much easier! Great post, thanks a lot 🙂
janet says
this looks like a good idea, however I have a question. I clean for other people and one stove is similar to yours and I assume never properly cleaned since the burners have burnt rings around them. this is an older stove and probably inexpensive. can I still use the razor blade on it along with the cleansers and not ruin it ?
Assertmeds says
Hello,
Thanks for sharing this secret. Really very much beneficial for cleaning cooking stove.Very useful.
Cleaners Kingston Ltd. says
Thank you for sharing your post. Great tips! Especially this one to turn on the burner for a couple seconds and then quickly to turn it off. I am going to try it. I will be very fast. I hope it works! Greetings!
Jackie says
The absolute easiest way to clean a smoothe top stove is with Clorox wipes! And yes, it has to be brand name, I’ve tried others and they don’t work like the Clorox ones! As soon as the burner cools down, wipe with the Clorox wipe and dry with a paper towel. That’s it!
Kay says
Wow, this really did work – I got my glass stove top cleaned really well finally, including some stuck on food I hadn’t been able to remove. Thanks for this!
Jenise says
Instead of the stove top cleaners sprinkle top with baking soda and use a water bottle to spray vinegar then use your scraper and cleaning scrubber. I had white top the when I bought my home was black and after the trick with the vinegar had a white top that looked brand new..
Anna says
Tip from a window cleaner: always wet the surface of the glass before using blade. If dry it will
Scratch the glass. Otherwise works great!
Melany says
Una consulta…Yo limpio mi estufa así!! Pero tiene unas manchas blancas como gastada o pelada,eso se puede quitar con algo?porque por más que la limpio no consigo quitar eso. Ayúdenme!!