Cleaning your stovetop does not make the list of anyone's top fun to-do chores. Rather, cleaning your stove might have you groaning when you see it on your chore list. However, cleaning your stovetop isn't as hard as you think. Learn how to clean your electric, glass, and gas stovetops with ease.
How to Clean a Stovetop
Stoves come in all shapes and sizes. You have gas stoves, electric, and gas. Cleaning each one is going to take a few cleaners and elbow grease. To clean your stovetop, you'll need:
- Dish soap (Dawn works best on grease)
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- All-purpose cleaner (optional)
- Glass stove cleaner
- Cloth or paper towel
- Plastic spatula or scrapper
- Sponge
- Toothbrush
- Scrubbing pad
- Steel wool
How to Lift a Stovetop
In addition to your cleaning supply arsenal, you might need to know how to open a stovetop. While this might seem intimidating, opening your stovetop is quite simple.
- Grab the front two corners and tuck your fingertips under the front edge.
- Lift firmly.
- Ensure the brackets pop into place to ensure the top stays up.
How to Clean a Glass Top Stove
Glass stovetops are one of the simplest stovetops to clean. Simply because they have fewer working parts than an electric or gas stove. Unless you have burnt on grease or gunk, to clean a glass stovetop, you can:
- Use the cloth to remove debris.
- Use either baking soda, white vinegar, or both to clean the top.
- Wipe down the stove.
How to Clean Electric Stovetops
Whenever you are working with electricity, it's always a good idea to unplug it. However, if this will take pulling your stove out from the wall, just proceed with caution near the burner plugs.
- Fill a sink with hot water and a few squirts of Dawn.
- Unplug the heating elements by pulling them out and setting them to the side. (These will burn off gunk next time you use them.)
- Remove the drip pans and put them in the soapy water to soak.
- Lift up the top of the stove.
- Using the cloth, wipe out the underbelly.
- Dunk the sponge in the soapy water and wipe the underbelly down.
- For grimy underbellies, spray the area with vinegar and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
- Use the cloth to dry it out, then shut the top of the stove.
- Follow the soapy sponge and vinegar method for the top of the stove.
- For grimy areas, sprinkle baking soda then spray with vinegar. Let sit for a minute or so and wipe down.
- Scrub out and dry the drip pans, then reassemble the stovetop.
How to Clean Gas Stovetops
Cleaning your gas stovetop is pretty similar to an electric stove. You need to remove the hardware first to get to all the surfaces.
- Fill a sink with warm water and Dawn.
- Take off your grates and burner caps.
- Throw these in the soapy water for at least 10 minutes.
- Use a cloth to wipe away loose food.
- Spray a cotton rag with either white vinegar or an all-purpose cleaner to the point of saturation. Then use it to wipe the stovetop and the knobs on the front of it.
- Wet another rag with lukewarm water to rinse off your cleaning solution.
- Let the stovetop air dry.
- Turn your attention to the grates and burners.
How to Clean Stovetop Burners and Grates
Since stovetop burner caps and grates have been soaking while you cleaned your stovetop, your job should be pretty easy.
- Scrub the grates with a fine grade steel wool pad, scrubbing pad, or a toothbrush to remove all debris.
- Use the scouring pad to scrub the caps.
- Dry and set them to the side.
- For the burners, you'll take your toothbrush and scrub them down.
- Dip the burners in a bit of baking soda to add some abrasive. Pay special attention to baked-on grease.
- Rinse thoroughly and allow them to completely air dry.
- Put all the components back in their proper places.
How to Get Burnt-on Grease Off a Stovetop
Despite your best efforts, sometimes your stove gets caked with burnt-on grease. Do not take a fork to it. Rather, you'll grab the baking soda and vinegar.
- Mix enough water and baking soda to make a thick paste.
- Slather the paste on the grime.
- Let sit for 15 or so minutes.
- Wipe with a sponge.
- For stubborn residue, spray with vinegar and wait for 5-20 minutes.
- Wipe down to rinse.
- For super stubborn burnt-on gunk, give it a little scrape with the plastic scraper.
- Repeat as needed to remove all burnt-on grease.
Keeping Your Stovetop Clean
Cleaning stovetops may require some elbow grease, especially if it's been a long time between cleanings. That being said, the best strategy for keeping the stove clean is to wipe it off after every use. It's the difference between spending 10 minutes every day and spending an hour, and getting a sore arm, every weekend. Now if you'd like to reduce your work load, you might be interested to learn about Kenmore self-cleaning ovens so the stove top is the only thing you'll need to clean by hand.
