How to Clean a Dirty Stove Top

Dependent upon your stove type, removing grates or heating coils might be necessary in order to perform an effective cleaning task. In such an instance, do so and soak them in a solution of baking soda and hot water before proceeding.

Start off by wiping down surfaces with a damp rag or paper towel to reduce build-up of grime that could become baked-on and harder to remove later on. Doing this may also prevent future build-up that would require more extensive removal efforts later.

Sweep Debris

To keep your stove safe and tidy, sweep away any crumbs or bits of food that have landed on its surface. Doing this now makes removal much simpler; additionally it prevents them from scratching the surface when cleaning later on. A thorough sweep will leave your stove looking better while making cooking more comfortable!

Next, if your stove features a glass surface and electric grates or heating coils (gas or electric), remove these according to their respective manufacturer’s guides for your stove type. Finally, if it features any recessed areas with knobs that need clearing away in order to provide you with access to every area of the surface of your stove.

Now it’s time to clean! Before beginning any type of stove cleaning activity, ensure it has reached room temperature. Otherwise, damage could occur to its glass surface. For maximum effectiveness and convenience, purchase or mix up a quick DIY solution from pantry ingredients for cleaning purposes.

Start by scattering baking soda over the surface of your stovetop, before spraying a solution of hydrogen peroxide and hot water diluted to your liking. Cover this area with damp towels until all bubbles stop erupting; when they do, use a clean sponge to wipe away any leftover mixture.

Repeat this process as necessary to remove stubborn dirt and stains from your stovetop, being extra diligent if your surface is highly stained and sticky, but don’t go too far – too much harsh chemicals may scratch its surface and they’re not great to breathe in either!

Once you’ve cleaned your stovetop, rinsing with hot, soapy water is key to getting it looking like new again and will feel much more comfortable to use once they’re shiny and sparkling. Don’t forget the grates and control knobs – they’ll look brand new once clean too.

Wipe Down

As soon as any spills or splatters occur, quickly wipe away with a dry paper towel or cleaning rag to restore its shine and freshness. Doing this regularly will keep your stovetop looking newer for longer.

If the tough stains don’t come off with wiping alone, use a sponge or scrub brush with an abrasive side. Be mindful not to scratch glass or ceramic surfaces! For even tougher spots you may also try white eraser sponges; but beware that their rough texture resembles microfine sandpaper and could scratch up your stove if used incorrectly.

To avoid an unpleasant mess, perform this step in a sink or bucket filled with hot soapy water. Soak any removable components, such as drip pans and drippers, for 10-20 minutes depending on their level of dirtiness before rinsing and drying them with a cloth before replacing.

Before beginning cleaning the rest of your stove, ensure it is off and completely cool. Wipe off all surfaces using a cleaning rag or paper towels if available to remove any gunk or food debris that has collected.

Sprinkle baking soda over your stovetop and then carefully spray or sprinkle vinegar onto it – watch as this combination fizzles and dissolves any stubborn scorch marks!

Soak a towel in hot water, place it over your baking soda and vinegar solution on your stove, and allow it to sit for 15 minutes before wiping away with a clean cloth. For stubborn grease stains or gunk stains that persist you can use plastic scraper or razor blade – but first make sure that any grease was softened by applying some distilled white vinegar spray, before carefully scraping away gunk and wiping with clean cloth again afterwards. Finally use soft cloth or sponges to buff it to shine – or create homemade cleaner using 1 part vinegar + 1 part water = homemade stove cleaner!

Degrease

Food debris can easily build up over time in hard to reach places, so use a broom, paper towel or cleaning rag to collect and sweep out crumbs and scraps out of the stove and into a trashcan before wiping down surfaces to eliminate dirt and grime build-up.

If your stovetop has tough grease stains, try spraying degreasing cleaner on a sponge and using it to scrub. While this may take some elbow grease, most stains should come loose from your surface. After rinsing with warm water and soap, use another clean sponge to dry your surface and wipe clean before continuing with any further use.

Make your own degreaser by mixing equal parts vinegar and baking soda to form a paste, applying this directly to any greasy spots for thirty minutes, then wiping it off using a sponge before rinsing grates, burner caps and burner heads in warm water with some dish soap for later cleaning. Take care not to get spark igniters, wires or switches wet.

At this point, use a soft sponge to quickly wipe down all grates and burner caps with fresh vegetable or olive oil, being careful not to scratch your stovetop with anything too abrasive. For stubborn food particles stuck between grates or burner caps that won’t come loose easily via scraping alone, pour a small amount of vegetable or olive oil directly on it, which should loosen it enough so you can more easily scrape away from it later. If a sticky spot persists even with this treatment, add vegetable or olive oil directly on it as this should help loosen and loosen stuck-on food particles more readily than before making scraping easier than before.

Once again, use a sponge soaked with some rubbing alcohol to clean away any remaining grease – however be mindful as any accidental ingestion could be fatal! Finally, if your cooktop remains sticky after all these methods have been tried, consider purchasing one of Cerama Bryte’s stove-top scrapers like this one from Cerama Bryte to help clear away all that lingers on it.

Next step in cleaning drip pans and electric coils is ensuring that they are both switched off and cool before taking action to do this. First, make sure your stove is switched off and cool; remove burner coils and drip pans; heat coils on high for several minutes in order to burn away any residue that remains on them; finally roll up your sleeves and lift out of stove; similarly for cleaning drip pans you should fill a sink or tub with hot water mixed with dish soap; soak them for 15 minutes to cleanse their surface thoroughly

Polish

Once you’ve cleaned and wiped down your stove top with fresh, clean water, use a soft cloth or paper towel with no lint to polish it further. A lint-free towel is preferred to prevent leaving behind residue from polish. When finishing cleaning and before turning back on your stove again, ideally using this method as touching hot surfaces with towels or cleaners could create permanent pitting of surface marks that become harder to eliminate later on.

Based on your specific needs and soil level, there are various stovetop cleaners available to meet them. Some contain heavy-duty degreasers that quickly cut through grease and baked-on food deposits while other varieties feature lighter formulas with less harsh chemicals, making them suitable for daily upkeep.

Before selecting a stovetop cleaner, be sure to read its label and follow its manufacturer’s recommendations for optimal use. Certain cleaners require some scrubbing while some might not work for all surfaces.

There are also all-in-one stovetop cleaner kits that contain everything you need for efficient stovetop cleaning, such as spray bottles, cleaning pads, scrub brushes and scrapers – even some kits which come with lint-free soft cloth for application! Many times these kits can be more cost-effective than purchasing individual products separately.

Some cooktop cleaners double as polishes, making your task of maintaining an immaculate stovetop much simpler. These multipurpose products will remove scuff marks and scratches while adding a glossy sheen to its surface.

When polishing your stovetop, the ideal product would be one that is mild yet safe for glass cooktops – like Bar Keepers Friend. This gentle cleanser and scour powder come in liquid or wipe form so you’re bound to find what suits your needs best – though Bar Keepers Friend may be pricey; nonetheless it’s definitely worth investing in for an immaculate surface that sparkles. Available at most grocery stores and online retailers.