You would think that since glass stovetops are flat, they would be easier to clean than traditional stovetops with their metal rings and drip pans. I think they are to a point, but it’s not as easy as just wiping down the surface of the glass. As many of you who own these kinds of stoves know, the food you cook can boil over. This leaves pesky scorch marks and gunked up food…which then burns into a nasty hard to clean mess. I could go on for days and complain about how I really dislike cleaning my glass stovetop. But instead I will show you how I clean it. For my hate turns into a big love when it’s clean. Because when it’s clean… it’s BEAUTIFUL!
The question is how do you get it that way, especially if you’ve been neglecting it for a while and have lots of burned-on food (not that I would ever do that *wink, wink*)? Okay, maybe I do. See the evidence below. I am so ashamed!
After trying different methods to get my stovetop sparkling, this is the best way I have found to clean your glass stovetop.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- spray bottle (on Amazon.com)
- white, distilled vinegar
- baking soda
- towel or washcloth
- razor scraper (on Amazon.com)
Here’s what you’ll do:
Sprinkle baking soda all over your stovetop. Want to know a neat trick I found? Keep your old parmesan cheese containers (you know the ones you get near the pasta with grated parmesan) and put the baking soda in them. It will help with sprinkling baking soda, so it’s not all clumped together.
Spray the surface with vinegar. Wet the entire surface and let sit for 15 or more minutes while you let it do its thing.
Wipe down with a wet towel or washrag.
If there is still burnt food left on the cooking surface, use a razor scraper to scrape this food off. Caution: Do so very carefully to avoid damaging the stovetop.
If you don’t have a razor blade, and it all didn’t come off in the first soaking. Reapply it again. Especially if it’s really bad like mine was at first. I did this process three times without any elbow grease or hard work and it all came off mine. But if you have a razor blade it will make it so much faster.
Tips:
- Never clean a stovetop when it’s hot.
- For stains that are harder to remove, try using magic eraser (such as Mr. Clean or the like),
- To avoid the need for a razor scraper, try to clean up spills right after they happen. This can be hard because you have to remember to go back once the stovetop is cool to clean it. Try setting the timer on your stove to help you remember. If this isn’t possible then clean your stovetop before the next time you use it.
So here is my beautiful finished clean glass stovetop. It’s so nice when it’s clean. All is well with the world.
Do you have any tips for cleaning glass stovetops? What other methods have you tried?
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Joni says
I have used a product on my glass top that says it’s for glass top stoves. It seems to work pretty well, but it leaves a film on the glass. Do you think the vinegar might cut the film? I fry a lot of bacon (for my husband), so it could be grease…
LA says
What is the difference between the recommended distilled vinegar and other white vinegars? I’m thinking of trying this on my stovetop with a double strength cleaning vinegar I have. 10% acetic acid.
Karrie says
Both should work fine.
Lindsey R. says
Thank you so much for this tip! I had a spillover while making Pastaroni and it was a disaster within minutes. Caked on milk/butter/water combo everywhere. I was devastated and had no idea how I’d ever clean it off. I was worried this trick didn’t work at first since I was trying it in 2-3 15-minute intervals. But after I let it sit for about an hour, I only needed to really scrub a few spots but otherwise it came off easily!
Elizabeth says
I didn’t think this would work, as baking soda and vinegar seem like pretty innocuous substances. My stove top was not too dirty, so I tried this technique, and it did work, and I didn’t even have to use a razor blade, just a scrubby sponge (blue). I was surprised and happy to not have to buy one more cleaning product.
Karrie says
Horray!!!
Penny says
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! My daughter accidentally set a plastic bag of shredded cheese on a still hot burner. It left melted cheese and melted plastic. I was not sure what, if anything, could be done, but I googled and found your suggestions. I have already removed most of the mess and have it soaking for what will probably be the last time needed. It did involve a small amount of scraping but, since I have strong fingernails, I was able to do it that way. Your help is very much appreciated.
Linda says
I had some really baked on sugar from making hot chocolate on the stovetop. I tried the trusty baking soda and vinegar method which has worked for other spills. It did not fix this mess. What did work, since I didn’t have Easy Off, or a lot of patience, I tried this which worked like a charm: I soaked a paper towel in lemon juice and laid it over the cooked on mess after the burner was cool. After about twenty minutes, I removed the paper towel and scraped off the burnt food with a razor blade with ease. Voila! I have a clean, smooth cooktop once again!
Karrie says
Thanks for sharing Linda, that sounds awesome!!!! Glad it worked.
stacey knight says
i use comet or ajax and add a lil water use a brillo pad or scratchy side of your sponge works like a charm..finish it off with glass cleaner and shines like new
Heather says
Are you stupid? Or joking? Bc everything you just listed that you use is the worst thing to use?
Sb says
I was thinking the same thing. Put oven cleaner and wipe with a paper towel. So simple.
Monica says
That’s a d*ck comment, calling someone stupid. That’s an old school way to do it and it works. I’ve done the same then wiped it down with water and vinegar after. Never had an issue.
Lola Antun says
What’s best to use for just daily cleaning? Windex streaks.
Gerry Martel says
Is there not any product that can be placed on the glass stove top that will protect from having to clean the spills?
Karrie says
I don’t think so…. but I will say I’ve had an induction stove top for the past two years now and NO crusting over spills ever!! It’s amazing and I honestly think its better than gas too! I only have to wipe up the messes. So easy.
Patricia A Garner says
I have ab older model and can never get stove top clean!
Julie says
In have the same range. I have used the above method which works in part. I see I have the same issue as you after cleaning. The flat black spots that are left. Anymway to get those clean?
Dorothy says
That’s what I’m researching. I had an Amana glasstop for over 24 years and one day I heard a pop and found my surface cracked. I always found that top easy to maintain ( I did clean it everytime). I now have one just like yours and it has those black Mark’s. Feels clean, looks clean but has those black spots. I got this used but was able to clean up everything but the black spots won’t leave??
Aprille says
O.M.G. I’m I heaven! Thank you so much for this. I only use Weiman cleaner on my stove and I love it. I use a scraper if necessary too. It does exhaust me though when the stains are really stuck on there.
I NEVER used to go to bed with my stove dirty. The last 6 months, I’ve been really battling autoimmune and I wake up disheartened when it’s not clean because I was beyond exhausted the night before to clean it properly. I even cut down my cooking during the week (which I enjoy) because I don’t want to deal with it.
I just tried this and it works like a miracle!!! It may sound silly, but you’ve no idea what a gift this is. Thank you again.
Susan says
This is an amazing forum – thank you all for your ideas. I have an 11-year-old gas stove with a glass cooktop (it’s difficult working around the burners but the principle is the same). I thought I kept my cooktop in fairly good shape but there were spots that were simply dull with baked on areas near the vent in the middle and around the burners that I thought were permanent; even my blade wasn’t doing a great job of removing. (I realize in hindsight I wasn’t using the blade properly.)
Here’s what I learned from you all this morning as I attempted and succeeded in making my cooktop look brand new: I tried the baking soda and vinegar mixture – this works great for frequent spills and routine clean-ups. But because the dull areas were still dull, I switched to Barkeeps Friend, with a little elbow grease, which I’ve been using for years to keep my stainless steel pans spotless. Who knew it also worked on cooktops? Mine gleamed but there were still some small areas that were still dull, lifeless and impossible to clean. I couldn’t figure out why even with Easy-Off sitting for ½ hour some areas still weren’t shining!
I finally went back to my blade. I realized I had been using it the wrong way. First of all, I’d suggest not using a regular razor blade – you don’t get enough traction. Instead, use a retractable blade with a rubber grip and make sure the blade is sharp and not pitted from other household uses. I changed my angle, key to my success. I used the blade nearly upright, only slightly bent and used quite a bit of pressure to scrape off the remaining burned on stuff. I also used it when the stovetop was dry on the areas that had been intractable. The remaining layers of built up grease came up instantly and resembled caramelized sugar. Then the miracle vinegar to shine (Windex is useless) and all is good again in my kitchen. From now on, any of the above products will work like magic, (baking soda + vinegar; Easy-Off; Barkeeps Friend etc.) when used frequently and that is, I think, the key to easy stovetop clean-up. Once burned into the glass, clean-up is much more labor-intense. Thanks for all of the tips.
Deborah says
That’s exactly how I clean my glass top 18 yr old stove. Bar keepers friend and a retractable razor if needed. Been using this method for 18 yrs. and it still looks like new. Just make sure you wipe well with water to get the powder residue off.
Erin Beam says
Barkeepers-powder not liquid, dobie sponge, blade at 45 degrees. Always wipe with a good microfiber cloth (ecloth or Norwex). Affresh stovetop cleaner ( I have my own house cleaning service, this is the best I’ve found) to finish then polish with a glass polishing cloth.
Erin Beam says
Also, windex is useless.
Sparkle glass cleaner is amazing.
Sylvia Craig says
In stead of using a plain razor blade, I had one of those paint removers that you can scrape paint from a window. I bought it at the Dollar store and it also has extra blades in the handle. Works wonders. thanks
Cindy H. says
This worked LIKE A CHARM!! Thank you!
m minnella says
I have something on one of the glass top burner .. it looks like a fog under the glass… when i wipe it down it is gone but the minute its dry its back… any idea what this is ?
Ameera says
I have the same problem! Did you find anything that works?
Sheryl says
I have the same issue. I’ve tried everything, nothing will remove the haze. This is my 4th glass top ra he & I’ve never had this issue before. I am very frustrated.
Danette says
Amazing! When I bought my home, the stove came with it. Not my dream stove but very functional. That being said, the cooktop needed a lot of TLC. I never felt that it was clean enough.
This process was amazing. Took off all of the burn stains and is so shiny. Loved the fact that I had everything on hand and that it is “green”.
Thank you!
Heather says
So just in case anyone else is OCD about trying to wipe up a “boil over mess” immediately while stove is still on, using a sponge…resulting in; sponge melting onto glass Cook-top. The vinegar and baking soda WORKS!
The magic is in applying it, then WAITING for about 10 minutes. Initially I used it and didn’t wait… Wiped it up immediately, and it did not work at all.
Before trying this I used Goo-gone, magic eraser with no results…
Then I went back and reread instructions given in this blog, lol…yippee, good things come to those who wait!
It worked on melted rubber!
Thank you bunches!!!
Tonyette says
Have you ever wondered or looked up what exactly is in envirocloth that makes it antimicrobial for a least 2 yrs. “guaranteed by the manufacturer” ? Im sure, even with those super powers, that this cloth needs to be washed just like any other cleaning cloth or dish rag. What I’m wondering is, what could be in such a cloth and remain in it thru all the use with various cleaners and thru the many normal laundry cycles it would need to go thru in a 2 yr. period and that cloth still have antimicrobial properties. And also why the bacteria or viruses have to be in the cloth over 24hrs before it kills them. Do you ever wonder where all you have smear all this bacteria before its been I the cloth 24hrs in order to be killed ? Im no expert, and don’t claim to no everything, just the opposite. Im really curious to know what type of material has such benefits, ive thought about it really hard and cant think of one thing that’s natural in the “enviro”ment that would have these capabilities. It almost seems unbelievable which make me think to that guarantee mentioned. How exactly would you, an at home consumer be able to measure the amount of bateria killed or picked up or what ever this magical cloth does with them to be able to cash in a guarantee. So its a guarantee for something normal folks wouldn’t know one way or the other and couldn’t prove or disprove one way or the other. That’s an easy guarantee to make. One more thing I wanted to touch on and Im sure most of you know already… White vinegar is absolutely antibacterial and antifungal and it doesn’t take 24hrs. White vinegar kills nearly all household germs, bacteria, molds and mildew. There’s a few bacteria it don’t kill one being staphylococcus. If there is any concern about the very few the vinegar don’t kill you could always wipe those areas with hydrogen peroxide. No glitter, no glam but both natural, both good cleaners, no toxic fumes, safe around kids and pets, biodegradable and completely safe for the local water systems. No promises or guarantees but I’ll take the baking soda and vinegar any day and knowing what I know about vinegar I’d say it works fabulously. I cant wait to try it. So glad to have found your idea. Thanks for sharing.
PattyP says
Clorox brand microbiological cotten duish towels I bought at WalMart are supposed to retain killing power after washing, but only if you follow the washing directions. Guess what? The instructions have you wash them with a boat load of liquid Chlorox along with your detergent to “reactivate” them. Hah! that much bleach does not fully rinse out of them, so some is left in the dishtowels, so they can be called “bacteria kliing”. But like another said, it takes a while to kill it. Any towel would have to be damp to activate the bleach. No cloth of any fiber is antibacterial unless it is either silver impregnated or contains a bacteria killing chemical. The silver impreganted ones are deactivated (I have some for medical use) by bleaching with chlorine, but you must use bleach to remove bacteria, odors, etc. before using again.
spanger says
good grief, get your own blog