Two Homemade Glass Top Stove Cleaners That Work!

When I was looking to remodel my kitchen, I started looking at glass top stoves. It seemed like a no brainer to have an electric cook top that was sealed. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had macaroni boil over.

Because this cooktop was new to me, I knew I had to learn how to treat and how to clean glass stove top properly.

How to Treat a Glass Stove Top

There are several things you should not do if you own a smooth top cooking surface.

• Electric is the only choice for heating your glass stove top. Propane and natural gas can get too hot and crack the top.
• Cast iron cookware can scratch the cook top and shouldn’t be used. The same goes for anything with rough edges, like ceramic.
• Pans with round edges don’t provide even heat distribution. Flat bottom pans are best.
• Avoid using steel wool or other abrasive pads to clean the cook top. These can also cause scratches.
• Sliding or dragging pans across the top can also cause scratches. Pans should be carefully lifted when moved.
• Sugar is an enemy of light colored cook tops. Sugar spills that overheat can cause a yellowish stain that can be near impossible to remove.
• If utensils with food are left on the cook top it can burn onto the top. Things like cheese can stick on and be difficult to remove.
• Do not place hot pans from the oven directly on top of the cook top.

I know I’m guilty of most all of these things with my regular coil stove top.

How to Clean Glass Stove Top Properly

If you clean up every time you use your stove, it’ll be easier to clean the next time.

First, allow your cook top to cool down. Then wipe it off with a damp cloth and a little dish soap if needed. Be sure to remove all of the soap so it doesn’t burn the next time you use the stove.

Cleaner Recipe for Burned on Foods

If you have burned on food, here’s an easy recipe to clean the top:

Ingredients

• 1 cup very warm water, filtered is best
• ¼ cup natural liquid soap of your choice (learn how to make this one)
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Process

Mix all of this together and soak a rag in it. Wring out slightly, but leave fairly wet. Place rag over the burned on food and let sit for 30 minutes or so. Wipe off cook top and reapply if necessary.

You might need to use a scraper, like a glass scraper for paint. Work slowly to avoid scratching the surface.

Cleaner Recipe for Sticky or Scummy Foods

If you have sticky or scummy food on the stovetop, you can make your own abrasive (no-scratch) cleaner.

Ingredients

• ½ cup baking soda
• 1 tablespoon natural liquid soap of your choice
• water, if necessary

Process

Mix baking soda and soap together to make a paste, adding a few drops of water if needed. Apply a small amount to an old rag and work the area in circular motions. With a little bit of elbow grease, you should be able to get most, if not all, of the stuck on food off of the top.

Additional Notes & Ideas

If nothing else, you can use a softer abrasive pad (like this). The key is to work slowly and keep a soft hand. (Heavy action could scratch the top. And a scratched top is more likely to crack.)

Don’t turn to window cleaners with ammonia, although it may seem like the right thing to do given the glass top. Ammonia can be an irritant if it becomes airborne and it may not actually help remove stuck on food.

In the end, you don’t need to use a “certified glass cook top polish.” These are sold to make money for the seller. A simple wipe-up with a microfiber cloth will do the same job.

Now that you know how to clean glass stove top, enjoy cooking on it and cleaning it the right way!

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