How to Clean Your Cooktop or Stove Top

If you don’t have a specialized glass cooktop cleaner on hand, you can make your own. Fill a spray bottle with one cup of water, one cup of white vinegar and a half teaspoon of dish soap with a degreaser. Shake to combine the ingredients.

Spray your homemade cleaning solution, cooktop cleaner or all-purpose cleaner onto the cooktop. Use a non-abrasive sponge to remove grease and grime, wiping in a circular motion.

Using a well-rinsed sponge, wipe the cooktop to remove the cleaning solution. Make sure all residue is completely gone so it doesn’t bake onto the cooktop the next time you use it. Dry with a microfiber cloth.

For areas where burned-on food hasn’t come off with the above cleaning method, use a cooktop scraper at a 45-degree angle to remove the stubborn residue. Once the mess is gone, use your homemade cleaning solution or other cooktop cleaner to clean the surface. Rinse away the solution and dry with a microfiber cloth.

Wipe the coils using a damp cloth and dish soap. For sections of the coils that may be harder to clean with a cloth, an old toothbrush can help get into those spaces. Rinse out the cloth until there’s no more soap in it and use it to wipe away the soapy residue. Let the burner air dry.

For tougher messes, loosen baked-on food with a plastic scraper. Then gently scrub using your cooktop cleaner, using a toothbrush to help if needed. Completely wipe off the coil and allow the burner to air dry.

Remove the drip pans, dump out any food remnants and wash them in the sink with soap and water. Dry them off before putting them back on your cooktop. If your drip pans are not removeable, clean them with a cloth and soapy water, wipe away the soap and dry them.

Use a sponge or cloth and soap and water to clean the surface of your cooktop. A specialized cooktop cleaner or your homemade cleaner can also be used and can help remove more stubborn stains.

Put the drip pans back in place and carefully reattach the coils.

Carefully remove the cooking grates and the burner caps. You may need to use a screwdriver to take the burner caps off. Set them aside to be washed.

Fill your kitchen sink with hot, soapy water and place the grates and burner caps in the water. Let them soak for at least 20 minutes. A non-toxic degreaser will also work for this part. Use a non-abrasive sponge to clean them off. For stubborn, stuck-on food, try a plastic scraper to remove it, then rinse the grates off with warm water and dry them with a soft, dry cloth.

Before applying your cleaning solution, use a dry cloth or paper towel to remove any dried food and other particles from the cooktop. Make sure the fuel ports are free of any blockages. To clear any blockages, use a straight pin or needle to carefully unblock the port. Do not enlarge or distort the port.

Use a damp non-abrasive sponge or a microfiber cloth with dish soap to clean the cooktop, wiping in circular motions. An appropriate cooktop cleaner can be used here as well. To more easily clean grooves and around control knobs, use an old toothbrush. For more stubborn mess removal, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of half vinegar and half water. Spritz it on the cooktop and let it sit for at least 15 minutes, then wipe away with a sponge.

Rinse off the cleaning solution with water using a clean sponge or cloth until all soap is gone. Dry with a clean cloth.

Making sure that your grates and burner caps are completely dry, reattach them to your cooktop.