AD It Yourself

How to Clean a Glass Stove Top—And Keep It Grime-Free for Days

All you ever wanted to know about how to clean your glass stove top is right here
How to Clean a Glass Stove Top With These Easy DIY Cleaning Tips | Architectural Digest
Illustration: Julia Abbonizio/Getty Images

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How to clean your glass stove top without wasting the weekend scrubbing? It’s actually pretty easy. Cleaning the scorched and burned spots on a glass stove top doesn’t have to be exhausting or time-consuming—you already spend a lot of time in your kitchen. Channel your DIY spirit with these handy cleaning tips to keep your glass stove top in pristine shape week after week.

When polishing up your glass stove, most experts recommend similar cleaning techniques. The key, however, is to make sure you’re preventing buildup and preserving your glass surface. Auri Kananen, a TikTok cleaning sensation from Pirkanmaa, Finland, proudly proclaims herself as the “queen of cleaning.” In her videos, she aims to motivate people on social media to take care of their items and homes. Naturally, she has great tips when it comes to cleaning and protecting your glass stove top.

How should you clean your glass stove top?

Kananen recommends an easy and accessible cleaning method for cleaning your glass cooktop daily. She says wiping the glass surface with a damp microfiber cloth after you cook is a great way to stay on top of your cleaning routine. This method will get rid of any food splatter and makes for easy cleanup later.

What You’ll Need:
  1. Microfiber cloths
  2. Non-abrasive sponge
  3. Dish soap
  4. Power Paste
  5. Bar Keepers Friend Multipurpose Cooktop Cleaner
  6. Mr. Clean MagicEraser
  7. Scraper
  8. Distilled white vinegar
  9. Baking soda
Method 1: Daily cleaning

Kananen recommends an easy and accessible cleaning method for cleaning your cooktop. According to her, it comes down to cleaning whenever you cook—which may vary from home to home. “If you cook every day, you should wipe it every day,” she says. Try to get into the habit of wiping down your burners once they cool (we don’t want any accidents) to prevent any hardened oils or food. You’ll thank yourself later!

  1. Kananen recommends wiping the glass surface with a damp microfiber cloth, which will ensure there are no streaks or pieces of fuzz from a paper towel or tissue.
  2. You can add some dish soap to add some extra oomph as needed.

Simple, right? This method is surprisingly the best way to clean your glass stove top and will get rid of any food splatter and make for easy cleanup later.

Method 2: Weekly cleaning

You can use an oven cleaner and some elbow grease to clean the glass stove and get the gunk off. A glass stove top cleaner can also get rid of buildup and polish the glass stove surface.

  1. Start by prepping the surface by wiping it down with a non-abrasive sponge or a damp microfiber cloth as you would daily.
  2. Use your commercial cleaner as directed.
  3. Wipe the surface clean with a dry microfiber cloth.
Method 3: Scrape stubborn stains

Your glass cooktop should be cleaned very often. It’s one of the busiest and most used items in your kitchen. Kananen recommends using a scraper every so often to prevent gunk and marks from getting out of hand, leaving you with a gruesome glass stove top that is far from stellar. “Usually, people think that the detergent matters the most, but what’s just as important is the tools you’re working with, because the two work together,” she explains.

  1. Add some dish soap and spread it with a non-abrasive sponge, like a Scrub Daddy. “Dish soap helps the scraper to glide better,” Kananen says.
  2. Scrape the surface following the instructions with your chosen device.
  3. Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth and then with a dry one so there are no streaks or product left.

Once a month do a full stove, grates, and countertop deep-cleaning routine that will tackle stubborn splatters with a spritz of a commercial or DIY cleaning solution. You should also consider throwing in a thorough cleanse of your dishwasher while maintaining a clean glass stove top.

Preventing scratches and damage on a glass stove tops

Many people don’t realize that glass stove tops can be as finicky as cast iron. It’s important to avoid any harsh chemicals that could scratch, wear away, or leave residue on your glass surface. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions while preparing to clean your stove top. For example, you may want to pass on a razor blade or scrubber if it would leave scratches or nicks in your specific glass stove top. You also want to make sure you aren’t using any toxic cleaners near your food surface. Avoid Windex and other glass cleaners because they can damage your clean glass stove top and release ammonia. Stick to the cooktop cleaners that target maintaining the shiny black glass of your stove.

Steel wool scrubbers are another big no-no when it comes to stove cleaning since the rough texture can damage delicate glass and leave marks. Even fine metallic textures, like Brillo pads, can mess with the glass stove top.

How do you clean a burnt glass stove top?

If the surface of the stove has stubborn stains and needs a heavy-duty cleaning, use dish soap and spread it around in circular motions with a scrubber or scrub brush. Kananen likes to use her Scrub Daddy. She then uses a razor blade to scrape the entire surface to remove stubborn stains. “Many people are afraid to use the scraper,” Kananen says. “But it’s an important tool for burnt stains.”

Lastly, she wipes the glass cooktop with a damp microfiber cloth (wring out any excess water before using it). The damp cloth will get rid of any extra grime. Once the entire surface is dry, you can scrape off any remaining stains or burns. To round it off, rub the surface with a dry cloth to banish any remaining debris and streaks. Repeat as necessary.

How do you get stubborn marks off a glass stove top?

Use an oven cleaner and some elbow grease to clean the glass stove and get the gunk off. A cleaning product like Power Paste can get rid of buildup and polish the glass stove surface. Otherwise, stick to common cleaning items like baking soda and white vinegar. “Usually, people think that the detergent matters the most, but what’s just as important is the tools you’re working with because the two work together,” Kananen says. Keep in mind that extra grime and stubborn stains will have to face some sort of scraper or razor blade.

What is the best cleaner for glass stove tops?

Even if you don’t know anything about how to clean a glass stove top, know that you can’t go wrong with dish soap. “Dish soap helps the scraper to glide better,” Kananen says. Since the sudsy cleaner can be used in other rooms of the house, consider buying it in bulk on Amazon. Cleaning aficionados swear by these stove top cleaners: Bar Keepers Friend Multipurpose Cooktop cleaner and Mr. Clean MagicEraser for their finesse when it comes to getting rid of grime. You’ll also want to have spray bottles, scrapers, scouring pads, and soft cloths on hand.

What should you not use on a glass stove top?

Many people don’t realize that glass stove tops can be as finicky as cast iron. It’s important to avoid any harsh chemicals that could scratch, wear away, or leave residue on your glass surface. You want to make sure you aren’t using any toxic cleaners near your food surface either. Avoid Windex and other glass cleaners, because they can actually damage your clean glass stove top and release ammonia. Stick to the cooktop cleaners that target the shiny black glass of your stove.

Steel wool scrubbers are another big no-no when it comes to stove cleaning since the rough texture can damage the delicate glass and leave marks. Even fine metallic texture, like Brillo pads, can mess with the glass stove top.

How often should you clean your glass stove top?

Your glass cooktop should be cleaned very often. It’s one of the busiest and most used items in your kitchen. According to Kananen, it really comes down to cleaning whenever you cook. “If you cook every day, you should wipe it every day,” she says. Kananen recommends using a scraper at least once a week to prevent gunk and marks from getting out of hand, leaving you with a gruesome glass stove top that is far from stellar. Once a month do a full stove, grates, and countertop deep-cleaning routine that will tackle stubborn splatters with a spritz of a DIY cleaning solution.

How do I get brown stains off my glass stove top?

One of the best steps is prevention! Make sure you take that extra moment to wipe down your glass stove top after it cools down (and before you go to your next task and forget about it). This will stop food and oils from hardening and staying put. But, alas, we’re all human. If you’re stuck, no worries, you can use some baking soda and white vinegar to help clear off stubborn stains in a jiffy. Spray some of the vinegar and sprinkle the baking soda on top. Let this handy combo sit under a hot towel for a few minutes—up to a full 15. Then, wipe away the DIY cleaner with a microfiber towel. You can even borrow some of these clean glass cooktop hacks for your oven. You don’t always need to grab fancy cleaning products—try your hand at what you have in your kitchen already.

How do you clean a black glass stove top?

You can opt for the above mentioned Bar Keepers Friend Multipurpose Cooktop Cleaner or a DIY mixture to clean up your stove top and avoid any unwanted scratching or abrasion. Remember, you must avoid glass cleaners and steel wool scrubbers when you wipe down the surface, regardless! When in doubt, you can always search up what cleaning supplies and methods work best for your stove top’s make and model online.