How to Clean a Glass Stovetop

Person wearing a pink rubber glove cleaning a black stovetop with a cloth
A smooth glass stovetop is an attractive choice for your modern kitchen, but unfortunately, repeated spillovers while cooking may have turned your once-pristine stovetop into a grimy eyesore. If now is the time to clean up unsightly spots of burnt food before that special someone comes over for dinner, here’s what you need to know to clean a glass stovetop.

How to Clean a Glass Stovetop

It’s important to clean a glass stovetop with care to prevent scratching or discoloring the cooking surface. Just follow these steps for deep cleaning a glass stovetop to remove burnt-on food:

  • Make sure the stovetop has cooled completely since the last time you used it.
  • Dampen a microfiber cloth with white vinegar and wipe down the glass surface to remove loose chunks of food.
  • Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over the entire stovetop.
  • Cover the surface with an old towel dampened with hot water. Leave it for 15 minutes to loosen any stubborn spots.
  • Scrub the surface with the towel until there is no baking soda left on the stove.
  • If burnt-on food or liquid is still present, carefully scrape the glass surface with a metal spatula. Hold it at a 45-degree angle and use slow, gentle strokes to loosen the most stubborn debris.
  • Finish up by wiping the glass surface with a damp microfiber cloth to make it shine.

Cleaning a Glass Stovetop to Prevent Unsightly Spots

With a little effort on a daily basis, you can keep your glass stovetop looking like new with less frequent deep cleaning required. The trick is to keep the surface clean between cleanings by wiping up messes as they happen. Here’s what we suggest:

  • Apply a few drops of ceramic stovetop cleaning cream or spray the surface with glass cleaner or white vinegar.
  • Wipe the stovetop with a clean, non-abrasive microfiber cloth or paper towel to remove food particles and degrease the glass.
  • Grab a second, clean cloth or paper towel and buff the glass to remove cleaning residue from the surface. There’s no need to rinse.

Preventing Damage from Future Spillovers or Melted Plastic

Leaving a sugary spill to solidify on your glass stovetop is one of the worst things you can do. The other is to accidentally set a plastic container on the cooking surface while it’s still hot, melting the plastic in the process. To combat these problems, follow our advice:

  • Immediately turn off all cook units and set hot pans aside on potholders.
  • Put on an oven mitt to protect your hands and grab your trusty metal spatula.
  • While it’s still hot and malleable, carefully scrape as much of the spill or melted plastic as possible to a cool area of the stovetop. Promptly wipe away the mess with a damp paper towel and throw it in the trash.
  • Leave any remaining stuck-on debris until the cooking surface cools completely. Then, before using the stovetop again, follow the tips above for deep cleaning the glass surface to remove burnt-on food. Your quick response should eliminate the debris before it has a chance to get any worse.

Now that you know how to clean a glass stovetop, learn how to clean a glass oven door so you can keep this kitchen appliance looking great for many years to come. Molly Maid has more kitchen cleaning tips to help you keep your own house clean, or you can arrange for professional house cleaning services near you. Contact your local Molly Maid today for a free estimate!