For those with newer kitchen appliances or stovetops, you may have discovered that a glass stovetop requires different cleaning and maintenance than your normal range. Normal stovetop ranges are often covered in painted aluminum or stainless steel and are typically easy to clean or wipe down no matter what you might get on them.
With a glass stove top, it requires a different maintenance routine when compared to a traditional stovetop.
Here’s what you need to know about cleaning glass stovetops.
First, What Are Glass Stovetops?
A glass stovetop is actually a blend of ceramic and glass.
The main difference between a glass stovetop and a traditional cooktop is the way they generate heat. A glass cooktop remains cooler during the cooking process. A glass stove also cools faster than traditional cooktops once they are turned off.
Compared to traditional ranges that utilize either gas flame or electric coils to produce heat, glass stovetops will conduct heat from underneath either via conduction heating or electricity.
Why Are Glass Stovetops Harder To Clean?
There are a few reasons why glass stovetops are harder to clean.
The main reason is that they cool quickly once they are turned off. Because the stove cools quickly, the gunk on top of the stove also hardens quickly. It is harder to clean this surface once it has cooled. That’s the real reason that they seem harder to clean than more traditional stovetops.
Below are a few tips that can help you clean a glass stovetop.
Supplies Needed to Clean a Glass Stovetop
If you are looking for supplies to clean your glass induction stove, you probably already have most of them in your kitchen. The best option is to use good old vinegar.
Vinegar is inexpensive and can remove grease that is caked onto the top of the stove without damaging the surface of your cook top or by using harsh chemcials. You simply need to fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spray your stove with it. You can even attach a spray nozzle directly to your vinegar bottle.
Then, go to work and spray down your cooktop. Once you have soaked your stove, use a damp towel or microfiber cloth to finish the process.
Here are supplies you can use to clean your glass stovetop:
- Microfiber cloth
- Glass-safe stovetop cleaner (we recommend distilled vinegar)
- Glass cleaner
- Scrub pad (for really caked on grime)
How to Properly Clean Your Glass Stovetop
You also need to clean your glass stovetop regularly regardless of how often you clean it.
- Step 1: Before you start cleaning your cooktop, you should read the manufacturer’s guide to make sure you follow all precautions just in case your particular stovetop is unique or requires special ingredients
- Step 2: Turn your stovetop off and remove all pots and pans
- Step 3: Allow your stovetop to cool before you spray on your cleaner
- Step 4: Once your stovetop has cooled (usually 5 – 10 minutes) spray on your stovetop cleaner. For most grease and grime, a natural cleaner like vinegar should suffice. If you have an especially burned stovetop, you may want to get some hot water and allow that part of the stovetop to soak for a while.
- Step 5: Using a microfiber cloth, wipe down your stovetop and aim to remove all grease and grime from the top and the edges. For more caked on stuff, use a scrub pad to break it up and then spray and wipe down.
- Step 6: Assuming that you’ve completely cleaned your stovetop and its cooled down, give it a once over with a glass cleaner to give it that sparkle and shine.
One of the best ways to make sure that your stovetop is always clean is to quickly clean up spills when they happen. Stay away from the particularly hot parts of the stovetop, but it should be safe to clean the non-heated parts.
As an added safety measure, make sure you stay away from any particularly strong chemical-based cleaners. The ammonia that is present in a lot of these products could damage your glass stovetop. You will also spray those chemicals into the air, which could harm your indoor air quality.
Working with a Professional Cleaning Service
If you find yourself constantly cleaning your kitchen and don’t want to mess with it anymore, hire a professional cleaning service to help you out.
At Maid Zen, we include kitchen cleaning services as part of our overall house cleaning and housekeeping services. Get in touch with us today for a free quote!
