It seems like every new stove that comes out these days comes equipped with a glass top, and for good reason. Glass tops are more efficient than traditional coil burners, use less energy, and are easier to clean right after use. Not only that, but they are certainly more aesthetically pleasing than the ugly metal coils found on older oven units.

However, it’s not all sunshine and roses for owners of glass stove top ovens. If not cleaned regularly, they can accrue quite a bit of burned-on grease, food particles, and water marks over time. Once these stains start to leave their mark, they can become difficult to get rid of using the usual method of a wet rag and a little elbow grease.

So how do you handle long-term stains on your glass top oven once they become too hard to simply wipe off? Sparkle & Shine Cleaning Services would love to help you out with this handy guide!

What You’ll Need

Before starting the cleaning process, make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need to get the job done as quickly as possible. You’ll want to have:

A razor scraper or putty knife
Baking soda
Distilled white vinegar
A spray bottle
A couple soft towels or washcloths
Melamine foam pads

In addition to the items listed above, you might want to purchase a bottle of professional glass stove top cleaner in case the technique detailed in this blog doesn’t work to get rid of the tougher stains. Don’t worry, later on we’ll tell you what to do next if that turns out to be the case.

Before starting on your cleaning journey, make sure the oven is turned off and the stove top is completely cool. A heated stove top will only inhibit your progress and make the job a lot harder than it needs to be.

Step 1

If your stove top has an abundance of thicker sediment on it, you’ll want to remove as much of this as possible before you start anything else. Take a razor scraper or thin putty knife and, with even motions, gently scrape the burnt material off. To avoid scratching the glass, concentrate on one spot at a time instead of running the razor over the entire stain in one fell swoop.

Wipe off the loose material with a cloth and use a dry melamine foam pad (Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser is a good choice) to rub out the remaining stains. You won’t need to use too much pressure, as these pads are designed to remove stains with a minimum level of effort.

For tougher deposits of crust, spray some vinegar on the surface and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Afterwards, try scraping if off again. If this doesn’t work, you may have to resort to more extreme measures that we’ll cover further down in this blog.

Step 2

Sprinkle baking soda over the stove top, making sure to cover all the areas that are affected by stains and burn marks. You can use a pepper shaker or parmesan cheese container to spread the baking soda more evenly over the surface. Don’t worry about using too much — the more you use, the more you are guaranteed to cover all affected areas of the glass.

Using your spray bottle, wet the entire surface with distilled white vinegar. Make sure to use enough to leave a nice, foamy film on the glass top. Let this mixture sit for 15-20 minutes before moving on to the next step.

Step 3

Wipe down the baking soda/vinegar combination with a moist towel or washcloth. Make sure to rinse and wring the towel frequently to get rid of any excess mixture. Keep wiping until the stove top is as clean and clear of the mixture as you can get it.

Once you’re done cleaning off the glass top, inspect it to make sure you didn’t miss any of the more stubborn stains. If any remain, spray a little vinegar on them and gently scrape them off with the razor.

Step 4

You’re almost done! The final step is to wipe off any remaining baking soda and vinegar with a clean, moist towel. For more tenacious streaks, use a little dish soap and water. Once this step is complete, you should have a nice, stain-free glass stove top ready for use.

What About Tougher Stains?

Depending on how long your stove top has gone without a good cleaning, the stains may be a little more difficult to get out. As handy as glass cooktops are, they tend to “collect” stains and burns if you ignore them for too long, hardening them into an almost-impervious crust as the burners below the glass heat up over long periods of use.

If the steps listed above don’t work for your glass stove top, you can try using a professional glass cleaner made specifically to target burned-on stains and food particles. Check your oven’s user manual for any particular brand the manufacturer might suggest, or head to your local home improvement store for advice on which glass cleaner brand will work for your situation.

For best results, follow the directions on the bottle. Generally, these products come in a cream-based solution, which is perfect for soaking burns and stains and loosening them up enough to polish off with a scrubbing pad (usually included when you buy the cleaner). The process is pretty simple: apply the cream in an even coating, let it sit for 15-30 minutes, and then use the scrubbing pad to rub off any remaining stains. Cleanup is achieved by wiping the leftover cream off with a wet towel.

What About Impossible Stains?

If you’ve tried all of the above and still can’t get those troublesome marks off of your glass stove top, it’s time to call in the experts. Any professional cleaning service worth its weight in gold will have enough skill to handle a stingy, crusty glass top. When you’re out of options when it comes to your oven, give your local cleaning company a call, and they’ll be glad to give you a helping hand!

For The Worst Stains On Your Stove Or In Your Home, Call Sparkle & Shine Cleaning Services

Not only can Sparkle & Shine Cleaning Services get your glass stove top looking brand new, they can clean the rest of your house too! With years of experience in both residential cleaning and commercial cleaning projects, the folks at Sparkle & Shine can offer you the most professional, courteous, and expedient cleaning services in the New York Tri-State area.

How To Clean A Glass Stove Top