How to Safely Clean Your Glass Stovetop
Updated: Jan. 23, 2023Everyone with a glass stovetop faces the dilemma of wanting to clean the surface but not wanting to scratch it. Here are two simple ways to keep your cooktop sparkling.
It never fails. You’ve discovered an amazing five-star pasta recipe that you’re dying to try. You’ve got the prep work done, the beef browned, the ingredients sautéed and you crank up the heat. Next thing you know, someone’s at the door or the phone rings. By the time you hear the hissing on the stovetop, it’s too late. You’ve welded marinara sauce to your beautiful glass stovetop.
Don’t despair. We’re here to help you clean that up!
How to Clean a Glass Stovetop
Method 1: Go Back to Basics
To safely clean your glass cooktop without harsh chemicals, rely on tried-and-true kitchen companions: baking soda and vinegar. (Both are cleaning superstars!)
Begin by making sure that your stovetop is cool. Lightly spray or wipe white vinegar across the surface. This will remove crumbs and other light debris. Next, sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda across the top. Soak an old towel (large enough to cover the stovetop) in hot water; lay it over the baking soda-covered surface. Let rest at least 15 minutes.
Use the towel to wipe away the baking soda—you’ll likely have to rinse your towel and wipe a few times. As a mild abrasive, baking soda will clear away all that gunk and residue, but don’t worry—it’s so mild that it won’t scratch your glass cooking surface at all. When done, rinse thoroughly.
Method 2: All-Purpose Cleaning
The baking soda and vinegar method is an easy way to clean your cooktop with ingredients you already have on hand, but at home, I prefer to clean my stovetop with a non-toxic all-purpose cleaner (I like Green Works, but Method or Seventh Generation products work well, too).
To clean, I spray the cooking surface with a generous amount of the cleaner. Then, using a nylon mesh scrubby, I gently but firmly wipe the glass using circular motions. This generally removes all spills and brown marks. When it doesn’t, I use an old softened scouring pad for the baked-on spots.
Take my advice: Do not use a new scouring pad for this! (It could mark your glass—well-used pads are fine.) When all the goo is gone, rinse well, and dry with soft towel.
With just a few steps, your glass stovetop should be gunk-, goo- and grime-free. Now it’s time to de-grease your oven window!
Plus: How to Repair a Gas Range or an Electric Range
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