The Best Way To Clean A Cooktop

Posted on July 26th, 2021

There’s no way around it - cooktops get messy. From pasta boiling over to sauces splattering out, it doesn’t take long for your cooktop to become a grimy mess. Throw in a hot surface for the foods to splatter onto and you suddenly have a baked-on mess. The best way to keep your cooktop clean is to wipe it up right away. However, that isn’t always possible and it isn’t always enough. Here we discuss the best methods of cleaning up your cooktop to help you maintain a clean cooktop that will last.

Step 1. Remove Coils, Drip Pans, & Grates
Coils, drip pans, and grates can become covered in oils and other spills that are difficult to see. To clean them up, fill up your sink with warm water mixed with gentle dish soap. Then remove coils, drips pans, grates, and anything that is removable on your cooktop to soak in the sink while you focus on cleaning up your cooktop.

Step 2. Remove All Debris.
Food can get caught under coils and grates. Before you use your cooktop again, immediately remove any food debris before they become burnt to a crisp, causing either smoke throughout your kitchen or even worse, a fire hazard.

Step 3. Spray With A Gentle Cleanser
While there are plenty of oven cleaners on the market, they can be heavy with chemicals and leave behind an unwanted residue. It’s best to start with a gentle cleanser you know will be safe. White vinegar or a combo of vinegar and baking soda are great options for any cooktop, especially for glass cooktops, and they do a decent job at cutting through grease. Spray any mess or water stain with a generous amount of vinegar and let it rest for a few minutes.

Step 4. Let Heat Do Its Job
As tempting as it may be, it’s important not to use an abrasive cleaner to try to tear through those tough messes. Steel wool and rugged scrubbers can accidentally leave behind small scratches to your cooktop surface. It’s better to soak a soft cloth in warm water and rest it on top of where you sprayed the vinegar.

Step 5. Clean your coils, drip pans, and grates.
While you wait for the vinegar and wet cloth to work its magic, return to the sink to wash your coils, drip pans, and grates. Now is a good time to evaluate if you need to replace any drip pans that may have rusted through or have too much staining. Since these items are made out of metal, you can use a gentle scrubber to attack any tough messes that can’t just be wiped away. Set aside to dry.

Step 6. Wipe & Dry
Now that your tough messes have soaked in vinegar under a warm, wet cloth, they should be easy to wipe away. Wipe away all messes and use a polishing rag to dry and make your cooktop shine. You can also spray.

Step 7. Put Items Back
Now that your accessories have dried, it’s time to put them back on your cooktop, take a step back, evaluate how beautiful your cooktop looks, and quietly promise yourself you’ll never let it get that bad again.

Is it time for a new cooktop? At Bray & Scarff, we offer a huge selection of cooktops and ranges from some of the best brands on the market. Shop online 24/7 here or visit your nearest Bray & Scarff to meet with our appliance experts to find the perfect cooktop for your home and cooking style.