How to Clean Stove Top Surfaces (For Any Type You Have!)
Table of Contents
- Things You'll Want to Have
- Cleaning a Glass Stove Top
- Cleaning an Induction Stove Top
- Cleaning a Gas Stove Top
- Cleaning Stainless Steel Cooktops
- How to Clean Stove Grates Properly
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Bother Cleaning Your Stove Top Regularly?
If you’re like my family and you cook at home a lot, stovetops are like camping spots for grease and grime. I personally love frying eggs, making pasta, and cooking all sorts of things, so I know how bad it can get.
We give our stove a quick wipe after every meal, and honestly, even that feels like it’s not enough sometimes. I'm not here to judge. I just know how messy it gets when it stays untouched for weeks. I've seen it firsthand from my shared accommodation experiences.
Some simple benefits of a clean cooktop:
- It looks better (especially when it’s glass or stainless steel)
- The appliance lasts longer
- It distributes heats more efficiently
- And it doesn’t bombard your kitchen with smoke every time you cook.
It’s kind of like brushing your teeth. Do a bit each day and you’ll never have to deal with any major problems.
Things You’ll Want to Have
- Microfibre cloth or paper towels
- Some of our natural cleaning liquid or a gentle cleaning product of your choice.
- Non-scratch pads or a dish brush
- A spray bottle
- A plastic knife
While it might be tempting to use steel wool on grease-covered grates, there's a better way to deal with this. More on that later.
Cleaning a Glass Stove Top
Glass cooktops look great but can be pretty unforgiving. The tradeoff for the looks is every scratch and mark shows clearly under the overhead lights. That’s why it’s best to stick with soft and gentle products like the item list suggests.
Let it fully cool down
Heat causes the glass to expand, so wiping too soon adds pressure that it might not be able to handle.
Here’s what’s actually happening. When glass heats up, its molecules vibrate faster and spread apart. This causes the material to expand through a process called thermal expansion. If you wipe it or cool it too fast while it's still hot, that added stress can push the glass to micro-crack.
Pre-treat tough stains
Spray your diluted cleaner directly onto the crusted-up spills. Then place a warm, damp towel over the spot for 5 minutes. This a reliable way to soften any residue while promising no scratches. Remove the towel and wipe gently as you normally would. The stuff should come off like a breeze.
Spot-clean carefully
Do this as a last resort. Bring out a plastic birthday cake knife for food that’s really stuck on. Use the edge at a tilted angle and always push away from yourself in small, steady strokes to poke at the grease.
Give it one final polish
Spray across the surface again, then clean everything down with microfibre. If the first cloth gets damp, switch to a second one to avoid streaking.
Maintenance tip
Even if you're just pan-frying an egg, try to do a brief do-over once you're done. Spray your cloth with a touch of cleaner (just enough so it’s not dry) and give the stove a quick gloss over.
Cleaning an Induction Stove Top
Induction tops look like glass, but they use electromagnetic waves to heat everything. The surface of the stove itself doesn’t get hot, so any food you spill generally won’t burn on or harden. Still though, there are some rules that are unique to induction tops that you'll want to know.
Switch it off, or unplug it if it’s a portable cooker
Even though the surface doesn’t get hot, it can still activate with pressure or moisture on contact. So it's best to err on the side of caution.
Wipe off crumbs or residue with a damp cloth
There isn’t anything too major here. Just make sure you don’t let moisture build up near touch controls or at the frame edges. Some units aren’t waterproof all-round and water seeping into wiring is never ideal.
Use your diluted cleaner for greasy spots
You want your cleaner directly onto greasy smears. Give it 30 seconds to a minute to break any oils down, then wipe down with your microfibre cloth.
For stubborn patches, soften it first. Don’t rush into wiping
Spray the spot again and lay a warm, damp cloth over for about 5 minutes. Induction cooktops don’t burn anything in, but sauces and oils can still dry and become culprits. Let the warmth of the towel do the work, then lift it up and dry everything gently with a clean cloth.
Maintenance tip
Induction stoves show fingerprints and smears easily, especially around the touch controls. Keeping these clean ensures sensors stay responsive and don't glitch out randomly.
Cleaning a Gas Stove Top
Gas stoves need a bit more work. You’ve got burners, grates, and grooves that attract spills like crazy. Some models even have lids that open, similar to a car bonnet. If yours does, crack it open and clean under as well. That hidden spot collects all sorts of crumbs and grease most people never see.
Make sure all the burners are switched off and the stove has completely cooled
Gas stoves hold onto heat longer than you think, especially the grates themselves. Remove the grates and burner caps and soak these in hot soapy water. While these soak, deal with the rest of the stove. You can make the soapy mix with just a few pumps of cleaning liquid and a sink stopper.
Wipe off debris from the surface with a dry cloth
If your model lifts open, now's your time. Take care of the hidden crumbs that fall underneath through the openings.
Spray your cleaner directly onto greasy spots
It’s okay to go around the burners, but avoid spraying too much liquid into the ports. If your stove lifts up, don’t forget to spray the underside too. It often needs a few minutes to loosen up grime before any wiping you do becomes effective.
Use a microfibre cloth to scrub at the surfaces
For trickier spots, fold the cloth or use the cloth corner to get into the grooves. Stubborn stains are normal, but they’re easy if you let the cleaner work on them first.
Dry everything thoroughly, especially under the burners
Undried moisture can cause rust or affect how well your burners light up. Use a dry microfibre cloth or kitchen towel to get into every nook and cranny.
Rinse and dry
After soaking, rinse the grates and dry them with a cloth before returning them. You can let them air dry fully if you have time, but wiping speeds it up and helps prevent rust.
Maintenance tip
If your flame lights unevenly, clear the burner holes with a pin. And remember,, wiping down your stove after each meal keeps grease from building up.
Cleaning Stainless Steel Cooktops
Most people don’t realise stainless steel has a subtle grain going in one direction. If you wipe with the grain, it avoids streaks, scratches and keeps the steel smoother for longer.
For smudges and light mess
Spray your cleaner directly onto a cloth (not on the stovetop surface) and wipe along the grain.
If there’s grease
Spray more generously for a thorough clean. You can use more pressure here compared to the other tops as stainless steel is much more durable.
Rinse with a clean damp cloth
This helps avoid any soapy streaks that your cleaner might have left behind.
Dry straight after
Any soft towel will do. You can go with microfibre if you’d like as you have more flexibility with stainless tops. This just keeps water away so your cooktop retains its aesthetics.
Maintenance tip for ongoing shine
Following the grain, you can buff in a drop of olive oil with a dry cloth. This really brings out the glimmer so your appliance can look its best. Do this once a week or fortnightly based on how often you cook. Avoid bleach and ammonia as they're among the few things that actually stain stainless steel.
How to Clean Stove Grates Properly
Stove grates can get completely caked in grease over time. Here's the method to fix these as promised:
Soak in hot, soapy solution for 30 minutes
Fill your sink with hot water and a few pumps of multi-purpose concentrate. If you have to, you can go with dishwash liquid, but it’s not as healthy to be around. If you’re using dish liquid, you likely also need some baking soda in there to up the cleaning power. Let the grates soak so the grease and food residues become easier to work with.
Scrub with a non-scratch pad or a dish brush
Go over each grate using your tool, focusing on the corners, grooves, and the underside.
Rinse and dry
Rinse well with warm water so that the oils are stripped. Then either towel dry or air dry. Air drying is better because you achieve complete dryness before putting them back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Glass Cooktops
What should I do if food is stuck to the surface?
Spray your cleaner, and then apply a warm damp towel for 5 minutes. This has a softening effect. If this doesn't work, employ a plastic birthday cake knife. Push away from yourself at an angle.
Is it safe to clean while the glass is warm?
No. Wait until it cools down. Wiping too soon can trigger thermal stress, which leads to cracking or smearing.
Induction Cooktops
Do I need to unplug the unit before cleaning?
Yes, especially for portable models. Moisture or pressure on the surface can activate it without you meaning to.
My cooktop looks clean. Do I still need to wipe it?
You should. Bacteria isn’t always visible to the naked eye, and oils and fingerprints can build up regardless. Keeping the touch panel clean also prevent technical issues.
Gas Stovetops
Why does my gas flame look yellow or uneven?
That usually means burner holes are blocked or the cap isn’t fully dry. Let everything cool, then use a pin to clear out any unwanted material.
Should I lift the stovetop to clean underneath?
If your model allows it, definitely. Most people forget about that spot entirely. Crumbs and oil love to collect there and breed bacteria, so it's definitely worth doing.
Can I air dry the grates?
Yes. Towel drying is quicker, but air drying ensures no moisture remains, which helps prevent rust.
Stainless Steel Cooktops
Why wipe with the grain?
Stainless steel has a directional grain. Wiping with it keeps the finish smooth and avoids fine scratching.
Can I apply cleaner directly to the surface?
It’s better to spray your cloth first. This helps control the amount and avoids buildup that streaks when it dries.
How do I get that polished look back?
Buff in a tiny bit of olive oil using a dry cloth, following the grain. This revives the shine in a natural, non-toxic way.
Stove Grates
How often should I deep-clean the grates?
It depends on how often you cook and what actually happens during your cooking sessions. I usually just eyeball it. If it looks bad, it probably is. That’s generally been reliable for me.
Can I use steel wool on grates?
I’d strongly advise against it. It’s too harsh and can damage the enamel. Stick with non-scratch pads or dish brushes that you're certain won’t do any harm.
Key Takeaway
Every stovetop is unique. Whether it’s glass, induction, gas, or a stainless setup, the key is not letting things get out of hand. As they say, prevention is always better than cure — and this couldn’t be more true when it comes to stovetops.
Keep the Kitchen Cleaning Going
Now that your stove’s sorted, it’s the perfect time to knock off a few other quick kitchen clean-ups:
Let's start right underneath with oven glass panels. These usually need some work between the panes.
Similarly, oven trays aren't let off easy either. And they're easy to forget about after just a few cookie bakes.
Rangehood filters are no different. A few oily fries and you'll be greased up before you know it.
Wooden chopping boards can get really dirty too. Let’s make sure they’re safe to use again after cutting meat.
And lastly, don’t forget about your kettle once in a while. They might be sitting in the corner, but they too need some love.
