How to Clean a Glass Stovetop to Make It Look Brand-New

Photo via Deirdre Sullivan

When to Clean Your Glass Stovetop

The perfect time to clean your glass stovetop is after each use. While this may sound like just another chore on your endless to-do list, quickly wiping down your glass stovetop at the end of a cooking session will cause less food buildup, therefore, minimizing the need for deep cleans.

Be sure to wait until the surface has completely cooled before cleaning it. Failing to do so could lead to unnecessary burns, damages to your sponge or washcloth, or leave unsightly spots or streaks on the glass top surface.

If you get busy or simply forget to wipe it down after making a meal, you’ll want to deep clean as soon as you start noticing food spills and splatters.

Can You Use Windex on a Glass Stovetop?

No. There are plenty of products out there that are perfectly safe to use on your glass stovetop, but household glass cleaners like Windex are not one of them. Windex contains ammonia and spraying it on your glass top stove can lead to permanent stains and streaking. Plus, it can actually etch the surface of your glass stovetop. 

How to Clean a Glass Stovetop

There are many different ways to clean a glass stovetop that are both quick and effective. By using all-natural products or those made specifically for cleaning glass stovetops, you can keep your stove looking just as good as the day you installed it. 

The best way to clean a glass stovetop is to let it cool down then wipe it after each use. Vinegar is extremely acidic so it can dissolve dirt, grease, food particles, and sticky residues without causing any damage to the glass.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Rubber gloves
• Spray bottle
• Vinegar
• Sponge or washcloth

Step 1: Put Rubber Gloves On

To keep your skin protected from any minor redness and irritation caused by vinegar, always be sure to wear rubber gloves before you begin any cleaning project.

Step 2: Pour Vinegar Into a Spray Bottle

Next, fill an empty spray bottle up with vinegar.

Step 3: Spray Vinegar Onto Surface

Spray vinegar onto the surface of your glass stovetop. Just be sure not to get too carried away; it only takes a few sprays to cover the entire surface.

Step 4: Wipe Vinegar Away

Using a soft sponge or washcloth, wipe the vinegar and any food residue off of the glass top surface.

Photo via Angela

How to Deep Clean a Glass Stovetop with Baking Soda

Let’s say you got busy, forgot to wipe down your glass stovetop after cooking a greasy meal, and now you’re wondering how to clean a black glass stovetop covered in a few minor spills. The good news is that there are several ways you can deep clean your stovetop, and all of them won’t take up much of your time.

Baking soda works so well for cleaning surfaces because it can dissolve dirt, grease, food particles, and sticky residues that are left behind without damaging surfaces.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Rubber gloves
• Baking soda
• Towel
• Hot water

Step 1: Put Rubber Gloves On

This method uses hot water so be sure to put your rubber gloves on before you get started.

Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda

Baking soda is a great way to remove any minor food stains from your glass top surface. To get started, sprinkle baking soda directly onto the glass top surface.

Step 3: Soak Towel

Run the hot water in your kitchen sink, hold a kitchen towel under it, and make sure that the towel is completely covered in water. Wring the towel out.

Step 4: Place Towel on Surface

Next, place your wet towel on the surface of your glass top stove—being sure to cover up any cooked-on stains.

Step 5: Let Sit for 15 minutes

Let the hot towel sit on the glass top surface for 15 minutes.

Step 6: Wipe the Surface Off

Once the hot towel and baking soda have done the trick, simply wipe the surface of your glass top off with the towel and any of the baked-on food particles will come with it.

How to Deep Clean a Glass Stovetop with Melamine Foam

Melamine foam sponges, or commonly known as Magic Erasers, work so well for cleaning because they act similar to sandpaper due to their super-fine but rigid grit. Basically, you are loosening up any dirt, grease, food particles, and sticky residues by sanding them away. Just be careful not to scrub too hard and scratch the glass stovetop.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Rubber gloves
• Melamine foam sponge
• Water

Step 1: Put Rubber Gloves On

Melamine foam sponges can be very abrasive so always wear rubber gloves while using one.

Step 2: Dampen Magic Eraser

Lightly dampen the foam in the sink and squeeze out any remaining liquid.

Step 3: Gently Scrub 

Moving over to your glass stovetop, take the dampened sponge and gently scrub away any stuck-on food particles.

Photo via Shutterstock

How to Clean a Glass Stovetop with Burnt-On Food

If you’ve ever had a pot boil over or food splatter on a hot burner and you didn’t take care of it right away, then you may be looking for tips on how to clean a glass stove with burnt-on food. Rest assured, you can remove even the toughest burnt-on food stains and still keep your glass top stove looking great for years to come.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Rubber gloves
• Vinegar
• Razor blade

Step 1: Put Rubber Gloves On

As always, put rubber gloves on before getting started.

Step 2: Spray or Pour Vinegar

Spray or pour vinegar onto your glass top stove directly onto the burnt-on food stains.

Step 3: Let Vinegar Soak In

Let the vinegar soak into the burnt-on food stains for a minute or so.

Step 4: Scrape

Place the razor blade at a 45-degree angle and gently scrape the cooked-on food away from the surface of the glass top stove. It’s possible to remove scratches from glass stovetops, but it can certainly be a hassle so it’s best to avoid them altogether by working very gently.

How to Clean a Glass Stovetop with Burnt-On Plastic

Next, we’ll share how to clean a glass electric stovetop with burnt-on plastic because sometimes a grocery bag or a bagged loaf of bread just gets too close to the stove while you’re cooking. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. But burnt plastic can actually pose a health hazard, so it’s best to remove it from your stovetop right away. 

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Tea kettle or pot
• Water
• Sponge or washcloth
• Razor blade

Step 1: Put Rubber Gloves On

In this method, you’ll be working with boiling water so make sure you put rubber gloves on and protect your skin.

Step 2: Boil Water

Next, fill a tea kettle or pot with water and heat to boiling.

Step 3: Pour Boiling Water

Once the water has started to boil, pour it over the burnt-on plastic on the surface of your glass top stove. Just a small amount will do the trick.

Step 4: Let Sit

Let the boiling water sit for one to two minutes in order to soften the burnt-on plastic.

Step 5: Wipe or Scrape Plastic Off

Wipe the burnt-on plastic from the surface of the stove with a sponge or washcloth. If any plastic residue remains, gently scrape it away with a razor blade at a 45-degree angle.

Tips for Keeping a Glass Stovetop Clean

How do you clean a glass top stove without it turning into a huge ordeal? Simply follow these eight tips for keeping a glass stovetop clean every day of the week.

• Use lids or splatter guards on top of pots or pans while cooking.
• Set burners to the right temperature to avoid pots boiling over.
• Make sure you never set any items (like groceries, mail, etc) on the stovetop unless it’s turned off and completely cool.
• Keep up with a regular cleaning routine after every time you cook and deep clean using the methods above when necessary.
• Avoid using any household products on your glass stovetop that have ammonia in them—like Windex—because it can leave permanent stains or streaking on the surface. Next, learn how to clean in between the glass on your stove door.
• Put a decorative butcher block or tray over your stove when it's not in use.

Do you have a glass stovetop? How do you keep it clean? Tell us in the comments below!