How to clean a stove top: gas, coil and every cooktop type

Step by step: how to clean a stove top

Safety first. Turn every control off and let the cooktop cool fully before you clean. On an electric coil range, the coils must be cold and the controls off before you unplug them from their sockets. Do not spray cleaner into gas burner openings or electrical sockets, and never mix ammonia-based cleaners with bleach.

1. 1

   Identify your cooktop

   Gas stoves have metal grates over burners. Electric coil stoves have spiral elements over drip bowls. A smooth glass surface is radiant electric or induction and needs its own method; see the links below. This guide covers the open surface of gas and coil stoves.

2. 2

   Make sure it is off and cool

   Check that every knob is at Off and the surface is cool to the touch. Cleaning a warm cooktop bakes cleaner onto it and risks burns. Open a window or run the hood if you plan to use a degreaser.

3. 3

   Take off the removable parts

   On a gas stove, lift off the grates and burner caps and set them in the sink to soak. On a coil stove, push each coil toward its socket, lift it just clear of the bowl, pull it straight out, then lift out the drip bowl. Keep track of which part came from where.

4. 4

   Pull off the knobs

   Most knobs pull straight off. Wash them in warm soapy water with a soft cloth, but do not soak them, and let them dry. Wipe the control panel with a soft, barely damp cloth; do not spray cleaner onto it.

5. 5

   Soften baked-on spills

   Soak a cloth in very hot water with a squeeze of dish soap, wring it out lightly and lay it over burnt spots and grease for 10 to 15 minutes. The heat and soap soften the residue so it wipes off instead of needing to be scrubbed hard.

6. 6

   Wipe the surface

   Wash the whole top with warm soapy water and a non-scratch sponge, working from the back to the front. Lift softened spots with a plastic scraper held flat. Use an old toothbrush around the burner bases and the edges of the trim.

7. 7

   Rinse and dry

   Wipe the surface again with a cloth dampened in plain water to remove soap film, then dry it with a soft, lint-free cloth. On stainless steel, wipe and dry in the direction of the grain to avoid streaks.

8. 8

   Put everything back

   Once the parts are clean and completely dry, refit the burner caps and grates or the drip bowls and coils. Push coils firmly into their sockets and make sure they sit level. Replace the knobs with each one pointing to Off.

Which cooktop do you have, and how should you clean it?

The best way to clean a stove top depends on the surface. Gas and coil tops are mostly porcelain enamel or stainless steel; glass and induction tops need a cooktop cream and a razor scraper.

Porcelain enamel vs stainless steel stove tops

Porcelain enamel (glossy, often white, black or bisque) and stainless steel both clean best with soap, water and a soft cloth. The difference is what damages them: abrasives scratch both, and acids can dull porcelain.

• Whirlpool’s porcelain cooktop instructions say to start with soap, water and a soft cloth or sponge, with glass cleaner, mild liquid detergent, all-purpose cleaner or a nonabrasive pad as the next options. They rule out soap-filled scouring pads, abrasive cleaners, steel wool, gritty washcloths and abrasive paper towels.
• The same page says to clean up acidic spills such as vinegar and tomato as soon as the cooktop is cool, because they can affect the finish.
• For stainless steel, Whirlpool recommends warm soapy water and a nonabrasive sponge, rubbing evenly with the grain, then drying fully, since water left on the surface can discolor it.

Drip bowls, coils and knobs

Wash drip bowls in hot soapy water and wipe coils only with a damp cloth once cold; never soak or submerge the coils. Knobs pull off and wash by hand.

Whirlpool’s drip bowl instructions describe removing the coil (push it toward the receptacle, lift, then pull straight out), lifting out the bowl, and cleaning it with liquid detergent or an all-purpose cleaner before rinsing and drying. Badly stained or pitted bowls are often easier to replace than to scrub.

For knobs, Whirlpool says not to use steel wool, abrasive cleansers or oven cleaner, not to soak them, and to put them back in the Off position. On some models there are seals under the knobs that should stay in place.

Mistakes to avoid

• Cleaning while the cooktop is still warm, which bakes cleaner and grease on.
• Scrubbing porcelain or stainless with steel wool or a gritty powder, which scratches it for good.
• Spraying cleaner straight onto the control panel or into burner openings.
• Soaking or submerging electric coils, which damages the element and terminals.
• Leaving tomato sauce or vinegar spills to sit on porcelain, which can etch the finish.
• Refitting grates, caps or coils while still wet.