How to clean an electric stove top with coil burners

Step by step: how to clean an electric stove top with coil burners

Safety first. Only clean when every burner is off and cool. Never put coil elements in water, and make sure they are completely dry before plugging them in. If you use ammonia on chrome drip pans, do it with a window open and never mix it with bleach.

1. 1

   Make sure it is off and cool

   Turn every knob to off and wait until the coils and pans are cool to the touch, usually 20 to 30 minutes after cooking. Coils can stay hot well after the red glow fades.

2. 2

   Unplug the coil burners

   Push each coil slightly toward its socket, lift the far edge just enough to clear the drip pan, then pull the coil straight out of its receptacle. Do not twist or bend the terminals. Set the coils on a towel.

3. 3

   Lift out the drip pans

   Take out the drip pans (also called burner bowls) under each coil. Tip any loose crumbs into the trash and note which size goes where, since many stoves use two large and two small.

4. 4

   Soak the drip pans

   Soak the pans in a sink of hot water with a good squirt of dish soap for 20 minutes. Porcelain pans are often dishwasher-safe; check your manual. Scrub off softened grease with a non-scratch sponge.

5. 5

   Wipe the coils without soaking them

   Wipe each coil with a damp, soapy cloth, then a clean damp cloth. Never submerge coil elements or run water into the terminal end. Baked-on bits burn off on their own the next time you cook.

6. 6

   Clean the stove top surface

   Wipe off crumbs, then spread a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water on greasy spots. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes, scrub gently with a non-scratch sponge and wipe it off with a damp cloth. Clean acidic spills like tomato sauce as soon as the stove cools, since they can mark the finish.

7. 7

   Clean under the lift-up top

   Many coil ranges have a cooktop that lifts and props up like a car hood. If yours does, raise it and wipe up the grease and crumbs underneath. If you are not sure, check your manual before prying.

8. 8

   Wash the knobs

   Pull the knobs straight off and wash them in warm soapy water with the toothbrush. Wipe around the knob shafts with a barely damp cloth rather than spraying cleaner into them. Dry the knobs fully before you push them back on.

9. 9

   Reinstall pans and coils

   Put each drip pan back first, lining up its opening with the receptacle. Push each coil firmly into its socket until the terminals seat, then press the coil flat. Turn each burner on for a minute to check that it heats evenly.

How to clean burnt drip pans by type

Check whether your drip pans are porcelain or chrome, because they need different treatment. Porcelain pans are usually black, gray or white and glossy; chrome pans are shiny metal.

Whirlpool’s drip bowl instructions say porcelain bowls are dishwasher-safe, chrome bowls can soak in 1/2 cup of ammonia per gallon of water for 20 minutes, and coil elements are self-cleaning and should not be submerged. The range version adds that spills with acids, such as vinegar and tomato, should be cleaned once the stove is cool because they can affect the finish. Chrome pans that have turned blue or brown from heat usually will not come back fully; replacement pans are inexpensive.

How to remove and clean electric coil burners

Push the coil toward its socket, lift the far edge slightly, pull it straight out, and wipe it with a damp cloth. They do not need scrubbing, because the heat burns food off.

Whirlpool’s guide to removing electric burners walks through lifting the coil and pulling it from the receptacle. If a coil is loose, sparks, or has a visible bubble or split in the metal, stop using it and replace it with one that matches your model number. Check your manual before using foil drip pan liners; foil can trap heat around the element and some manufacturers advise against it.

What if your electric stove top is smooth glass?

A smooth-top electric stove is ceramic glass and needs a different method: a razor scraper for burnt-on food and a cream cleaner, with no abrasive pads.

Whirlpool’s instructions for electric range glass tops say to scrape at about 45 degrees, use a few drops of cooktop cleaner, let it haze and buff it off, and to avoid steel wool, abrasive powders, bleach and ammonia. Our step-by-step guide to cleaning a glass stovetop covers it in full, including what to do about melted sugar.

Mistakes to avoid

• Submerging coil elements in water or spraying cleaner into the terminal end.
• Plugging coils back in before the drip pans and coils are fully dry.
• Using steel wool on porcelain drip pans, which scratches the enamel.
• Mixing ammonia with bleach, or using ammonia without ventilation.
• Leaving tomato or vinegar spills to bake on, which can stain the finish.
• Forcing a coil into the socket at an angle, which bends the terminals.