How to Clean Smooth-Top Stoves

A clean stove top is less of a fire hazard.

Smooth-top stoves offer a one-piece, continuous cooking surface that provides cooks with an easy-to-care for range. Manufacturers cover heating coils, magnetic induction or halogen elements with a flat porcelain-enamel panel that radiates heat to pots and pans, providing sufficient heat to cook food. Smooth-top stoves require a gentle cleaning hand to prevent scratching or nicking the smooth surface. Dirty smooth-top stoves are not only unsightly; they pose a fire hazard. Grease, oil and dried-on foods can catch fire, which can spread to the rest of the kitchen and house.

Things You'll Need

• Sponge or rag
• Grease-fighting dish detergent
• Baking soda
• Citrus-based all-purpose cleaner
• Smooth-top stove cleaner
• Microfiber sponge

Instructions

1. Wet a sponge or rag with plain water. Wipe the smooth-top stove surface after the stove cools to room temperature. Do not wipe a hot stove with a wet rag or sponge; doing so may result in cracking the stove top.

2. Add a squirt of grease-fighting liquid dish detergent to the smooth-top stove surface if grease and oils are present. Rub the dish detergent into the grease or oil splatters and spills until the grease and oil disappears. Wipe the soapy residue away with a damp rag or sponge.

3. Mix baking soda with water to form a thin, watery paste. Dip a damp rag or sponge into the paste. Rub the baking soda paste into hardened, baked-on stains until they are no longer visible. Clean the area with a damp sponge or rag to remove the baking soda residue.

4. Spray the smooth-top stove with a citrus-based all-purpose cleaner. Let the cleaner sit on heavily soiled areas for five to 10 minutes. Scrub the soiled areas with a damp sponge or rag until you remove the oil, grease and spilled foods. Wipe the area with a clean, damp rag or sponge to remove the citrus-based cleaner and debris.

5. Apply a specialized smooth-top stove cleaner with a damp rag or sponge to remaining stains. Rub the dirty areas with a damp sponge or rag until the stove top is clean. Wipe the smooth-top stove with a damp rag or sponge to remove the remaining stove top cleaner and debris.

6. Use a microfiber cloth to dry the smooth-top stove after cleaning to prevent water spots.

Tips & Warnings

• Wipe up spills and splatters immediately after the stove top cools to prevent stains.

• Only use smooth-bottomed pots and pans on smooth-top stoves to prevent damaging the porcelain-enamel top stove.

• Avoid cleaning a smooth-top stove with steel wool, scrub brushes or scouring powders because they may cause scratches and nicks on the surface.

• Do not slide cookware across the smooth-top stove; sliding can cause scratches on the stove top.

References

• "2,001 Amazing Cleaning Secrets"; Jeff Bredenberg; 2004
• "Heloise from A to Z Updated"; Heloise; 2004