Cleaning Baked-On Stuff From Stove Tops

Clean the stove top weekly.

At the end of a busy week, it's not surprising to find random bits of previous dinners baked onto the stove top. Every little splatter and drip accumulates around the stove burners, creating a baked-on mess. To make the dirtiest stove top sparkle again, try mixing together a few household products and allowing them to work their chemical magic overnight. Everything from dried pasta noodles to greasy bacon drippings will wipe away with a thorough stove top cleaning.

Things You'll Need

• Soft bristle scrub brush
• Spray glass cleaner
• Soft cloths
• Baking soda
• Warm water
• Spray bottle
• Spatula
• Liquid dish detergent
• Straight pin

Instructions

1. Turn off all burners and allow the stove to cool. Remove all trim rings, pots, pans and stove top accessories such as spoon holders or trivets.

2. Soak removable burners in the sink in hot, soapy water for an hour. Use liquid dish detergent with a de-greaser. Use a soft-bristled scrub brush to loosen baked-on food. Rinse and dry the burners. Set aside until the stove top is clean.

3. Spray glass cleaner over the entire stove top surface. Spray in recessed areas near the burners also. Wipe off small splatters and baked-on sauces with a soft cloth.

4. Sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda over the remaining baked-on food. Fill a spray bottle with warm, tap water. Spray the baking soda covered stove top with the water to moisten the baking soda. Let the creamy mixture sit on the stove top for several hours or overnight.

5. Scrape up the baking soda mixture and burnt food with a sturdy spatula. Dispose of the mixture in the garbage.

6. Add 1 tbsp. of de-greasing liquid dish detergent to a spray bottle full of warm, tap water. Spray the entire stove top surface, including the burner wells, and wipe with a clean cloth.

7. Refill the spray bottle with clear, warm water. Apply a final rinsing spray to the stove top. Dry the stove with a fresh, dry cloth. Return any removable burners to the stove top.

Tips & Warnings

• If food has baked over the holes in the burner heads, use a metal straight pin to remove the clog. Never use a wooden skewer. It can break and clog the hole.

• Avoid using scouring pads to scrub baked-on items from the stove top. Abrasive metal scrubbers leave fine scratches in enamel coated stove tops, according to the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and Cooperative Extension.

References

• Better Homes and Gardens: Green Cleaning Recipes
• Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and Cooperative Extension: Cleaning Your Gas Stove
• Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences and Cooperative Extension: Cleaning Your Electric Stove