How to Clean Your Stove Top

To clean a stove top, you either need to use some natural cleaners, such as baking soda or vinegar, or one of the commercial solutions, such as Easy-Off One Step Stove Top Cleaner or Fantastik. Any of the foregoing cleaners can help you make quick work out of what can be, in some cases, a frustrating chore.

Remove the Heating Elements, Stove Rings and Drip Pans

Before you attempt to clean any part of the stove, you’ll need to remove the drip pans, stove rings and heating elements. Remove the elements from an electric range by unplugging and lifting them out and away from the stove. For gas stoves, the process is simple as you only need to collect the elements and place them out of the way. Remove the drip pans and place them in some warm soapy water in your kitchen sink. Submerge the stove rings in a large pan of hot, boiling water and add a cup of baking soda. The baking soda loosens the food off the rings to make scrubbing easier.

Remove Dried Food or Crumbs

Remove any dried-on food, such as meat from the stove top, or any wayward crumbs with a soft brush. Collect the debris in a towel and dispose of it.

Apply the Cleanser

If you prefer to use an organic cleaner like baking soda, make a paste of approximately  1/2 cup baking soda combined with 1/2 cup water. Or, if you’re using a commercial solvent, like Fantastik, spray it on the stove per the label’s directions. Focus on the areas of the stove with the worst stains and spot clean them with a soft cotton cloth first using circular motions. Proceed by cleaning the entire stove top with the paste of baking soda or the commercial product the same way (using circular movements). If you’re using  baking soda with water to clean the stove top, pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the stove top. Rinse the soft, cotton cloth you’re using and wipe off the vinegar or any residue left by a commercial cleaner before drying stove top.

Wash the Accessories

After allowing the drip pans to soak in the sudsy water for awhile, wash them with a soft cotton cloth, rinse them and dry them with a towel until they sparkle. Also, scrub the stove rings with mild soap and wipe down the heating elements, washing them with a mild soap and water before drying them with a towel.

Make Future Tasks Easier

To ensure that you have an easier time cleaning your stove top in the future, wrap your drip pans in aluminum foil before you return them to their individual spots on the stove top Stock some cloths or paper towels for catching any future spills. Make sure you’re prepared to remove any spills while you’re cooking before they end up becoming hard-to-remove stains. Place the drip pans wrapped in aluminum back in their spots, insert the heating elements and place the stove rings back in place.

Cleaning a stove top can be a relatively easy task, especially if you prepare yourself so it stays that way.