how to clean stubborn stains on glass cooktop

What could be more gorgeous than a kitchen that's completed with a beautiful glass stovetop? The way it shines and catches the light is a reminder to homeowners that they made the right choice when opting for glass over stainless steel! On the other hand, you can quickly come to regret this decision when grease and food spills start to mask every inch of your glass stove's sheen. Nevertheless, when you know what a spotless glass stovetop looks like, a glimpse of a dirty one is enough to motivate homeowners to do something about it!

The best way to clean glass stovetops efficiently is to follow a step-by-step process. This ensures that there are no 'missed spots' by the end of the clean, and that you are getting the job done in a safe manner. Read on for Simply Maid's simple guide to cleaning glass stovetops.

Step One: Brush Off Debris

Don't attempt to clean your stovetop without removing food bits and other debris from the surface first. By ridding the surface of loose dirt, you will avoid spreading more grime around as you go about cleaning the glass, making your job easier. For this, use a handheld brush and pan to sweep off debris, or simply wipe the surface with a kitchen towel.

Step Two: Sprinkle Baking Soda

As you must already know, baking soda is widely used for cleaning purposes around the home, and glass stovetops are no exception! Although it is one of three or four cleaning agents to be used during the entire cleaning process, baking soda is a very important ingredient as it cuts through grease brilliantly! In this step, sprinkle baking soda generously over the surface using your fingers to spread it around evenly. Next, fill a spray bottle with warm water and dampen the powder to create a pasty layer on the glass; leave it for 3-5 minutes.

Step Three: Clean Up the Paste

With a clean, non-abrasive cloth or scrubber, remove the paste by gently wiping the surface. There's no need to scrub since the baking soda is only meant to break down grease and grime in this step. Simply wipe up the paste thoroughly and move on to the next step.

Step Four: Spot Clean Tough Stains

Before you clean the entire glass surface of your stovetop, tackle the stubborn stains. You can use white vinegar for this (another natural effective cleaning agent). It's advisable to heat the vinegar before pouring it (in small amounts) over the stains to soak them. Give it about 30 seconds of sitting time before using a medium-bristled brush to scrub at stains. Typically, these types of stovetops are made of highly durable glass and hence, are considered to be scratch-proof. Nonetheless, the use of non-abrasive scrubbing tools is generally advised.

Step Five: Use All-Purpose Cleaner

While your glass stovetop will be looking cleaner already, you're likely to find some marks and stubborn grease left on the surface. For this, an eco-friendly, all-purpose cleaner is advised; however, you can also use a store-bought cleaning product, specially formulated for glass stovetops. In this step, apply the cleaner to the surface and allow it to sit for a minute; then use a clean scrubber to wipe the glass and remove stains and grease. Be sure to rinse out your cleaning tool at intervals and re-apply the cleaner if needed.

Step Six: Wipe with a Damp Cloth

To rid your stovetop glass of any dirt and residue left by the cleaner, make a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar, dampen a clean cloth in this solution, and wipe over the surface. Avoid using plain water for this as it will cause streaking. It's also advisable to wipe in circular motions using minimal pressure for best results.

Step Seven: Buff Your Glass Stovetop

The last thing you need to do for your glass stovetop is to buff it! This is the ea siest step and perhaps, the most satisfying one! All you need is a little toothpaste and a soft cloth to buff a glass stovetop. In fact, toothpaste can remove scratches on glass surfaces too! Simply apply some non-gel toothpaste to the cloth and buff the surface until the toothpaste vanishes. By the end of it, you'll be left with a gleaming, spotless glass stovetop!

Tips to Remove Burnt-on Stains from Glass Stovetops

The longer you wait to clean up burnt-on grime from your glass stovetop, the harder it is to remove. Nevertheless, these tips will help make the process easier for you:

Dampen a towel with hot water and place it over the glass to soften/loosen the burnt stains
Use a butter knife to gently scrape off hardened debris
Soak stains using a solution of baking soda and white vinegar
Use a medium abrasive scrubber to remove black marks from the surface

To maintain a sparkling stovetop glass to match your clean and organised kitchen, we advise cleaning it after every use (just after it cools down). Alternatively, a weekly deep clean using the steps above is sure to leave your glass stovetop shining!

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Karen Saunders is a full-time Content Manager at Simply Maid. Her 8+ years of writing experience spans the fields of copywriting, sales copy, blogging, editing and paraphrasing. Some of her areas of expertise include house cleaning, health and fitness, lifestyle topics, home décor and interior designing, travel tips, dog-related articles, and product descriptions and reviews.