You'll want to know how to clean stove tops, whether you work with an electric or gas stove as they can get grimy quickly. We'll show you the best way to get the most stubborn bits to surrender and stop hanging onto your stove, whether it was caused by stir-fries, sauces, scrambled eggs, or spaghetti.
Maintaining stainless steel surfaces isn't difficult, but it can't be done half-heartedly. Nope, it needs a little planning, order, and a handful of cleaning supplies that you've got under the sink and in your food cabinets to ensure you don't scratch or damage the metal.
Good to know
Time: About 30 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy
Helpful hint: Make sure you purchase the right cleaning solutions and cloths. The wrong tools and supplies can lead to a super scratched-up stovetop. No thanks!
Here's what you'll need
- Access to hot water and a sink
- Dish soap (grab some liquid dish soap on Amazon)
- A kitchen cleaner — I like this grapefruit-scented one from Method on Amazon
- A non-abrasive cleaning cloth (these microfiber cloths from Amazon will do the job)
- A manual toothbrush (an old one will do)
- A polishing cloth, which you can find on Amazon
- A non-scratch scrubbing sponge — The Scotch-Brite ones are good
- Coconut oil (optional)
1. Remove and rinse all items on the stove
First, let everything cool down. Then, to begin cleaning your stainless steel stovetop, you'll want to remove the pan support grates, burners, and rings and leave them to soak in a kitchen sink full of hot, soapy water.
2. Spray the stove with detergent
Use one of the best stainless steel cleaners (we're fans of Bar Keepers Friend multipurpose cooktop cleaner) or wipe a cream cleanser on with a clean cloth. Leave for at least two minutes to loosen any burnt food or other grime.
3. Remove the detergent
Remove the cleaning solution using a microfiber or other non-abrasive cloth. It doesn’t have to be microfiber, but should definitely be soft — nothing that will scratch the stovetop.
WARNING: To avoid scratches, you'll want to clean in the direction of the grain, so do your due diligence and check this before beginning any buffing action!
4. Spot clean nooks, crannies, and corners
Use a toothbrush to clean any hard-to-reach places your cloth can’t access and to remove any stubborn food debris. Investing in a multipack from Amazon means you can clean every part of your kitchen — they're particularly useful for reviving your tea kettle and cleaning burnt-on breadcrumbs off of your toaster.
To put it simply, most small kitchen appliances with benefit from being brushed with this bristled bathroom accessory!
5. Dry the cooktop area
Buff dry with a clean polishing cloth. These cloths are usually used to clean jewelry made from solid metals like gold, so you can rest assured they'll be gentle enough to clean your cooktop.
6. Spot clean the stove accessories
Clean any remaining dirt from the burners, rings, and grates that are soaking in the sink using a non-scratch scrubbing sponge. Dry thoroughly with a lint-free cloth before replacing them.
7. Add extra shine with oil
For an added high shine you can wipe a very small amount of coconut oil over the top of your stove with a paper towel. This final step will make it sparkle. Some say you can use baby oil, but we prefer using an eco-friendly cleaning supply as it feels more natural than a petroleum-based product.
Use the rest of this food-safe cooking oil in recipes like stir-fries. Then, if you do make a mess with wok-fried noodles, you can clean any mess again by repeating steps one through seven!
How do I get brown stains off my stainless steel cooktop?
Using baking soda and dish soap can help to remove brown stains and acrid deposits on this food preparation surface. Create a thick paste using these two products (half a cup of baking soda with a squirt or two of dish soap). To apply, use a microfiber cleaning cloth and rub gently in the direction of the grain. Rinse with warm water and dry with another clean rag.
Highly-rated products to clean stainless steel
A Real Homes favorite, this spray-on formula is perfect for cutting through baked-on food, rust, and mineral deposits. If you're not a fan of the viscosity or want more control when cleaning, there are also powdered and cream versions available on Amazon.
This Amazon Choice product (meaning it's highly rated, well-priced, and available to ship immediately) has nearly 6,000 positive reviews. It's the #1 selling stainless steel cleaning brand with a PH-neutral formula that won't damage your goods. And, it comes with a microfiber cloth — winning!
Gotta give it up for this Therapy stainless steel cleaner kit. It's plant-based, solvent-free, and made with natural essential oils. Yet it surprisingly still manages to get rid of fingerprints, grease, and stickiness.