Town Appliance Official Blog

If you invest in a cooktop, it’s only natural that you’ll want to take care of it. There are many ways to do so, but sometimes our instincts can cause us to do the opposite. It’s important to realize that cooktops—especially glass cooktops—are far more delicate than we think, and it falls on us to take care of them. So how do you avoid ruining your glass cooktop? Here, you’ll learn what not to do and how to clean your cooktop properly. Learn more about it below.

What Should You Avoid

You need to avoid many actions when you have a glass cooktop. Even though kitchen ranges are similar, there are many differences in caring for them. Because of this, you have to treat them completely differently. So what are some of the things you shouldn’t do? Learn more below.

Using Coarse Sponges or Steel Wool

Think about it. Would you use a course sponge on a glass window to clean it? We’re sure you wouldn’t. On the contrary, you’ll likely use a light washcloth or microfiber cloth to preserve the window and keep it from scratching. The same rules apply here. Using steel wool or a coarse sponge might be tempting if you have stubborn stains and burnt food on your stovetop, but trust us, these abrasive tools won’t help.

Instead, they’ll scratch up your precious cooktop. Rub the soft side of the sponge gently against the surface rather than using the course side. You can find cooktop pads on the market specifically made for situations like these. Spend a little extra to invest in those.

Using Cleaner While the Stove Is Hot

When you wash dishes in warm water, we know you’re better apt to lift grime and grease. However, this principle doesn’t apply to glass stovetops. Let your stove cool completely before you use any cleaner, especially ones with chemicals. Otherwise, you can burn the stovetop or cause permanent damage. If you want to avoid ruining your cooktop, it’s best to wait for things to cool down.

Using Glass Cleaner

At first glance, using glass cleaner seems logical. It’s glass, right? Despite this, it’s best to skip out on using glass cleaner like Windex on your stovetop. This is because glass cleaners’ chemicals typically have ammonia, which can leave streaking and permanent stains. Cooktops aren’t cheap, so you should avoid this. In addition, you’ll release ammonia fumes in the air when you’re cooking if you leave them on. That can damage your respiratory system and lead to lightheadedness and brain damage. Use cleaners meant for cooktops if you can. There are a ton of them on the market.

Resting Hot Lids Face-Down

If you rest your lid face down on your cooktop, you’ll leave a circular mark every time. Of course, that’s the least of your concerns. At worst, you can shatter the glass and make a mess. This can lead to serious burns and cuts, so don’t do this. Your counter is there for a reason. Use it. It’s better to be safe than sorry when dealing with something you’ve invested so much money in.

Sliding Heavy Cookware Across the Surface

This is a pretty obvious way to get scratches on your precious cooktop. We aren’t saying that you shouldn’t use any heavy equipment on your cooktops. Don’t worry; your cast iron pans are safe. However, you shouldn’t slide a heavy pot of spaghetti from one eye to the next to make space for the garlic bread you just got out of the oven. Think ahead and use your countertops. Place your pots and pans down using the handles, and your cooktops will stay in perfect shape.

Not Cleaning It Often

This is obvious, but sometimes we need a reminder. If you don’t clean your stovetop after every use, you’ll run the risk of it accumulating grime and leftover food. This food will eventually harden, and over time, you’ll have a mess on your hands. Additionally, the longer it sits, the harder it will be to get off. Since this is the case, it would behoove you to clean it off after every use. Remember that old food and grime carries bacteria, which can make you and the people in your household sick.

Let the cooktop cool—remember that you can’t clean it when it’s hot—spray it with your cooktop cleaner or vinegar, and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. After that, buff it, and it’ll look brand new. Don’t be lazy about this. Go through this process after every use.

Putting Dirty Dishes on Top

If you’re going to wipe off the countertops every day, it’s pretty counterproductive to continue to dirty them by placing used utensils and dishes directly on the stove. We understand that you want to save time, but it saves you time to place your dirty pots and pans in the sink. Otherwise, you’re adding to a mess you’ll need to clean up later. If you put them on the stove, ensure they’re clean on the bottom.

Method of Daily Cleaning

There are also ways you can clean your cooktop daily. Wiping it down after every use ensures that dirt and grime don’t accumulate. So how do you do it? First, you’ll need a spray bottle filled with either cooktop cleaner or white vinegar. Then, you’ll want to squeeze it over the stovetop and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. Scrub tough spots, but don’t overdo it!

Method of Deep Cleaning

You should deep clean your cooktop once a month if you clean it daily. However, doing it once every two weeks is ideal if you cook a lot. You can use several things to clean your cooktop, but we recommend the razor blade method. You’ll need a microfiber cloth, cleaning vinegar in a spray bottle, and a razor blade. Spray your vinegar on any stains on the cooktop. After that, gently raise any stubborn food particles or grime off the surface with the razor blade and wipe what’s left off with your microfiber cloth. This method is simple yet effective!

If you’re interested in picking up a cooktop or any other appliance, we have you covered here at Town Appliance! Shop Town Appliance today. You’ll be happy you did!