Info on glass (porcelain) stove tops.?

Question

I thought our new glass top stove would make cleaning an ease. Instead, it's a nightmare. We spend as much time cleaning as cooking. Anything spilled on that hot surface leaves a stain that's a real pain to remove. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Sorry, there's no magic wand for glass-tops.  That's why I left mine in my old house when we moved.  

When the top is cool first scrape the big chunks off, then squirt some Soft Scrub on the stains and rub it around.  You may have to keep working at it.  

Didn't the appliance dealer give you a little bottle of glass-top cleaner when you bought the stove?  That stuff works better than Soft Scrub but it's more expensive.  

Answer 2

I wouldn't use Soft Scrub on a ceramic cooktop as it's intentionally scratchy. Everytime it's used you're ever so slightly pitting/gouging the cooktop, thus creating lotsa "nooks & crannies" for food & stains to settle in... sorta like pumicing glass. :-(

At Home Depot/Lowes, Sears and other large retailers you can get a kit containing a razor blade tool, a bottle of Cerama-Bryte (looks like Soft Scrub, but formulated specifically for smooth cooktops) and a small scratchy sponge to get/keep your cooktop clean.

Check out Cerama Bryte's products here: http://www.ceramabryte.com/productListin...

To get a dirty cooktop clean, start by using a regular sponge & dish detergent and the hottest water you can get... this'll take care of the greasy stuff and loosen any hardened bits that's on the top.

Rinse w/ a clean sponge until no soap remains.

Proceed to use the razor blade tool (hold it at about a 45-degree angle) to dislodge/remove any hardened bits on the cooktop's surface. For stubborn 'stains' (which is actually food stuck in the aforementioned nooks & crannies) you may have to go back & forth in several directions w/ the razor to remove as much of the stain as possible.

Every two or three times you razor/wipe it, apply more hot-HOT-hot water (cover the stain w/ a couple of layers of paper toweling and pour the hot water over it and let it sit for a minute or two) and then razor it again.

After you're done razoring/wiping the cooktop clean, dry it w/ a clean paper towel and allow it to fully air dry; 10-15 minutes at least.

Then apply a generous glob of the Cerama Bryte and, w/ a paper towel, wipe it all over the cooktop... don't rub it "dry," you want a nice thin damp layer of the Cerama-Bryte on the cooktop. Remember to wipe the Cerama Bryte on in ALL directions --north-to-south, east-towest, around-and-around-- in order to get it into any previously pitted/gouged nooks & crannies.

Wait another 5-10 minutes for the Cerama Bryte to fully air dry, then "buff" the excess Cerama Bryte off the cooktop w/ a dry paper towel or two.

Your cooktop is now ready to use.

The Cerama Bryte is not only a cleaner, it also seems to seal the cooktops "nooks & crannies," so if you clean your cooktop at least once a week or so, over time you'll find the cooktop will get cleaner & cleaner w/ each cleaning.

Hope this helps,

      TX Griff

Answer 3

Let the cook top cool and get yourself some Simple Green.  It's a spray cleaner that comes concentrated and you can buy it in nearly every automotive, hardware and discount store.  Dilute it down to 50% cleaner and 50% water in another clean spray bottle.  Spray the cook top with it and let it soak for about 5 min.  Wipe well, scrub nasty spots with a nylon scrubber that is safe for non-stick cookware.  This might require several rinsing but it does work.  Finish with a shot of glass cleaner to get rid of th streaks.

I would refrain from using anything abrasive on your cook top.  All that's going to do is scratch it and make your problems worse.    If you have a handheld steam generator like a Shark, that works great on them too!