| Proper cleaning is essential to maintaining the | | | | be found at any home improvement store, big chain |
| effectiveness and longevity of your cooktop range. | | | | store, or automotive parts house. You do not need a |
| Most manufacturers recommend cleaning your glass | | | | big industrial strength scraper, just a small handheld unit |
| cooktop after every use with the supplied nonabrasive | | | | that accepts a standard single edge razor blade. |
| cleaner. In a perfect world that may be fine. But let's | | | | You will also need a nonabrasive cleaner specifically |
| be honest, no one is going to polish their stove every | | | | designed for glass cooktops. If you are like me, you |
| time they use it. It is not practical. | | | | probably put the little bottle of cleaner supplied by the |
| In the real world, we clean things when they are dirty | | | | manufacturer in an odd, remote and well concealed |
| or soiled. So let's discuss how to clean a glass cooktop | | | | location. But, if you are already going to the big home |
| that has a cooked on burnt on spill. | | | | improvement warehouse, you can pick up a bottle |
| There are really only two main ideas to take away | | | | there. This formula has a special silicone base that |
| from this article. First, never use an abrasive cleaner or | | | | helps clean and protect your cooktop. It is worth the |
| pad on your cooktop. This includes kitchen sponges | | | | money. |
| with the abrasive pads on them, powdered cleansers, | | | | Once you have the scraper and the cleaner you are |
| and even baking soda. Second, always allow the | | | | ready to go. After we confirm that the cooktop is cool, |
| range to cool before attempting to clean it. I know this | | | | we will start by removing the bulk of the spill with our |
| sounds obvious, but unlike a gas stove, those cooktops | | | | scraper. As you scrape the surface of the glass, keep |
| are not obvious when they are hot. That is probably | | | | the razor blade at a 45 degree angle. Pass the |
| the one main disadvantage to radiant heat and electric | | | | scraper back and forth across the surface until no |
| cooktops that I see. If you have children, they are far | | | | resistance if felt from the spill area. |
| more likely to burn themselves on an empty, hot | | | | Next, remove the scraped remains from the spill area |
| surface of a glass cooktop than they would be from a | | | | and apply a small amount of cleaner to a soft cloth. |
| gas stove. I see fire. Fire burns me if I touch it. A | | | | 100% cotton is preferable. Do not use an abrasive |
| cooktops only warning is a little red light that stays on | | | | kitchen sponge. Use a circular motion and apply a |
| after you turn the unit off, to warn you the surface is | | | | moderate amount of pressure to the spill area. The |
| still hot. So be careful. | | | | cleaner will leave a film or residue much like car wax |
| To clean a stubborn, hardened, burnt on spill, you will | | | | or polish. this is normal. After the residue has dried, |
| need one specific tool that you may already have in | | | | polish it off with a clean section of your soft cloth. If |
| your home repair toolbox. A glass scraper. These can | | | | any stain remains, repeat the process. |