How to Clean Glass Top Stove
Glass top stoves have become very popular these days. They are sleek and modern, and give a stylish look to your kitchen. The shiny glass top stove forms a focal attraction in your kitchen. But it is a hard job to keep the new-like appearance of the stove, as glass surface catches all the spills. As it has no removable parts, it can't be put in the dishwasher like the old-style cooking ranges. If only you could put it in your washing machine and turn on the rinse cycle to get a sparkling glass top! But this can happen only in your dreams and wild imagination and not in reality.
Cleaning glass top stoves is quite simple if you use the right cleaning product and the right technique. You don't need expensive cleansers for this. You can make use of the easily available and environmentally friendly substances. Cleaning your glass top stove daily after every cooking session is the best way to keep it sparkling all the time. As burnt stains are difficult to remove, you could keep a wash cloth handy so that you can wipe out the spills immediately, before they stick to the surface and get burnt.
Lining the top of the stove with a fire retardant paper can be a good option to keep spills away. Fire retardant paper is easily available and is similar to the one used for lining the oven pans. Just cut the paper around the burners and squeeze it on top of them. The crumbs and spills will collect on the paper and can be easily discarded. This will keep the glass surface clean. An easy way to keep your stove clean is by avoiding spills. Cover the pans while cooking to avoid spattering.
Tips to Clean Glass Top Stoves
If you find it difficult to clean your stove everyday, at least do it on alternate days. Thorough cleaning or scrubbing once a week will also help keep your stove sparkling. Here's how to go about it.
Tip 1: The most important thing to remember while cleaning a stove is to make sure it is unplugged. Also let it cool down properly.
Tip 2: Now spread a few drops of liquid cleanser on the top surface of your stove with the help of your fingers or a sponge. You can use the cleansers made specially for glass top stoves. Let the cleanser set on the stains for a few minutes. Then wipe it thoroughly with the sponge, exerting enough pressure, and moving the sponge in a circular motion. Once it is done, wipe the top clean with a dry cloth. Avoid using harsh and abrasive cleansers.
Tip 3: You can also try plain white vinegar instead of the cleanser. It works wonders. Pour it on the hard stains and sprinkle some baking soda. Bubbling occurs indicating a chemical reaction taking place. Now scrub with the help of a sponge and watch the stains disappear.
Tip 4: If the stains are burnt and refuse to budge using the above methods, you can try a razor blade. Hold it at an angle of 30 and gently scrape off the burnt stain. Use the cutting edge of the blade, and not the corners as it may leave scratches on your glass top. Scrapers designed specifically for glass top stoves are available in the market. You can go for them if you are not very sure about the razor blade. Once the stain is removed, clean the rest of the top with a cleanser.
Tip 5: Another natural cleaner can be a solution of water and lemon juice. Take this solution in a spray bottle. It is easy to use, just spray some solution on the spills and stains, and wipe with a cloth or a sponge. It works like magic on the glass top stoves and also leaves your kitchen smelling good.
Tip 6: Now even after removing all the dirt and grime, the glass top stove doesn't shine like new. No need to worry about it. You can make it sparkle using a glass cleaner after you are done with the above cleaning process. Just wipe the glass top stove with the glass cleaner and see how your stove looks. You can also invest in glass polish made for glass top stoves to give it a shiny feel.
So these were a few tips to clean glass top stoves. I don't think they are too difficult, and I'm sure you think the same. The key to keep your glass top stove looking as good as new always, is to clean the stains right away. The longer they remain on the surface, the harder it becomes to remove them. So don't waste time, and get started as soon as you finish reading this article!
