Stovetops see their fair share of mess. Even meticulous cooks will have moments where grease splatters and stuff gets spilled. On a black stove top, many of those stains may be less noticeable. However, they are still there. For both sanitation and visual appeal, you need to give your black stove top an occasional cleaning. Of course, the question of “how” remains a hot topic.
The best way to clean a black stove top is to use a mixture that’s half white vinegar, half water. Remove the burner grates, spray down the stovetop, let the solution sit for 10 minutes, and then wipe it up using a paper towel. If your grates need to be cleaned too, scrub them with a scouring pad.
In many ways, cleaning a black stove top is just like cleaning any other part of your kitchen’s appliances. With that said, there’s a lot to learn about getting rid of more stubborn stains and also keeping your kitchen sanitary.
How To Get Stubborn Stains Off A Black Stovetop
While using a 50/50 vinegar and water solution may be enough to clean typical messes (and also clean oobleck stains off a carpet), the truth is that there’s only so far that white vinegar can go. Vinegar won’t always be enough to clear a stove top’s more persistent stains, especially if they’ve sat there for a while.
Thankfully, we have an easy fix that uses natural ingredients to get those pesky stains off. Here’s how you can get rid of persistent stains:
- Start by pouring a bunch of baking soda all over the stained surface. Get liberal with it, since you are about to make a paste with it.
- Add smaller amounts of vinegar to the mixture on your stove. Mix it gently using your fingers. It should have a paste-like consistency of cake frosting.
- Use a sponge or scouring pad to scrub away the stain. The baking soda will act as a gentle abrasive cleaner that also lifts out grease. Even particularly burnt-on stains should be able to be lifted with enough work.
- Rinse the area with water. Throw away excess paste by grabbing it with a paper towel and tossing out the excess. Use another wet paper towel to give the area a final rinse. You should have a stain-free stovetop now.
How Often Should You Clean Your Stovetop?
There’s no set schedule that you have to follow, but most homeowners tend to clean their stovetop at least once a week. To prevent rust, burnt-on messes, and extremely difficult stains from taking hold, make sure to clean any spills your stovetop has as soon as they happen. It’s easier, trust me on that.
Are Black Stove Tops Harder To Clean Than Other Stovetops?
In most cases, the answer is a firm no. The color of your stovetop is not going to impact the difficulty of cleaning in any measure. However, it is worth noting that black stove tops can sometimes hide grime better than white ones. Even if stains are less visible, that doesn’t mean that you should ignore cleaning it. Your food safety depends on regular cleanings!
Can You Use Commercial Cleaners On A Black Stovetop?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of white vinegar and baking soda your cleaning routine requires, it’s understandable. Sometimes, you want to use something commercial that you can rely on. While it may be more expensive than a typical vinegar cleaning, commercial stove top cleaners are always a good choice, too.
Of course, there are other ways to make sure that you get a clean stovetop. Some of the better options include:
- Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser. Along with being great for cleaning grout, Mr. Clean’s Magic Erase happens to be a great way to clean stovetops, sinks, as well as other kitchen appliances. If you have a major stain or spill, this is a great go-to.
- All-Purpose Cleaner. If you have a favorite all-purpose cleaner, chances are that you can use it with reasonable success.
- Easy Off. Easy Off is usable on all stovetop surfaces, including black stovetops.
- Dish Soap. It’s true. Dish soap is a great cleaning agent. Just add six drops of dish soap to a spray bottle of water and wipe it down. This is actually one of the best options for people who have been battling greasy stovetops. We suggest using it instead of vinegar if you have a major oil spill.
- Stovetop Cleaners. Commercially-made stove top cleaners are always a smart go-to, primarily because they are formulated to cut grease, kill bacteria, and keep things gentle enough to avoid damage.
Can You Use Oven Cleaner To Clean A Stovetop?
While it’s not the best option out there, it is possible to use oven cleaner to make most parts of a gas stovetop sparkle. To do this, start by manually removing the detachable parts of your stove and placing them on a newspaper outside. Spray the items down with oven cleaner and let it sit for 12 hours. Then, wipe them down with hot water.
It’s worth noting that oven cleaner may be too harsh for electric stovetops. If you are not sure that your stovetop can handle it, then do not try it. Oven cleaner can be very harsh on certain materials, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
How Do You Remove Material That’s Burnt On Your Stovetop?
We’ve all had kitchen experiments that resulted in a stovetop that was covered in ashen burn marks made of things that were once food. It’s a part of cooking. Unfortunately, sometimes getting that material isn’t going to be easily done with vinegar, or even oven cleaner. When this happens, you may need to get a little more forceful with your cleaning. Here’s how to do it:
- Start by taking a scraper brush to the affected areas. Try to remove as much of the burnt stuff as you can before proceeding to the next step. You can use a grill brush or a wad of steel wool for this.
- If you can remove the affected parts, do so and soak them in water for three hours. Then, scrape away whatever else you can.
- If you cannot remove the affected parts of your stovetop, spray on some vinegar (or other potent cleaners) and let the cleaner sit for at least an hour. In most cases, acidic or basic cleaning solvents will help loosen things up in ways that will make it easier to clean.
- Then, take the scrubber brush and go back to scrubbing the grit away. Most of the grime should be able to fall off fairly quickly after the soaking treatment.
- Once everything is removed, just rinse off your stovetop. Ta da! Clean stovetop.
Related Questions
Do ceramic stovetops get scratched easily?
While there are a lot of stovetop materials that are made to be hardy, ceramic really isn’t one of them. In relation to other stovetop materials, ceramic has a reputation for being easy to scratch. If you want to be able to ensure that you don’t have to repair scratches on the regular, opt for a different stovetop material.
How much does it cost to replace a glass stovetop?
Though glass stove tops are prone to breakage, there is some good news on the horizon. Replacing these stovetops is fairly affordable. You should expect to pay between $50 to $200 for a new glass stovetop. If you want to get it replaced professionally, you might also need to pay labor fees. These vary greatly depending on whether you hire a new handyman or if you hire an appliance repairman.
Is it possible to replace a ceramic stovetop?
Ceramic stove tops are prone to scratching and even cracking depending on how roughly they get used. Thankfully, this is a fixable situation. While it is not as easy to do as a glass stovetop, you can replace a ceramic stovetop for a fairly affordable price.