How to clean your stove top without damaging it

After cooking a delicious—but messy—dinner, you want to get your stove top spotless, but you may worry about scratching or staining it. What if we told you there was a simple way to clean your electric, glass, or gas stove top without damaging it?

Well, there is. Here at Asurion, our experts have experience with every major appliance and can help you keep yours working as it should—today and in the future. Here's our guide to the best way to clean your stove top.

How often should you clean your stove top?

You should wipe your stove top down after each time you use it, once it has completely cooled. Why? Because it's much easier to remove grease and crud right away rather than allowing it to build up. Cleaning your stove top after each use is safer too—grease or food left on a stove top could cause a fire. If you use your stove daily, doing a deeper cleaning once a week is recommended.

How to prepare to deep clean your stove top

When you're ready to deep clean your stove top, gather these supplies:

• Rubber gloves
• Cloth, sponge, paper towels (Don't use anything abrasive that might damage the appliance.)
• A bucket
• A soft-bristle brush

One or more cleaning solutions you may want to use:

• Distilled white vinegar and water
• Baking soda and water
• Dish soap and water
• Glass cleaner

Here's how to clean different types of stove tops.

How to clean your electric stove top

Turn off your oven and stove top, and make sure it has completely cooled.Then follow these simple steps.

Cleaning your electric stove top's coil burners

1. Detach each electric coil from the stove top by gently pulling the two prongs out of the sockets. If you aren't sure how to remove your coils, check your owner's manual—it should be available online.
2. Remove any loose food or dirt from the coils with a paper towel or cloth.
3. Dip a cloth or sponge in cleaning solution and wipe the coils. Don't submerge the coils in water.
4. Wipe the stove top with your preferred cleaner and a non-abrasive sponge—for hard-to-remove stains, use baking soda.
5. If water gets near or on the electric ports, you'll need to make sure they're completely dry before using the stove again.
6. Dry the cleaned surface with clean, dry paper towels or a cloth.

Cleaning under your electric stove top

1. If your electric stove top has a drip pan, lift the stove top lid, then use the built-in prop to hold the lid up.
2. Wipe the drip pan with your preferred cleaner and a non-abrasive sponge—for hard-to-remove stains, use baking soda.
3. Again, if water gets near or on the electric ports, you'll need to make sure they're dry before using the stove.
4. Dry the stove top with a clean cloth or paper towels.

How to clean your glass top stove

Turn off your oven, and make sure that the stove top is completely cooled down. Then clean your glass stove top by doing the following:

1. Pick up any loose food off the surface and wipe up any dirt or grease you see using a paper towel or cloth dipped in cleaning solution.
2. Wipe the stove top with your preferred cleaner and a non-abrasive sponge—for hard-to-remove stains, use baking soda with some water.
3. Dry the cleaned surface with clean, dry paper towels or try a microfiber cloth.
4. To eliminate streaks, finish by wiping the surface with a glass cleaner.

How to clean your gas stove top

Turn off your oven, and make sure that the stove top is completely cooled down. Then, clean the stove top burner caps (the round parts covering the burners), the metal grates, and the gas stove top like this:

Cleaning gas stove top burner caps and grates

1. Remove your gas stove top grates and burner caps, then place them in a bucket or your sink.
2. Fill your bucket or sink with hot, soapy water or combine vinegar or baking soda with water if you prefer.
3. Add the burner caps and grates and let them soak for up to 10 minutes, then scrub them with a sponge or cloth.
4. Let the burner caps and grates dry completely while you clean the stove top.

Some burner caps and grates are dishwasher safe. Check your owner's manual to verify they are dishwasher safe and if so, simply run them through a cleaning cycle.

Cleaning your gas stove top

1. Remove any loose food, dirt, or grease from the surface with a paper towel or cloth dipped in cleaning solution.
2. Wipe the stove top with your preferred cleaner and a non-abrasive sponge—for hard-to-remove stains, use baking soda.
3. Use water sparingly: If water gets near or on the fuel ports, you'll need to make sure they're completely dry before using the stove again.
4. Dry the cleaned surface with clean, dry paper towels or a cloth.
5. Replace the burner caps and grates on the stove.

Once you've scrubbed and scoured your stove top, you may be motivated to keep cleaning—check out our step-by-step guide for how to clean your oven.