7 Ways to Clean Your Crusty Stove

You don’t have to admit whether you clean your stove top twice a year or twice a day, but it does deserve a good scrubbing. How to get it done is a topic worthy of discussion.

Quick wipe-downs don’t always get rid of crusty gunk that’s stuck on the surface. Like the spillover from pots that gathers around the burners. Or gravy splashes. Or the dried oil splatter from whatever you cooked four days ago.

It’s got to go. When you don’t have store-bought oven cleaner (it works for stoves too) or a commercial cleaning solution available, you can DIY the job. Get your glass top, ceramic burners, or stainless steel stove looking fresh without any scratches. Check out the tips below!

  1. White Vinegar

    All-powerful white vinegar doesn’t disappoint. Pour some into a spray bottle and spritz your stove top. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Wipe clean.

    For stubborn goop, sprinkle some Borax or baking soda first and then spray vinegar on the area. Let it sit for 15-30 minutes and use a moist paper towel or soft sponge for wiping.

  2. Baking Soda + Towels

    Do a little baking soda magic! What you do is liberally sprinkle baking soda on your cook top. Saturate some rags or towels in warm, soapy water, and then lay them on the surface. Check out the method by clicking Clean My Space to see how easy and well this works!

  3. Razor Scraper

    You probably have a small razor scraper in your toolbox or garage but did you know they’re great for lifting old food? Spray the surface first and then carefully scrape off burnt food and other debris. Push down and away with gentle pressure. If you don’t have a scraper, you can pick one up from a hardware store. Rubber ones are also an option.

  4. Ammonia

    Anytime you work with ammonia, ventilate! For this method, you’ll need to gather some rags or paper towels and plastic wrap as a covering. This works great for the areas around the burners where grime gets cakey. You can remove the burner hardware if you want.

    Place the rags or paper towels around the burner rims where it’s heavily soiled. Drizzle (not pour) ammonia onto the rags until saturated. Use a small cup or spoon if necessary. Cover the stove top with plastic wrap for at least 3 hours or overnight. Remove coverings and wipe clean.

  5. Vegetable Oil

    It may sound counterintuitive, but oil actually helps to remove grease spots from your stove top. Put olive oil or another veggie oil on a paper towel and wipe your greasy range. Try it out on the knobs, range hoods, and the control panel too!

  6. Baking Soda + Hydrogen Peroxide

    Combining these two household items can make light work out of your cruddy stove. Mix ½ cup of baking soda with enough peroxide to make a thick paste. Slather it onto your cook top and leave it for 15 minutes. Wipe away icky spots with a soft sponge or paper towel.

  7. Lemon + Salt

    For non-glass stove tops, rub a lemon half on grease or food stains. Sprinkle salt on top and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. Use a damp cloth to scrub it away. Lemon is a natural degreaser and salt acts as an abrasive cleaner.

We’re not going to lecture you about taking care of problem spots before they mummify on your range, but working one of these methods into your routine can cut down on the amount of food remains left to rot.

If you have a stainless steel stove, be sure to avoid wire scrubbing tools or abrasive cleaners. With all of these methods, wipe dry with a clean rag or paper towel.

Are you guilty of letting cook top muck pile up? Have you ever tried one of these methods? What other tricks do you use to clean your range?

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