How To Clean a Black Glass Cooktop

Black Glass Cooktop: Basic Remedies

Cleaning a black glass cooktop might make you worry about scratching the surface. But it's actually simple and easy with the right choice of cleaners.

Sugary spills can cause pitting and other irreparable damage if allowed to burn or cool and harden, but for most other spills you should allow the cooktop to cool before cleaning, to avoid injury.

Use these steps to clean the glass portion only of the cooktop range. Other materials, such as metal, may be adversely affected by some of these methods.

Liquid dish soap is usually close at hand in the kitchen, and this method requires no mixing. For light soil, apply 1 teaspoon liquid dish detergent to the cooktop with a moistened paper towel. Rub gently in a circular motion to dislodge caked-on stains. Use a dry paper towel to remove the detergent and dirt. The disadvantage to this method is that the dirt/soap mixture is a little difficult to remove, so use a dry paper towel to remove as much of the mixture as you can. Rinse the cooktop with a moistened paper towel to remove any remaining soap residue. Dry with a clean paper towel.

Vinegar is an easy solution to apply and remove. For light soil, dilute vinegar with equal parts water. Apply the vinegar mixture to the cooktop using a clean paper towel. Rub gently in a circular motion to dislodge caked-on stains. Wet a clean paper towel with water, and use to rinse stain and vinegar residue from the cooktop. Dry with a clean paper towel. Don't use vinegar on metal parts as it can damage the finish.

You can also use vinegar on heavy soil and baked-on grease.  Soak a paper towel in undiluted vinegar. Press securely onto the stain and allow to sit for 15 - 20 minutes. After 15 - 20 minutes, rub in a circular motion to dislodge stain material. Wet a clean paper towel with water, and use to rinse stain and vinegar residue from the cooktop. Dry with a clean paper towel.

If the odor of plain vinegar is bothersome, apple cider vinegar will produce similar cleaning results with less odor. The brown color of apple cider vinegar may stain light-colored rags and clothing. Apple cider vinegar contains a small amount of sugar, so because sugar can damage black glass cooktops if allowed to sit, do not use apple cider vinegar for the heavy soil and baked-on grease method.

Baking soda is easy to apply, effective on stains, and easy to remove. It is a mild abrasive, so although it is softer than a glass cooktop, you should test it on an inconspicuous area to make sure that it will not scratch the surface.

Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1/2 tablespoon of water to make a soft
paste. For light soil that results from normal use, apply the baking soda mixture
to the cooktop with a clean paper towel. Rub gently in a circular motion to dislodge  caked-on stains. Wet a clean paper towel with water, and use to rinse stain and baking soda residue from the cooktop. Dry with a clean paper towel.

For heavy soil and baked-on grease, use a soft bristled toothbrush to apply
baking soda mixture directly to problem areas. Allow to sit for 2 - 5 minutes, but do not allow mixture to harden and create additional stains. While the mixture is still soft, rub gently in a circular motion to dislodge stain material. Lightly moisten a clean paper towel with water, and use to rinse stain and baking soda residue from the cooktop. Dry with a clean paper towel.

The baking soda method is the most  effective overall, as it is affordable, accessible, eco-friendly, easily scouring baked-on stains, and forming clumps which are easy to remove with minimal residue. It also has the added advantage of absorbing cooking odors.

Dry dish detergent will also remove stains, but is not recommended as the granules  tend to scatter rather than clump and easily get caught between the glass cooktop surface and the metal trim and knobs.

Borax mixed with table salt and applied with a moist paper towel or sponge will give similar scouring and stain removal results to the dry dish detergent. The Borax solution also shares the same disadvantages as the dry dish detergent method: particles scatter rather than clump, and can be difficult to remove from the cooktop, and get caught in gaps between the  glass surface and the oven fittings.

Caution: Never mix cleaning agents or chemicals, the result can be dangerous or deadly. Before cleaning, always test the agent on an inconspicuous location to determine its suitability and to make certain it does not damage the material.