Starting the New Year off with a clean stovetop is not as hard as you may think. There are many different products available to keep your stovetop clean; it is not always necessary to buy the most expensive product to keep your stove and kitchen grease-free. Whether you are trying to clean off a ceramic stovetop or a traditional stovetop with burners and drip pans, it is possible to start this year with an actual clean stovetop (along with other kitchen surfaces that get greasy).
To degrease your stovetop, first remove all the loose pieces. Soak the burners, drip pans, and knobs in hot soapy water while you clean the stovetop. You can use your favorite liquid cleanser on the stovetop and wipe it down well with a sponge or dish cloth. Scrub the loose parts that were soaking in the soapy water. Some people like to line their drip trays with aluminum foil to keep them clean; simply change the foil when it gets dirty. It is best to wipe down your stove after every use to keep it clean.
There are a few different brands of ceramic cook top cleaners; the name brand does seem to make a difference in this case – store brands just do not work as well, according to most reviewers. Use the name brand cleaner with a fresh, clean, non-soap, sponge. For more baked on spots, you may need to scrub to get them clean.
For a spot that refuses to be scrubbed off with a ceramic cleaner and sponge, you can try using a brand new razor blade held at a 45-degree angle to the stove. After scraping, wipe down the stovetop.
To keep your ceramic stovetop clean, wipe it down immediately after cooking. The directions advise you to wait until the top is completely cooled down to clean it, but you will find that grease and other foods will wipe off much easier while the surface is still warm (not hot!). Make sure that your dishcloth or sponge is wet and rewet it when it starts to feel warm in your hand.
To clean the grease spots off kitchen cabinets and walls, use a spray bottle of vinegar and water. Spray down the cabinets and walls, then wipe with a wet sponge or rag. Scrub any grease spots with baking soda and a non-abrasive sponge. Spray and wipe down again with the vinegar/water mixture to remove all spots completely. Using vinegar will also remove any smells lingering in your kitchen from the old grease. You can use this vinegar spray once a week (more or less depending on how often you cook) to keep your cabinets and walls clean and odor-free.
