Revive Your Cooktop With Simple Fixes For Cleaning Burn Marks And Stains

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Cooktops are the workhorses of kitchens. They're where all the cooking magic takes place — but magic is rarely tidy. Even if you give your stove a cursory wipe-down at the end of the night, you might not feel like putting sweat into scrubbing out burn marks and dried stains at nine o'clock in the evening, leaving it for another day. Well, if that day has finally come around, you might be in the market for easy ways to remove such stubborn marks from your stovetop, whether you have a gas range or an electric glass top. We've rounded up a series of hacks that actually work, guaranteeing that even the most stubborn burn marks or water stains will be lifted from their surfaces.

The best part is that all of these methods are simple fixes, meaning you won't have to go out and buy new gadgets or invest in too many new specialty cleaners in order to achieve results. Some of these hacks use different methods to get the same result, allowing you to choose one that uses products you already have on hand or that you're most comfortable with. Here's how to get your appliance to look brand new again with these simple cleaning tricks. 

Did your pot of pasta bubble over, leaving a starchy, brown stain on your glass burner? You may have been able to remove some of it with a cleaner and sponge, but chances are, there is still some residue left over that no amount of scrubbing can lift. If so, it's time to switch tactics and use a ceramic glass cleaner and a razor blade. For a good paste, try something name-brand and trusted like Weiman Glass Cooktop Heavy Duty Cleaner or Carbona Ceramic Cook Top Cleaner. It's important to use a product specifically made for ceramic glass, since it will be strong enough to tackle grease and food residue without being too abrasive. Abrasive cleaners can leave tiny nicks on the glass surface, which will make your cooktop look worn over time — one of the biggest mistakes when cleaning glass stoves.

If gritty cleaners can damage your cooktop, you might be wondering if using a razor blade to clean a burnt stove is a good idea. Well, it all depends on how you hold it. To scrape off the burn marks, position the razor blade at a 45-degree angle and gently scrape in short strokes. Using a lower or higher angle might create accidental scratches, so keep your hand steady during this process. Next, add a small dot of paste to each burner. Skip the large globs you often see on TikTok, as they just create waste and are a hassle to wipe off. Use a cloth to spread it across each burner and allow it to fully dry. Once it does, use a microfiber cloth to buff away the product, leaving behind a mark-free surface. If you still see some residue, simply repeat the process with the razor blade and paste, slowly working until you get a clear cooktop.

Don't have specialty cleaning paste on hand? Well, if you have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your pantry, then all is not lost. You can use it to tackle those tedious burn marks with just a paper towel. Simply squirt hydrogen peroxide over the stain, enough to create a small puddle on the burner. Let it sit for a minute or two to allow it to penetrate the burnt food. Then, put a paper towel over it, allowing it to become saturated with the liquid. Let it sit for about half an hour before wiping it clean, and you should see the burn marks come up on the wet towel. 

While this method is effective, it doesn't have the same success rate as the razor blade and ceramic glass cleaner. Some commentators who tried it have found it works best on fresh burn marks, not ones that have been sitting for a week or more. For older stains, you'll likely need to combine the peroxide with other cleaners. For instance, a popular concoction with confirmed success is mixing Dawn dish soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide  on the glass top, spreading the paste evenly across the surface. You can just eyeball the measurements, but make sure you don't add too much peroxide so it stays thick and not runny. Allow it to penetrate for around 10 minutes, and then scrub it clean with a soft bristle brush. You should see the food instantly lift away. 

Do you want to remove burn marks from your glass stove, but you hate mopping up a ton of product to do so? Skip that step altogether with the help of Earth Stone Kitchen Cleaning Block. It's one of the easiest ways to clean glass stove tops. This pumice stone is made from 98% recycled materials, making it not only mess-free but also an eco-friendly alternative to chemical cleaning products and plastic sponges. It has a pumice-like texture, and you use it dry to remove gunk and burn marks from your glass stove top. While it's hard to the touch, it is safe enough (and recommended to be used on) porcelain, stove grates, inside ovens, and most ceramic glass cooktops and tempered glass. Just make sure you purchase the Kitchen Cleaning Block specifically, as that one is soft enough to use on glass surfaces. However, since the brand highlights that it can be used on "most" glass cooktops, it's a good idea to test drive it in an inconspicuous spot first, like the back corner of the top. 

To use it, simply apply the dry stone to any buildup on your surface, using very gentle pressure. Avoid pressing down hard, as this can result in unintended scratches. Instead, lightly place the block on the cooktop and gently move it back and forth, with no pressure. Then, use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe away any dislodged debris, and move on to wiping down the stove with your preferred cleaning product.

Do you have cloudy water stains ringing the outlines of your burners? It seems no matter what product you use — from specialty glass cooktop cleaners to a baking soda paste — nothing removes those rings. That's because the stain is actually mineral deposits left over after the hard water evaporates on your hot cooktop, and not every cleaner can remove minerals like calcium and magnesium. If you're at your wit's end, it's time to grab Bar Keepers Friend. Specifically, use the Soft Cleaner rather than the powder. 

Simply add a squirt of cleaner onto your cooktop, and use a soft, damp sponge to work it into the surface. The mineral deposits will come right up due to Bar Keepers Friend's main active ingredient: oxalic acid. It's more acidic than vinegar and will help dissolve the deposits, allowing you to remove that chalky film with little to no muscle power. Once you're done scrubbing, take a damp microfiber towel and wipe it clean. Some experts might then recommend wiping the top clean with Windex to reduce streaking, but it's best to skip that step. Glass cleaners like Windex are formulated with ammonia, which can end up etching the glass after repeated use. Instead, use something like diluted vinegar to minimize streaks.

Mistakes happen — sometimes you throw your tea towel onto the stove top, forgetting that the surface is still warm. If your towel is made from polyester or a similar plastic, then a portion of it will melt onto your top. You will quickly find that no amount of Bar Keepers Friend or baking soda will remove it, which might make you want to go into panic mode. But fear not! All you will need is a razor blade to clean melted plastic off your stovetop.

Angle your blade at a 45-degree angle and slowly glide it back and forth along the hardened plastic residue. Chip away at it, but use very gentle pressure to avoid accidentally scratching the glass surface. As the residue dislodges, wipe it away with a damp microfiber cloth. To make the process easier, consider getting a handheld razor blade, such as the WEGAZ Razor Blade Scraper.

If you have a gas stove, you also get your fair share of bubbling-over pots and splashing grease. If you're battling some old burn marks and no amount of scrubbing is helping, it might be time to try a specific product to cut through the mess. Enter The Pink Stuff. It's lightly abrasive because it has things like ground quartz and baking soda in it, creating a fine but gritty texture that will help remove caked-on food. It's also lightly alkaline, making it great to remove any grease and fat buildup because those substances are acidic, and you need a high pH balance to dissolve them.

To use it, grab a damp sponge and use it to scoop some product onto your stove top. Then, use it to scrub away the grease and burn marks with ease. If you need some more muscle power or need to get very close to the burner holes, grab a stiff toothbrush. Wipe it clean with a damp microfiber cloth, and you should be as good as new! A word of caution: You should avoid using this product on glass stovetops. While the brand does not explicitly say to avoid using the paste on ceramic glass, there have been anecdotal reports in reviews of it scratching cooktops. Because of this, you might want to steer clear unless you're desperate to remove a mess after exhausting all other options.

When you have a gas stove, you don't just have to worry about removing burn marks and residue from the stovetop. There are also grimy grates to contend with. If it's been a while since you last washed these cast iron accessories, then you might have quite the job ahead of you. There will be layers of grease and residue, which will either require a good amount of elbow grease or harsh cleaners such as ammonia or oven cleaners. However, you can skip all of that with the help of pumice stones.

These all-natural products are made from volcanic rock, and you can use a pumice stone to help clean everywhere from your oven to your grill grates to your burner caps to get stubborn food debris off. Such an example is the Pumie Scouring Stick. "They are the best tool around for busting through greasy deposits on stove grates," Laura Smith of All Star Cleaning Services told Martha Stewart. To use them, first wipe down the surface with soap and water to get the majority of the gunk off. Then, whatever is left, attack with the stone. However, to ensure the rock doesn't scratch or chip the surface, make sure to keep it thoroughly wet while scrubbing. You also want to use a gentle amount of pressure — refrain from pressing down to force any grease or burnt food off. "Be sure to keep your pumice stone wet while cleaning, and rewet often to prevent scratching. We keep ours in a cup of water and re-dunk every couple of minutes," Smith noted.

If you have stubborn burn marks that haven't disappeared no matter what product you used, it's time to try the Scrub Daddy Power Paste. The cleaner is mildly abrasive, making it great for tackling difficult messes like soap scum, limescale buildup, grease residue, and burn marks. One of its main active ingredients is clay, but it begins to foam once you work it into your chosen surface. It also comes in a pack with a Scrub Mommy, which is the brand's dual-surface sponge, which has a foam sponge on one side and a scrubber on the other. 

Dampen the sponge, dip the scrubber side into the paste, and rub it onto the burn marks. You should begin to immediately see pieces start to flake off. Depending on how dark the scorch mark is, you may have to go in several times until it completely clears. However, keep in mind that people have experienced different levels of success with this paste. Some, like this particular TikToker, haven't been able to lift burn marks until they tried this. Others swear that Bar Keepers Friend does the same thing and is a quarter of the price. However, depending on what kind of grease residue you have, at what temperatures it got baked into the surface, and how long it's been sitting there, you might need to try several different products until you find the one that cuts through your particular mess. That's why this specific combo might be worth trying if products like Bar Keepers Friend or The Pink Stuff didn't work. 

Have you been cooking a lot of fried food this past week and your stove looks worse for wear? All you might need is a little bit of Dawn Platinum Powerwash dish soap and baking soda to get it looking new again. Dawn Platinum Powerwash claims to clean grease five times faster than other dish soaps, and that's because it has "three cleaning boosters" that aren't found in competitor brands. It also is highly alkaline, which is a must if you want to break down fats. Baking soda is also alkaline, and it has the added benefit of providing a gritty texture, creating a mild abrasive that will rub at the baked-on food residue.

First, clean the worst of the residue off by dampening the stove top with hot water and then spraying the soap on top. Give the surfactant a minute or two to begin dissolving the grease, and then go in with the rough side of your sponge to remove most of the residue. Wipe it clean, and if you still have grease splotches left over, go in with your dish soap and baking soda paste to remove the last of it. Add baking soda into a small bowl and add a squirt of dish soap. Add a little bit of water to the mix — just enough to create a paste rather than turning it runny — and mix it together. Then, spread it across your stove top and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. Using a wet sponge, use the abrasive side to scrub at the grease. You should begin to see it lift away, leaving behind a smooth and clean surface.