How to clean a flat top stove – 5 expert-approved steps to a streak-free shine

You may not ask yourself how to clean a flat top stove very frequently – but despite its mundane nature – this task should not go overlooked. While a streak-free strove is often at the bottom of your agenda when cleaning a kitchen, it is important to give it a thorough clean at least every month – to ensure it continues to cook food safely and efficiently.  

It is common practice to wipe your flat top stove on a daily basis, but what does a deep clean involve? The process is not as complex as you may initially expect – and you can complete the cleaning with vinegar and other essentials you may already have in your kitchen. Here’s how to clean a flat top stove, the professional way. 

How to clean a flat top stove – 5 steps to a spotless finish

1. Fill your bowl with hot water and dishwashing soap

Cooking expert Vaishnavi Davande from Spices & Aroma is a professional in the kitchen. When she's cleaning a flat top stove she suggests taking a large bowl or small bucket and pouring 10-12 cups of hot tap water inside. 'Then add 2 tablespoons of dishwashing soap and mix it well,' she says. This will create a sudsy soap mixture that is perfect for the clean.  

2. Wipe your flat top stove

After making sure your stove is turned off, Vaishnavi recommends wiping your flat top stove to remove the main debris. 

'Start wiping your top stove with the mixture with the help of a cloth that is soaked in the mixture. Then remove away loose pieces of food or dirt using the cloth,' she instructs. Once you have a clean basis, you can begin the deeper clean, using vinegar and baking soda. 

3. Clean with vinegar and baking soda

For the most important step in this kitchen idea, Vaishnavi recommends taking a bowl and making a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar [such as this one from Amazon] and 1 cup of hot tap water. She suggests putting the mixture into the spray bottle and spraying the solution over your flattop stove. You should then sprinkle some baking soda on any areas that look particularly stained. 

'The soda will react to the vinegar solution and will lead to removing the stains easily,' Vaishnavi says. 

4. Scrub in a circular motion

After applying the solution and baking soda, Vaishnavi urges you to scrub in a circular motion. 'This will help in weakening the bits of food on your stove. The soda will act as a gentle scrub to remove the remaining residue,' she says. 

And this cooking expert isn't alone in her admiration for this technique. Phi Dang, the Director of Sidepost cleaning services similarly uses vinegar to clean a flat top stove – adding that you can use also use a plastic or a wooden utensil to remove stubborn food leftovers.

'Avoid metal ones at any cost, as they will damage and scratch your stovetop,' Phi adds.

 5: Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth 

'Once you are done scrubbing, use another cloth and remove the remaining baking soda and water residue,' the expert says. You should then use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe away the extra residue and to completely dry your top stove with a streak-free finish. 'Focus on areas where the dirt is stuck to ensure there are no stains left behind,' Vaishnavi says.  

Can you use Windex on a glass top stove?

When aiming for a spotless shine, it can feel natural to reach for the Windex. However, these commercial products are not suitable for cooktops, as they can leave permanent streaking on your surface. Therefore, the combination of the vinegar-solution and microfiber cloth is the best for a spotless finish.