There was need for some major stove top cleaning after a Thanksgiving Stove Top Stuffing explosion took place at our home last week. I prefer not to get into the gory details, except to say that Windex Antibacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner does a pretty good job tackling stove top surface stains.
In addition, Scotch Brite’s Greener Clean Soap Loaded Scrubbers are also a good thing to have on hand to deal with kitchen disasters. The small, oval shaped sponges are mildly abrasive, but the box claims that the scrubbers won’t damage stove tops. One of the nice features of this product is that it comes with a biodegradable, phosphorous-free soap built right inside. They are similar to Brillo pads in that they come fully loaded with soap; however, the scrubbers are made from recycled plastic bottles, so they are gentler and don’t scratch hard surfaces.
If you are looking for a non-commercial cleaner to wipe up stove top messes, then consider making a solution of white vinegar diluted with water. Other people swear by lemon juice, while still others insist that making a paste of baking soda and water will get your stove tops clean as a whistle. In college, my roommate and I used undiluted isopropyl alcohol to clean our tiny stove top and it worked quite well. However, if you have to resort to using alcohol on the stove, it is extremely important that the areas you are cleaning are completely dry before turning on the burners.
If you are cleaning a gas range, turn the gas off before you start deep cleaning. Then, fill your kitchen sink with very hot water and add a bit of liquid dish soap. Next, take off the burner covers and the drip trays and soak them in the soapy water mixture. While they soak, spray a cotton rag with either white vinegar or an all-purpose commercial cleaner, and thoroughly wipe the stove top. After you’ve scrubbed the items in the sink, dry them thoroughly before returning them to their respective spots.