Originally published March 10, 2017. Substantially updated August 19, 2026.
Quick Answer
To clean a glass stovetop without scratching it, start with the instructions for your exact model. For ordinary cleaning, turn the controls off, let the surface cool, remove loose grit, and use a soft cloth or other nonabrasive tool with a cleaner your manufacturer allows. Wipe away all cleaner residue and dry the surface before using the cooktop again.
But this post actually began with a cleaning method I tested on my own glass stovetop using Dawn dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and a brush. That original method and my step-by-step photos are still below. I have also added updated guidance so you can decide what is appropriate for your particular cooktop before trying it.
Featured by BuzzFeed: BuzzFeed has linked to this original stovetop-cleaning method more than once, including again in August 2026. I am keeping the original method and photos that were featured while adding updated no-scratch and manufacturer-first guidance for today’s glass and ceramic cooktops.
Before You Try My Original Method
- Read the manual for your exact model. Cleaning instructions can differ among glass and ceramic cooktops.
- For ordinary cleaning, turn every control off and let the surface cool.
- Use nonabrasive materials. Do not assume that a brush, powder, pad, scraper, or household cleaning mixture is safe for every cooktop.
- Do not use extra pressure on stubborn marks. Coarse tools and heavy scrubbing can damage some surfaces.
- Treat burned sugar and melted plastic as special cases. Some manufacturers provide time-sensitive instructions for these spills, so check your model’s manual rather than relying on a general cleaning hack.
My Original Glass Stovetop Method — Featured by BuzzFeed
I must admit, I am not a fan of my glass stove. I yearn for the day I will have a chef’s kitchen with a gas range stove. I dream about that every night.
In the meantime, I endured the annoyance of cleaning the same glass stove for nine years. It was with me through the ups and downs of my weight loss journey and all those healthy meals. And boy did it get dirty! I scrubbed and used my elbow grease on stains, food, and grease that did their hardest not to budge.
When I originally wrote this post, my little baby had become a little toddler, I was using the stove much more often, and this was the method that worked on my own cooktop. I did not measure the ingredients.
This is the exact method I personally used on my stove. It is not a universal manufacturer-approved formula for every glass or ceramic cooktop, so check the care instructions for your own model before trying it.
How I Cleaned My Glass Stovetop
- I drizzled Dawn dish soap over my stovetop.
- I drizzled on hydrogen peroxide.
- I sprinkled baking soda on top.
- I used a brush to mix the ingredients while brushing the surface.
- I wiped the mixture away with a damp paper towel and worked on a couple of trouble spots.
What I’d Do Differently Today
That was my original process, and it left my stove looking clean and shiny.
What I know now is that an unspecified brush, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and this particular mixture may not be appropriate for every cooktop. It worked in my personal test, but I would check the manual for your own stove before repeating my exact method.
What You’ll Need for Routine Glass Stovetop Cleaning
Generally Low-Risk Items
- Clean, soft microfiber cloths or another soft cloth
- Warm water
- A separate clean, dry cloth for the final wipe
- Your cooktop manual or the manufacturer’s care instructions
Only If Your Manufacturer Permits It
- A small amount of mild dish soap
- Baking soda or another model-approved cleaner
- A nonabrasive sponge or cooktop cleaning pad
- A scraper designed for ceramic glass cooktops
Hydrogen peroxide was part of my original personal method above, but the manufacturer guidance reviewed for this update did not establish it as a general recommendation. It is not part of the routine cleaning method below.
How to Clean Everyday Grease and Light Grime
- Check the cleaning section of the manual for your exact model.
- Turn off the cooktop and let it cool completely.
- Remove loose crumbs with a clean, soft cloth. Do not drag gritty debris across the glass.
- Apply only the cleaner and amount allowed by the manufacturer. If the manual permits mild dish soap, use a small amount rather than coating the surface.
- Wipe gently with a clean, soft cloth or an approved nonabrasive pad. Avoid excessive pressure.
- Use a separate clean, damp cloth to remove detergent or cleaner residue, then dry the surface completely.
If a mark remains, identify the type of soil before escalating to a stronger product or tool. More pressure is not always the answer.
What About Burned-On Food?
Start with the method approved for your model. Some manufacturers recommend a dedicated ceramic-cooktop cleaner and approved pad. Some allow a cooktop scraper for stubborn residue; others warn that a scraper can damage a particular coating. That is why a random razor blade is not a universal solution.
If your manual permits a scraper, use only the type and technique it specifies. If it does not, soften or treat the residue only as directed and repeat the approved cleaning process.
Stop if the glass appears cracked, pitted, or damaged, or if the residue may be melted plastic. Those situations may require manufacturer support or service.
How to Remove White Film or Haze
A white film can be leftover soap or cleaner, but some marks may come from minerals or another kind of residue. Do not assume every haze has the same cause.
First, wipe the cool surface with a clean cloth dampened with water. Repeat with a fresh section of cloth until no cleaner remains, then dry and polish with a separate soft cloth.
If the haze remains, consult the manual for its approved method for mineral marks, discoloration, or cleaner residue. Instead of adding another chemical at random, use the method approved for the surface.
How to Avoid Scratching a Glass Stovetop
- Wipe away loose grit instead of dragging it across the surface.
- Use only soft cloths, nonabrasive tools, and cleaners approved for the model.
- Avoid steel wool, coarse scrubbers, and abrasive cleaning powders unless the manual explicitly identifies a product as safe.
- Do not use excessive pressure on a stubborn mark.
- Do not slide pots and pans across the glass. Keep cookware bottoms clean and dry.
- Never improvise with a knife, metal spatula, or random razor blade.
What NOT to Use Without Checking Your Manual
- Steel wool or coarse scrubbers
- Abrasive powders or harsh cleaners
- An unspecified brush or scouring pad
- A razor or cooktop scraper
- Baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or other household mixtures
- Any method that depends on heavy pressure
This does not mean every item on this list is prohibited by every manufacturer. It means the guidance varies, so the instructions for your actual cooktop should decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use baking soda on a glass stovetop?
Sometimes, but not as a universal rule. Some manufacturer instructions allow baking soda for certain stains, while others direct owners to a dedicated cooktop cleaner. Check your model manual, avoid abrasive pressure, and do not assume a method for one brand applies to another.
Can I use dish soap on a glass stovetop?
A small amount of mild dish soap may be acceptable when the manufacturer permits it. Use a soft cloth or approved nonabrasive tool, remove all soap residue with a clean damp cloth, and dry the surface before heating it again.
Can I use a razor scraper on a glass stovetop?
Only if the instructions for your exact model permit a ceramic-cooktop scraper and explain how to use it. Scraper guidance varies, and an unapproved blade or angle can scratch or damage some surfaces.
How do I remove burned-on food from a glass stovetop?
Let the surface cool unless the manual gives special instructions for a time-sensitive spill. Use the approved cleaner and nonabrasive pad first. If the manual permits a cooktop scraper, follow its specified tool and technique. For burned sugar, melted plastic, cracks, or pitting, follow the manufacturer’s special instructions or contact support.
Manufacturer Cleaning Guidance
For the manufacturer guidance used to qualify this update, see Whirlpool’s glass-cooktop cleaning guidance, GE Appliances’ glass-cooktop instructions, and Samsung’s electric-cooktop care guide. Your own model manual takes priority.
More MyThirtySpot Cleaning Guides
- Easily De-Funk Your Bath Towels
- How to Remove Permanent Marker from Anything
- How To Clean Your Front Loading Washer and Get Rid of That Smell!
A note about the comments below: This post was originally published in 2017 and has accumulated years of reader tips and suggestions. Some of those recommendations may not be appropriate for every glass cooktop. Please follow the updated guidance above and the instructions for your specific model before trying a reader-recommended cleaning method.
I have done this, but after I wiped it off there was a white film on it, but it did work really well.
I just kept wiping it with the damp cloth until it was gone. But you can also add a little white vinegar to the cloth that will help to remove the white film.
??I always had a gas range. Moving into another rental property that has a glass top range.
This will come in handy. Thank you!!!
A magic eraser worked better than anything else I used
I agree a magic eraser works well. However Erin’s mixture also works for really heavy build up. That’s when I’m gone for a few days a discover that sweet husband has not cleaned the stovetop after cooking…………..grrrrrrr!!!
By a complete accident I found that the stainless steel cleaner that is ina spray can really shines up after deep cleaning.
I use a microfiber wash cloth size towel to dry mine and it sparkles.
I just use the glass cooktop cleaner that is actually made for cleaning these things. Heavy stuff I scrape off with a razor blade….I put the razor in one of those little metal holders for it that retracts the blade. I actually love my glass cooktop because I grew up with an electric range that had those black burners that were a huge pain to clean. This is way easier than that ever was and specifically why I bought a glass cooktop. I’m one those weirdos that doesn’t like gas. And the cleaner designed for this purpose makes it simple. The brand I usually use is Weiman. It’s sold at my local grocery store as well as Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. Is hydrogen peroxide flammable?
I clean mine the exact same way using the glass top cleaner, works perfectly but I keep mine sparkling clean after every meal. It really takes very little effort to clean it and I’ve owned two.
Weiman’s is great. No dealing with soapy mess. Just a paper towel or two. It’s what the cooktop maker recommends
Thank you,Thank you,Thank you!!!!
I love my glasstop stove. I’ve had one at my last three homes. They always looked like new. I just wipe them off after using. Use a nylon scubbie rinsed in dish water and if you have a burnt on spot, dribble soapy water on it for a few minutes and comes right off.
My glass top gets burned on grease after the 2 teens have been in there…lol. I like using vinegar with a very small amount of Dawn and baking soda. I usually mix it all up on top of the stove, let it sit while i clean something else and with just a little scrubbing the burned on gease comes right off. You can also use a microfiber was cloth to dry and polish it. Sparkles.
I just moved not to long ago and I have always had gas, I know have a black glass and I would like to shot it, as soon as I can I’m gonna have a pretty gas range installed I’m planning to redo the whole kitchen and then flip this house it was a big mistake, My Husband passed in june , and every body said I needed to down size, wrong in so many ways, It just made me miss my Husband even more , the wrong time to make such a drastic change.
I HAVE HAD MY GLASS TOP STOVE FOR AROUND 16 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER WANTED TO GO TO ANY OTHER TYPE OF STOVE. I LOVE IT. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM CLEANING IT AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT. I WASH IT WITH DAWN AFTER EACH USE. I USE THE WEIMAN CLEANER/POLISH EVER SO OFTEN. THIS KEEPS IT SHINY AND NEW LOOKING. IT ISN’T THAT EXPENSIVE SINCE A BOTTLE LAST A VERY LONG TIME. IT DOESN’T TAKE MUCH OF THE CLEANER AT ALL. HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE TO SAVE A LOT OF TIME AND HAVE LESS MESS. IF SOMETHING GETS BURNED ON I’VE ALWAYS USED THE SINGLE EDGE RAZOR BLADE SCRAPER TO SCRATCH OFF THE EXCESS AND THEN CLEAN AND POLISH IT. IT IS SO EASY. THANKS FOR YOUR ARTICLE.
Thank you ladies!!!!
I have NEVER used a razor blade on my white glass stovetop, and it’s sparkling yet after 16 years. I use a drop or two of the Weiman cleaner, scrubbing lightly with the red scrubby made by that company for this purpose, sold in grocery stores. Just wipe off with a paper towel and polish with a clean one. Do this after every burned on spot, You will be happy with the results.
You might also try Bon-Ami. You’ll find it in the ‘cleanser aisle at the store.
One may think it will scratch, but nay-nay! It even says it on the can, “Hasn’t
scratched yet!” It has been around since 1886! Just put a little bit on a wet
rag & rub spots off of stove. If spots are really stuck on the stove top, just
use the Bon-Ami with a wet 3M Non-Scratch cloth. Both work great, with
no scratching. Try it! Also, it costs about $1.00/can.
Yes all those things that you are using for the glass top cleaning are exactly what I use and it keeps the top beautiful!
Thank you.. For this wonderful cleaning idea..
Great tip! The hydrogen peroxide will also sanitize any bacteria too! Does anyone know a good tip for the scratches? I have a few minor ones from dragging heavy pots on the glass.
I actually got out of bed.at 11:30pm to try.this! WONDERFUL,WONDERFUL,WONDERFUL. The white vinegar is the thing to use if your glass top is older and pitted from all that scrapping with the razor.
Thanks so much!!
All good tips, will try. But, what about the oven? How do you clean them on those stoves. Says not to use oven cleaner. Heat to ,500° and just wipe out. Has not worked on mine.
You should have a self-clean button on your oven. It takes the heat up super high and for about 2 hours to burn off all of the grease and mess. Give it a try. Be warned that the oven will lock and you won’t be able to open. I am working on some cleaning hacks for the oven.
And remember to remove the. Baking racks first or they will discolor quite dramatically.
Does is have to be Dawn dish soap or will any dish soap work?
Thanks for the cleaning hacks!! Can’t wait to try ? My oven cleans like a charm … just
Turn it on and a few hours later, I wipe up the ashes and it looks great!!
Be careful with that self cleaning button. I tried it and melted the plastic rim on my cabinets that were next to the oven.
Oh my goodness! I have never heard of that. So sorry. Thanks for the warning.
I just had to replace my whole range after using the self cleaning cycle. The repairman said it’s not uncommon to have the oven not work after using the self cleaning cycle, it gets so hot that it can cause permanent damage to the circuit board that runs the oven.
After several visits for oven temp being inaccurate repeatedly, service repairman indicated self cleaning is such a hot temp that it was scorching the wires in the oven door, creating temp problems. I cannot afford 3 visits in 5 years so I now opt to grudgingly try to keep it clean by hand on a regular basis. Repair said “call me before you buy another appliance, I will tell you what not to buy”.
What about how to clean between the oven door & the glass?
I have a GE Profile glass top. I use the self clean all the time and have never had a problem. Sorry to hear about your issues.
We bought a house recently with a glass top stove. It has stuff caked/baked/cooked/stuck to it that no amount of scrubbing will get off. I have tried this before, except with plain white vinager
and it didn’t bring it off. Do you think it was because I used white vinager or do you know anything else I can try?
Try sprinkling baking soda on top and drizzle hydrogen peroxide on top until it is saturated. Let it sit over night. Scrub the next day with a non-scratch sponge. You might have to do this a few time, but it will eventually work.
Spray with greased lightening and sprinkle beekeepers friend. Scrub to work it in. Cover with paper towels. Spray the paper towels with greased lightening. Then cover with plastic so won’t dry out. I use the bags from grocery store. Let sit over night or longer. Next day use paper towels to wipe off cook top. Should sparkle like new. Since your stove top is so built may take a couple of treatments. Hope it works as well for you as it has for me. Good luck.
What is greased lightening and where do I find it and Beekeepers friend? I’ve never heard of either. Please email me at [email protected]
Thank you in advance, Carol
It isn’t beekeepers friend . . . its barkeepers friend. Comes in a gold and red and white canister where the ordinary cleanser powders are kept.
Greased lightning … . . sorry can’t help you with that one.
good luck . . . Julie
Grease lightning is a great product and can be found at your local Home Depot store. I use it to clean my aluminum siding, and the white vinyl that is on my windows.
I think maybe that is meant to mean Barkeepers Friend and it is at Wal Mart and other grocery stores. It comes in a liquid (creamy texture) or a powder sprinkle
can like Ajax or Bon Ami!!
Thankyou I need to clean my stove today.
I will follow these instructions
it looks great and my y question is, can Dawn hand soap be used vs Dawn dish soap? thanks
I don’t believe so. Dawn dish soap is different and works to cut grease. You can try it, but I can’t guarantee results.
Good luck!
I purchased a home that has a glass cooktop stove. It is black and makes my small kitchen look even smaller. I have always had a gas stove and if I get a decent sized tax refund next year, that stove is gone. I think it was probably pretty when it was new, but I have inherited an older stove with many small scratches and a couple of large scratches. I like cooking with my cast iron pans but do not use them because of breakage concerns.
However, thank you for the cleaning hint. I’m going to try that this afternoon.
Wow! THats a lots of chemicals! I love my glass top cook stove top. Deliberately chose it for my island! To clean it I use Rutland hearth & grill Conditioning Glass Cleaner w/Silicone. Purchased at Dillons or maybe Kroger for you. A little dab spread on w/a sponge works Great. Happy New Year!
I have glass top cook stove top which has a black circle with the top already black, I clean every day to try to remove it, every burner gets the same look. Help.
I’m with you, I hate the glass top. I cook regularly and clean it up. Doesn’t matter, it is never spotless or nice looking. I’ve never found it cooks properly either. Can’t wait until I can get rid of it. I will try this cleaning tip, thanks for posting!
I have used baking soda and white vinegar for years for household cleaning but not hydrogen peroxide. As soon as I read your tip, I jumped up and raced to my stove top, followed your instructions and WOW, sparkling clean stovetop. Weimans never did that for me. A razor blade never did it either. Not even my beloved Magic Erasers. Thank you FOREVER.
I am so happy to hear this! So glad it worked. I love how easy and quickly it works! Thanks for commenting.
79 year old widower from Toronto, Ontario Canada, Tried this around 3.00 AM. Yeah, I’m a nighthawk..
Immediately after the process I turned all burners on for 1 minute..
Remarkable results, almost looks like new.
I also was left with a cloudy white residue. And water wouldn’t rid it. I had to use my regular kitchen cleaner, wipe till dry-ish, then shine with soft cloth. The extra step made this way more time consuming than expected. What did I do wrong, or what caused the cloudy problem???
The residue will happen. I just used water to clean it off.
I’ve had a glass top stove for years, and I love it. I’ve always cleaned after use and polished weekly (takes a lot of elbow grease if my girls have been here helping in the kitchen). Jumped up to try this immediately and WOW!!! No elbow grease, no scrubbing, stove looks FABULOUS!!!! Thank you very much!!!
I just wipe up my “gas on glass” cooktop for the first round, using a razor for any stubborn spots. For the 2nd pass I use a product called an “e-cloth finishing and polishing cloth” with a light misting of water and it shines it right up! I love that cloth!
If I don’t have peroxide can I just use vinegar and the other ingredients?
You can try, but I don’t think you’ll get the same results.
You can use the same recipe for spot remover on clothing: vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dawn. Scrub in with toothbrush, let set for 10-15 minutes, then throw in with your laundry and wash.
Toothpaste works perfectly, the one with the grit in it ie baking soda.
Use an sos pad works great. Will not scratch the glass.
Don’t use glass pots and pans those will scratch the glass top
Amazing, thank you, thank you!! I no longer hate my stove :)
And you think a gas range top stove is good going to be easier to clean?🤦🏻♀️🤔it’s because you do not know better…I suggest you induction 👍. That’s the way to go! Have a good day!
Hello,
Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are fabulous cleaners in conjunction I agree.
I don’t like to use the self-cleaner for the oven, the heat seems too extreme.
What I do and it works like a charm, and cleans the racks at the same time, is follow
the instructions given on the site “ONE GOOD THING“.
Place a pan of ammonia on a top rack. Directly underneath, place a pan of boiling water, close the oven door and leave overnight. DO NOT DO THIS WITH A GAS STOVE, UNLESS YOU CAN TURN OFF THE PILOT LIGHT !!!
In the morning, most stains will wipe off. Use a scrubbie or steel wool if necessary; often this is not necessary, especially is you use the newer mats on the floor of the oven.
As well, my racks hardly need any scrubbing to look like new.
If you have horribly caked on stuff on the racks, you can put them in plastic bags with some ammonia. Tie off and leave overnight for easy cleaning the next day. Do this in a safe spot or outside in case of a leak.
I used to have a Glass Top Stove, once we moved, I bought a Gas Stove…A.K.A HELLS GATE!
I paid a fortune for this forking nightmare! What a pain to keep clean, there’s the grates, the hole in between large burner, where EVERYTHING goes, then there’s the area around the burners, then there like a FRIKKEN THOUSAND nooks and crannies for dirt and grease to get stuck in!
I have 6 kids, I don’t have time for this! DONT GET A FORKING GAS STOVE! It’s great in a DEAM, NOT REALITY
I’m gonna be the bad guy here, and I know I’m late to the game but, in my house, my wife is a great cook — a gourmet,even — but I’m thecleaner cook and better cleaner-upper. My wife wiped the stove top and there’s streaking and white.film left behind. I just wipe the glass top with a soapy dishcloth, “rinse” it or wipe it up with a wet dish cloth and dry it up in circular motions with a dry dish towel. Works for me. Also irks me that she doesn’t lock the burners on the OFF position, but I’m sure I donthings that itk her too — like leaving empty milk jug in the fridge, or so I’m told, but I do it so she knows we need milk cuz I’m a.good husband that way. 😬
I was always told DO NOT use dish soap or dish cloths with dish soap on them! I had a glass top for over 30 years & it looked like new when I finally had to replace it (the glass cracked)! I never used dish soap! I did, however, use SOS pads occasionally & it did not scratch my stove. I would not recommend Brillo pads though! People told me of their friends stove’s that look horrible & they were relatively new.
I have now purchased a new glass top (~3 months ago) & looks good, but will never use dish soap on it!!!
What is the hydrogen peroxide maybe use a little more than a girl like she said window cleaner even a wet washcloth wet class and take it off .
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!! What a combo:) Had a huge milk boil over on a NEW ceramic cook top and with this concoction and a little elbow grease with my plastic bristle brush the results were incredible. Im a huge Dawn fan and feel its a bit of a miracle cleaner, so this caught my attention. Thank you Erin and My Thirty Spot…I’m less hesitant to let my kids attempt to cook now;)
Cheers!!
GIRLfrien’, Oh my does this ever work. My cooktop is white and an issue to keeping it pristine. This was a straightup revelation. Thanks for this.
after i’m done cleaning and the top of the stove is dry I spray window spray on it and it shines it all up!
I use cold tea. Yes. like a cup of tea, no milk or sugar. Firstly if there is oils or fats remove them with a cloth wrung out in hot water and a little detergent, Then to get that lovely polished finish, use cold tea. Dip a cloth in cold tea and wipe the stove top. Once it’s dry you may want to buff it a little with a paper towel or clean, dry cloth.