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Cleaning the Glass or Ceramic Cooktop

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Cleaning Glass or Ceramic Cooktops

When I read the cleaning instructions for our new induction cook top I took note of the scratch warning and dutifully bought all the cleaning products they recommended.

After a few days of cooking I noticed I had cooked on spots that would not come off. The new Scotch-Brite cook top cleaner that looks like an old fashioned clothes iron was getting micro amounts off each time I took a pass. I was able to tell this because the pre-moistened pad was getting darker and darker. If I put more pressure on and rubbed super fast the main spot still remained.

My frustration level was going up now. How was I to get this glass cook top cleaned?

Here is the easy secret for removing cooked-on spots from any glass top cooker.

Contents at a Glance

What I Used to Clean the Induction Cookt...
Bar Keepers Friend Liquid Cleaner and El...
Since I Have Done My Research

This one is small and handy.
Cerama Bryte
My Other Pages About Induction Cooking

Going back to the appliance book I read every page and finally I found the suggestion to use a razor blade to get stubborn spots off.

Well, to me that made some sense. That is what I use for hard water stains on porcelain and also on ceramic tile with the glazed surface. I found my husband's window scraper blade holder and carefully scraped at the spot. An angle of about 30% is good for this because anything straighter might scratch the surface.

I was leary at first but I soon found that it does not scratch. If your spot is of substantial size it will take about 20 minutes to remove it all. Mine was about 3 by 1 1/2 inches.

What I Used to Clean the Induction Cooktop

I used a holder that looks like this one from Amazon. Any hardware store will carry them and the razor blades.

American Safety Razor 66-0445 Heavy-Duty Window Scraper with 5 Blades

Amazon Price: $1.26 (as of 02/14/2012)
List Price: $2.29

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Bar Keepers Friend Liquid Cleaner and Elbow Grease Does A Good Job

Since the middle of 2010, when I wrote this recommendation, sellers are now including the razor and scraper with the cleaning product! The brown builds fast if you use your induction cooktop everyday.

I grabbed my bottle of Barkeeper's Friend and found that this and the scrapper is the fastest way to get the top back to looking new.

The very slightly raised surface with small valleys traps cooked on particles. The Barkeeper's liquid gets into the valleys and rubs them out with the soft grit in the product. Circular motion with the scraper going clock and counter clock-wise works the best.

Any good cleaner with the help of the scraper will be the easiest method to restore your cooktop to gleaming new looks.

Bar Keepers Friend Liquid Cleaner - 26 oz

Amazon Price: $2.67 (as of 02/14/2012)
List Price: $3.29

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Since I Have Done My Research

Cerama Bryte 27068 Cooktop Cleaning Kit

Amazon Price: $6.07 (as of 02/14/2012)
List Price: $15.77

The sellers on Amazon now include the scraper in their package of stove cleaner.

This one is small and handy.

Stanley 28-100 1-3/16-inch High Visibility Mini-Razor Blade Scraper

Amazon Price: $0.70 (as of 02/14/2012)

An Alternative Choice

The single edge blade by the box. I like using these. Easy to handle.

Advanced Tool Design Model ATD-8546 Single Edge Razor #9 Razor Blades - 100/box

Amazon Price: $4.04 (as of 02/14/2012)

Read the reviews. Used for the cooktop.
J Nichols "Retired Person" says, "Great blades for the price...my wife uses them to clean spots on our glass top stove."

Cerama Bryte

The appliance came with a sample of this cleaner and a cleaning pad. Okay for easy everyday use.

I will give you an update.

That worrisome spot had been on my burner for a couple of months. So what if you cleaned your cook top after every use? Sometimes that just does not happen in our house. There are four people that may take a turn at heating something on the stove and not pay attention to spills. I will let you know how long it takes before the blade is whipped out again.

Aug. 2010
It has been a couple of months since this post. I have had no major cooked on spills. The Scotch Brite is working fine for a shiny new like surface.

Dec. 2010
Have pulled out the razor blade once, again. Scraping at the crust in this manner, and it does take time, would not seem like the best thing to do, but like with lime build up, I can not think of a better method. There is no magic cleaner that will give better results.

Feb. 2011 I have put this in the Green Cleaning topic. Still working like a charm, is cheap to use and eco friendly for the environment.

August, 2011 Read my post above with the Barkeepers Friend. Get a good cleaner and use it in conjunction with the scrapper.

The Scotch Brite Cleaning tool and Pads

Not recommended by me, but it is a choice. August, 2011. I used this with the scrapper and I did get good results. Why get a product that has cleaner in a pad? Buy a bottle of cleaner, that way you can use as much or as little as you want. I can imagine a bottle of cleaner will have a smaller foot print, as well.

Scotch-Brite Cook Top Cleaner Starter Kit (Pack of 4)

Amazon Price: $6.13 (as of 02/14/2012)

James Higgins says,"The other reviewers who suggested the handle is the best part of the product are, in my opinion, correct. I affix now other pads and use other cleaners, but the handle helps a lot. Using a razor blade on the crusted spots first is advisable."

My advise is use the scrapper with the cleaner.

My Other Pages About Induction Cooking

All the info you need to get familiar with induction cooking and the latest products.

This is A Very Green Elbow Grease Method

Check this one out too.