Cooktops are probably the most used appliance in the kitchen. They are also bound to get dirty. If you don’t clean and maintain them, it might break down and you will have to hire an appliance repair technician for repairs.

So, here is everything you need to know about cleaning an electric cooktop and maintaining it properly.

Electric Cooktop Maintenance

Clean It Daily

This tip should go without saying, but if you want your electric cooktop to be spotless and you don’t want to spend hours scrubbing the surface, then it’s best that you save yourself from the trouble and clean it every day after the work is done. This is going to prevent the cooktop from looking dirty and there won’t be any build-up of crusty and dried food all over the surface of your stovetop.

Use Vinegar And Baking Soda

One of the best cleaning combinations out there is baking soda and vinegar. These are nothing less than cleaning miracles, found in your pantry. You can also use vinegar and baking soda for cleaning the electric cooktop. The cleaning will be super easy and the stains, dried food, and dirt will be gone in no time.

All you need to do is sprinkle vinegar on the cooktop surface and then add baking soda on top. You will see a fizzing reaction. This is when you will take a sponge or a cloth and clean away the dirt and debris that’s present on your cooktop. After a couple of swipes, your cooktop will be shiny and clean.

Power Off First, Then Clean

This is not a cleaning tip, but it is super important to keep in mind when you’re actually about to clean the electric cooktop. The last thing you want to do is damage the cooktop when cleaning it. This is why you need to disconnect the cooktop from the electricity supply. This is going to be a lifesaver for you and the cooktop.

You will be cleaning the surface and knobs with some water too, so you want the cooktop to be electrically neutral so that you don’t get an electric shock or ruin the cooktop altogether.

Avoid Abrasive Cleaning Products

One of the biggest problems with electric cooktops is that you need to be careful when cleaning the surface of the glass cooktop. You don’t want any scratches near the induction stove or on the surface, in general.

Scratches can usually occur when you use abrasive cleaning products like cleaners with strong acids or things like metals, knives, and solid scrappers on the surface of the cooktop. You don’t want to use anything too hard on the surface of the electric cooktop, because it can get damaged and, ultimately, ruined for good.

Use A Soft Cloth

The best way to clean an electric cooktop is to use a soft washcloth or sponge. These things, alone, are enough to clean your cooktop without leaving any dirt behind. A microfiber cloth or a sponge is a soft material and there isn’t any friction when you rub it over the surface of the cooktop.

You will see for yourself, that using a cloth or a sponge, will make your cooktop look scratch-free and clean for longer because microfiber cloths tend to pick up more dust than any other material used for cleaning.

Detergent Does Wonders

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on specialty cleaners for your electric cooktop. As long as you have some good quality dish detergent lying around, that’s all you really need to clean the cooktop. A detergent produces a lot of suds, so it’s perfect for cutting grease which might be present on the surface of your cooktop.

The foam will dissolve the grease and cleaning will be a piece of cake. If you want, you can also use a solution of dish soap and water and clean the cooktop with it every day to keep it nice and clean for use.

How To Clean Spills?

Spills are very common to occur on a cooktop. Here is a very easy way how to clean them up. First things first, you need something to absorb the excess liquid right away. Use a sponge or tissue paper to blot away any excess liquid, before you wipe it clean.

Once the liquid is absorbed, you can use a clean dishcloth and some detergent to wipe away any liquid or residue on the surface and you will be good to go. This method of cleaning spills is mess-free and you will always have a clean cooktop to cook on.

Keep It Tidy

If you don’t want to go through the trouble of extensively cleaning a cooktop, then try to keep it clean and tidy. For example, when cooking, try to use a plate or a napkin to put your cooking and stirring spoons on.

You don’t want to put anything dirty on the surface of the cooktop especially when it’s powered on, otherwise, you are asking for a disaster to happen. Always clean away splatters of food and oil as soon as you see them, to prevent them from drying up on the glass cooktop surface. Moreover, use the same precautions for other appliances like ovens. Your oven won’t break down leading to oven repair Springfield.

Dry The Surface Immediately

When you’re cleaning the cooktop, you’re bound to get it wet, during wiping or any other time. Now, the problem that lies with a wet cooktop is that you can’t use it until it’s dry. It’s best not to power it on while the surface is still wet. So, try to wipe the moisture away before you want to turn the cooktop on, otherwise, it’s an electrical hazard.

When you’re done cleaning the cooktop, just take a dry washcloth and run it over the surface for good measure, just to make sure that the cooktop isn’t wet and you can safely power it back on.

Toothbrush To The Rescue

If there is a pesky stain or dried food clump on your cooktop and you don’t know how to clean it, then fret no more. A toothbrush will be your best friend. All you need to do is sprinkle some vinegar and baking soda on the dried-up clump of food and wait for it to start fizzing.

As soon as it does, take your wet toothbrush and scrub it back and forth over the vinegar and baking soda mixture. You will see the stain and debris disintegrating in no time and once you have scrubbed it well enough, wipe it off with a wet dishcloth or a tissue paper.

Scrape Off Dried Food

If a toothbrush isn’t working to get the dried crumbs of food off your cooktop, then you can use a metal scraper. Just make sure that you are gently scraping the dried food and not the glass surface of the cooktop.

You can scrape it until you see the stain getting lighter and then you can use a sponge or toothbrush to finish the job. This will effectively clean the surface of the cooktop and you won’t scratch the surface either.

Conclusion

There you have it! These tips will ensure that your electric cooktop always looks spotless and you don’t need to worry about stains and other dried debris on the surface. If you find any problems, consult cooktops repair Fairfax services for fixing them.