How to Clean a Black Stove Top

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: February 23, 2021 References

Black stove tops can create a sleek, modern look for your kitchen, and show dirt and stains less than white appliances. However, cleaning a black stove top sometimes requires extra care in order to avoid making visible scratches or streaks on the surface. Clean your stove with natural, non-abrasive cleaners like vinegar and baking soda, use scrapers or scouring pads designed for stove tops, and buff the surface with a microfiber cloth after cleaning.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Vinegar Solution

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1
Take off any removable burner elements and soak them in hot water. Fill up your sink with hot, soapy water and put any removable burner caps or grates in it to soak while you work on the stove top. This will help remove any crusted food or grease from the burner elements, and also make it easier to clean the stove around your burners. ^{[1]
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- When you’re done cleaning your stove, scrub the burner elements with a scouring pad and rinse them off before putting them back on the stove.
- If your burners aren’t removable or have electric components, don’t soak them. Instead, lay a warm, wet cloth over the coils, being careful not to get the electric parts wet, and wipe them down with a paper towel instead of rinsing them.
Wipe off anything that isn’t stuck to the surface of your stove and throw it away. You can also use a sponge for this, but a paper towel is often more effective since you can pick loose pieces up with it. ^{[2]
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3
Spray the stove top with a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water. Fill a household spray bottle with 1 part water and 1 part distilled white vinegar. Spray the entire surface of the stove, adding a couple of extra sprays over any particularly tough stains. ^{[3]
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- If you do not like the scent of vinegar, replace it with an equal amount of lemon juice, or add a few drops of an essential oil to your vinegar and water mixture.
The vinegar should cut through the grease and loosen any crusted-on food. Let it sit for at least 1 minute, or more if your stove top is very greasy or dirty. ^{[4]
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5
Wipe the stove surface with a wet, soapy sponge. Run a dish sponge under warm water and add a few drops of dish soap. Run the wet sponge over the surface of the stove and wipe up any grease or debris. You can also use the rough side of the sponge on stains, but be careful to scrub gently. ^{[5]
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- Never use steel wool when scrubbing your black stove top, as it may scratch the surface. ^{[6]
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Take a separate sponge and run it under warm water with no soap. Use this sponge to mop up the soapy water and any remaining grease or crumbs. You may need to squeeze the sponge out and rinse it a few times during the process to get the surface totally clean.
To avoid creating streaks on your black stove top, use a microfiber cloth to dry and buff the surface of your stove once it’s clean. This will keep water or soap residue from drying in visible patterns.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning with Baking Soda

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Put your burner caps and grates in hot water to soak. If your burner elements soak while you work on the stove top, they will be easier to clean. Scrub the burner caps and grates with a scouring pad and rinse them off before putting them back on your clean stove. ^{[7]
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- Some burners are not removable, or may have electrical components in them that shouldn’t get wet. If this is the case, lay a warm, wet cloth over the burners instead of soaking them, and wipe them down with a paper towel after scrubbing.
This will remove any loose grease or debris that is not attached to the stove top. Gather up any crumbs with the paper towel and throw them away. ^{[8]
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Use your hands or simply shake the box over the stove until the entire surface is covered in at least a light layer of baking soda. You can sprinkle a little extra on any particularly greasy or crusty areas. ^{[9]
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The steam will help loosen up any crusted-on food and help the baking soda cut through the grease. Take a couple of kitchen towels and run them under warm water with a little bit of dish soap. Squeeze them until they are not dripping heavily, and lay them over the entire surface of the stove. ^{[10]
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After 15 minutes, begin to sweep the towels around the surface of the stove in an S pattern. This should gather up the baking soda as well as any loosened crust or crumbs. Use the towels to pick up the debris and throw it in the trash. ^{[11]
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Clean off any remaining baking soda or mess with a wet, non-soapy rag or sponge. If the rag becomes too dirty, rinse it off and squeeze it out before wiping again.
Black stove tops tend to show streaks after cleaning, so it’s important to dry the surface as soon as possible. Microfiber cloths are ideal for creating a smooth finish without visible streaks.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Rid of Tough Stains

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Remove crusted food with a wooden or plastic scraper. Using steel wool or a metal scraper can scratch and dent stove tops, which is particularly obvious on black surfaces. Use a wooden or plastic scraper or spatula to remove crusted-on stains without damaging the stove. ^{[12]
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- Hold the scraper at about a 45° angle, with the bottom of the scraper angled in the direction you are scraping.
2
Apply a baking soda and vinegar solution. Make a paste of baking soda and distilled white vinegar and apply this to any problem areas. The paste should be roughly 4 parts baking soda to 1 part vinegar, but add more vinegar if necessary to make it wet enough to stick together. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes, then gently scrub the stain with a scouring pad. It should be loosened and come off easily. ^{[13]
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- If you don’t have any vinegar on hand, you can substitute the same amount of hydrogen peroxide. ^{[14]
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It’s best to avoid generic scouring pads, as they can be overly abrasive and make visible scratches in black stove tops. Instead, look for scouring pads designed specifically for stove tops, which will typically say “stove top” or “stove cleaner” in the label. ^{[15]
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Several home product brands carry cleaning fluids formulated especially for cleaning stove tops. If you have particularly tough stains on your stove, avoid harsh chemical cleaners and look for a product that is designed for stove tops. ^{[16]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Is there a stove cover for a 4-burner stove with a grill in the middle that I can keep covered and cook on?

Zachary Thomas

Community Answer

Yes. You can get one at Home Depot or Lowe's in your area.

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Question

How can I bring the luster back on my black stove top? Someone cleaned it with something that makes it look super dull. Please advise.

Community Answer

Rub this on your clean stove top: Premier Copper Products W900-WAX Copper Sink Wax Protectant, Clear. You can polish/finish with a chamois or just a paper towel. The can costs about $22 but it's big and lasts a long time. The wax also helps to make your stove easy to clean.

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Tips

If the burner grates on your gas stove are extremely dirty, try putting them in zipped plastic bags with ¼ cup (about 60 mL) of ammonia, then letting them sit overnight in a well-ventilated area. After soaking, rinse them with water and scrub them with a scouring pad. ^{[17]
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On some gas stoves, you can lift the stove top up and clean underneath. ^{[18]
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Get into the habit of wiping down your stove after each use. This will make it easier to keep it clean since grease and grime are harder to remove when they have been stuck on your stove for a few days.

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Warnings

Never mix bleach and ammonia or bleach and vinegar when cleaning. They can create hazardous fumes when combined.

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Always make sure your stove is turned off and cool before cleaning it.

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How to Clean a Black Stove Top

Steps

Using a Vinegar Solution

Cleaning with Baking Soda

Getting Rid of Tough Stains

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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