The Affordable Item To Clean (And Save) Your Glass Stove Top

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Stovetops can take quite a beating over their lifetime. Everything from spaghetti sauce spills and burnt honey marinades to splatters from fried meats and veggies can often leave them in quite a mess. But cleaning them doesn't necessarily have to take a ton of elbow grease — or any at all. Scrubbing can actually damage the surface of these delicate stovetops, leading to scratches, swirls, and other noticeable flaws. One of the easiest ways to clean glass stove tops is with a product that you probably already own: WD-40 Spray. Yes, it's common to use WD-40 in your garage or on your car for various reasons. Surprisingly, it also makes for a very effective and affordable stovetop glass cleaner. 

Why does it work so well? Great question. WD-40 is essentially a lubricant-based solvent (made of mineral oil and additives). Its cleaning superpower comes from this base, in addition to its creeping properties. The latter refers to the spray lubricant's ability to deeply penetrate small cavities and pores in a surface. This $8 multi-use spray seems to hold its own when compared to many glass stove oven cleaners due to its ability to permeate layered or crusted food residue (and oils), breaking these substances down for removal. Cleaning glass stovetops with WD-40 is fairly straightforward, but maintaining these types of stoves does require special care that should be considered when cleaning them.

The first step of cleaning your stovetop with WD-40 is turning the oven off and ensuring it's cool to the touch. Cleaning the stovetop while it's still hot can be very unsafe and may also damage its surface. Next, toss on a pair of cleaning gloves and break out your can of WD-40. Give the can a few shakes before spraying it on the dirty areas of your stove. If there are areas that contain caked-on or hardened debris, be sure to spray them liberally. 

Allow the solvent to penetrate the stains for a few minutes and then wipe them down with a paper towel or Homexcel Microfiber Cloth. If needed, repeat these steps for spots with tough or hardened buildup. Next, wipe down the stovetop with a soapy cloth to remove any remaining food particles or grease. Then go over it once more with a rinsed cloth or paper towel to remove any soapy residue. And finally, apply a dry paper towel or cloth to avoid any water stains.

Glass stovetops can turn unsightly rather quickly if they aren't maintained. And one of the biggest mistakes that you can make when cleaning your stove is using abrasive cleaning tools like steel wool, coarse sponges, or hard-bristled brushes. These materials can wreak havoc on your stove, leaving scratches that will get worse over time with continued use. It's always best to first try softening tough stains. You can also prevent them from forming by immediately wiping up spilled food or scraping them away with a silicone or plastic spatula.