The Best Way To Clean Your Stovetop Is Hiding In Your Laundry Room

We have all ended up with a stovetop covered in splatters and baked-on grime after cooking a super delicious meal. The only thing worse is trying a variety of kitchen cleaners (and even some flat-out intense scrubbing) and still ending up with less-than-pristine results. But what if the secret to a perfect, sparkling clean stovetop isn't hiding in your kitchen cabinet at all but rather your laundry room? Yep, one of the best ways to clean your stovetop is actually borax, a humble laundry superstar.

Borax, scientifically known as sodium tetraborate, is a mineral with an interesting history spanning multiple centuries and even more applications. Widely praised for its ability to boost laundry detergents, brighten whites, and even remove static cling, it is mostly used in laundry rooms. The compound's applications beyond that vary wildly, as it has been used as a pesticide, fertilizer additive, mouthwash, disinfectant, and pottery glaze. When you need to manage a greasy and grimy stovetop, borax is perfectly equipped for the job. There are two reasons. First, its alkaline properties enable it to effectively cut through stubborn grease and tackle tough food particles that have been cooked on. That helps to loosen any grime, which you can then simply wipe away. Second, despite borax's appearance as a soft, fine powder, it is actually made up of tiny crystals that are mildly abrasive. These scour whatever they touch, adding to borax's ability to pierce through buildup while preventing scratches on your glass stovetop and other delicate cooking surfaces.

Using borax on your own stovetop is simple and will only take you a few moments. All you need to do is create a powerful yet easy-to-manage paste by mixing borax with just enough water to achieve a spreadable consistency. If you want, you can also add in a few drops of mild dish liquid and hydrogen peroxide to boost the mix's grease-busting action.

From there, apply this paste generously to the soiled areas on your stovetop, and let it sit and work its magic for about 10 to 30 minutes. This is when it will break down the tough residue. For extra-tough spots, you can even gently scrub the paste with something like a non-abrasive sponge, dish brush, or soft cloth (using those scrubby little crystals borax is made of). Finally, thoroughly wipe away the residue with a clean, damp cloth, and let the surface dry. This easy process should reveal a gleaming, streak-free stovetop, all thanks to an unassuming but mighty product from your laundry room. Don't forget about the other parts of an oven everyone forgets to clean, though.