How to Clean an Electric Stove Top

If you cook often – or if you only use your electric stovetop as an extra worktop – your stovetop can get dirty faster than you think. Because it comes in such close contact with food, you want to make sure it stays as clean as possible. But because of its size, frequency of use, and the types of dirt it collects, your electric range isn’t always the easiest appliance to keep spotlessly clean. We are here to help! Check out these tips for cleaning your electric range without using too much elbow grease.

Cleaning preparations for electric stoves

You don’t need harsh chemical cleaners to keep your electric range looking new. In fact, you probably already have everything you need to clean your stove in your pantry. While different sources recommend slightly different consumables, they are all common, accessible, and cheap. Cleaning websites Home Made Simple and Merry Maids say all you need is baking soda, a dry, soft cleaning cloth, mild liquid dish soap, and distilled white vinegar to clean your cooktop. Once you’ve made sure you have all the necessary cleaning supplies, all you need is a fun playlist to keep you motivated. (Cleaning is more fun when Dolly Parton is involved.)

Important tip: Experts say you should completely disconnect your cooker from the power supply before cleaning it by unplugging it or turning off the power at your fuse box. If you have just used your stove, allow it to cool before unplugging it. This can help you stay safe and avoid electric shock.

How to clean an electric range with spiral burners and drip pans

While the above cleaning products should work for both flat top and spiral burner ranges, the methods used to clean them are slightly different. Ring cookers are a classic: they’re easy to repair and relatively inexpensive, making them a viable option. The downside to coil-top ovens, however, is that their drip pans are crumb and dirt magnets. Food52 recommends the following instructions for keeping your coil-top range nice and clean.

If the coils and drip trays are really dirty (no rating!):

1. Burn residue by turning the heat up to high for a few minutes, then allowing to cool completely.
2. Once cool, carefully lift the coils and drip pans off the stove.
3. Wash the drip trays with warm water and soap, then coat them with a mixture of one part white distilled vinegar, two parts baking soda, and a few drops of dish soap and leave for 15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, use a dry toothbrush to scrub the caked bits off the coils. (You may want to do this over a few sheets of newspaper to avoid clutter.) Wipe off the rest with a damp cloth and dry them.
5. After the 15 minutes is up, rinse the mixture off your drip trays and clean again in warm, soapy water. Dry with a lint-free cloth.

If the coils and drip trays are only slightly dirty:

Wipe the coils with a damp cloth and set the burners on high heat for three minutes to burn off any residue. Turn them off, let them cool completely, and wipe again. You may want to open a window as this process can get smelly depending on how dirty it is.

How to clean under the stovetop:

Sometimes crumbs and spills can get past the drip trays and under the stovetop. You may need to clean under the stovetop if you get a burning smell when you turn on your electric stove. Here’s how to do it: Open the front of your oven – it should open like a hood – and wipe the underside with a damp sponge, scrubbing off the more stubborn bits with soap. If you’re having trouble removing coils and drip pans or opening your cooktop, watch the video below for tips.