Housekeeping House Cleaning Cleaning Tips How to Clean an Induction Stovetop for a Surface That Sparkles Induction stovetops are easy to clean, but they require regular upkeep to look and perform their best. By Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr is a cleaning expert and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag ... And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha. Her work has appeared in GQ, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times and Town & Country. A graduate of Barnard College, Jolie lives in a tiny Manhattan apartment with her five vacuum cleaners. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on April 15, 2024 Close Photo: Matt Dutile Project Overview Working Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Skill Level: Beginner Induction stovetops with flat glass cooking surfaces and copper heating coils underneath are popular choices in kitchens. This is in part because glass stovetops are easy to clean. There are no burners, grates, coils, or drip pans that need cleaning, just the flat glass surface. However, induction stovetops require routine upkeep to ensure they look and perform their best. Some cleaning agents and tools should be avoided to prevent damage to the glass surface. Ahead, you'll find everything you need to know to keep an induction stovetop clean and in good working order. What Is Induction Cooking? All Your Questions, Answered Before Getting Started Although induction stovetops are easy to clean, you need to wipe down the cooktop after every use; if you use the stove multiple times a day, wiping the glass surface after preparing the last meal of the day is sufficient. Wiping an induction stovetop after use helps prevent buildup from cooking residue that can become baked onto the glass surface over time, which requires deep cleaning. Avoid that by wiping the stovetop with a damp sponge or microfiber cloth when it is completely cool. Avoid using any abrasive cleaning agents or tools that can scratch or dull the glass cooktop. For weekly cleaning, use dish soap or a specialized cooktop cleaner to clean and polish the glass cooking surface. If extra cleaning power is needed, spray the glass surface with distilled white vinegar before wiping. All-purpose cleaners and glass cleaners that contain ammonia can leave streaks or clouding on glass induction stovetops, so it's best to skip them in favor of dish soap or distilled white vinegar, which cuts through grease and other buildup without leaving streaks or causing cloudiness. The 6 Best Induction Ranges What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Glass-safe scraper Non-scratch nylon scrub sponge Microfiber cloths Materials Dish soap Cooktop cleaner Distilled white vinegar Instructions How to Clean an Induction Stovetop Remove Stains and Burnt-On Residue Start by removing any burnt-on food and residue from splatters or cooking oil with a glass-safe scraping tool. Hold the blade at a 30- to 40-degree angle, and carefully scrape debris from the cooktop using slow, firm strokes. Keep the scraper at a low angle and avoid pressing too hard, which can crack the glass. If the buildup is stubborn, soak the problem area with a cooktop cleaner, dish soap, or distilled white vinegar for a few minutes before scraping to loosen the stains. You may also find that working on a surface that is warm to the touch—but not hot—can make removing burnt-on food and cooking residue easier. As an alternative to a scraping tool, use a non-scratch nylon scrub sponge to safely scour the glass surface without scratching it. Clean the Glass Surface Apply a cooktop cleaner, dish soap, or distilled white vinegar to the glass cooking surface and wipe it with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Wipe the surface in straight, overlapping lines to ensure the entire surface is clean. Dry and Polish the Glass Surface Use a dry microfiber cloth to dry and polish the surface to prevent streaks and to remove any residue from cleaning agents which can discolor and stain the surface when heated. How Often to Clean an Induction Stovetop Wipe the glass cooktop with a damp sponge or microfiber cloth after every use or at the end of the day if you prepare more than one meal daily. If more cleaning power is needed for daily cleanup, spray the surface with distilled white vinegar before wiping it with a sponge or cleaning cloth. Clean induction stovetops once a week using the method above to remove splatters from cooking, residue from cooking oil, dust, and other environmental soils that can build up on the glass surface. A glass-safe scraping tool or non-stretch nylon scrub sponge helps remove stuck-on food and stubborn residue from cooking. If the glass stovetop has been long neglected and needs to be deep cleaned, try this easy method from cleaning company Merry Maids that uses distilled white vinegar and baking soda: Spray the glass cooking surface with vinegar, generously sprinkle baking soda on top, and lay a towel that's been soaked in hot water and wrung out over the cooktop and allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes. Then, follow the directions above for cleaning an induction cooktop. This combination helps loosen deeply baked-on cooking residue, allowing you to clean the glass surface more easily without requiring heavy-duty cleaning agents or excessive elbow grease.