How to Get That Black, Burned on Stuff off of the Stove Top.

Updated on December 29, 2008
T.J. asks from Oak Forest, IL
35 answers

My hands hurt, and my nails are destroyed, and I'm finally throwing in the towel (or the sponge) and begging for suggestions! I've tried numerous cleaners (Clorox Clean-up, 409, Holy Cow, etc). I've tried Magic Erasers. Nothing seems to totally get rid of that black "stuff" around the burners on my stove top. Does anyone have any "tricks" to cleaning their stove? Or is there a product that you would swear by?

Oh, and if you are wondering why I just don't wipe up the mess as soon as it's made, my husband does the cooking. He's an excellent cook but not such a great housekeeper. :)

6 moms found this helpful

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So What Happened?

It's been a long time since my original question, but I did want to let everyone know what happened. I ended up trying Bar Keepers Friend because it was easy to find and inexpensive. I was very surprised and impressed with how well it worked. I made a paste with it and let it sit a couple minutes, and all the black stuff came off! Yes, it did take a little scrubbing still, but it took a lot less scrubbing than the other methods I had tried, with much better results. I think I have a new favorite cleaning product. Thanks to everyone for your responses and advice!

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A.L.

answers from Chicago on

Oxyclean!!! Miracle stuff! Follow up when clean with a fireplace glass cleaner. That will make it easier to clean the next time. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.

answers from Chicago on

Barkeeper's friend. Its a powder kind of like comet cleaner. It's for stainless steel but works great on my sinks and stove as well.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.

answers from Chicago on

Dawn Power Dissolve. Spray and let sit for a while (10-15 mins) and then scrub a little. It usually comes off much easier after that.

Good luck,
Aarti.

1 mom found this helpful

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J.N.

answers from Chicago on

I had the same problem on the one burner that gets used the most ... I thought I'd never get it clean. But someone recommended Bar Keeper's Friend and it worked great! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Chicago on

hahaha I have the same issue with my husband!! uhhh especially when he makes his spaghetti!! What I do is soak my stuff in Hot Hot water with dish soap for about an hour and put on my kitchen gloves and use Steel Wool that is made for cleaning porcelin (sp?) You can get it anywhere, Ace, Walmart even its about 3 bucks a bag. Very little elbow power is needed and it does not scratch I swear!! I have told many friends this and now they all do it too. I personally use the FINE #0 but I have also used the COURSE #3 before and both work great. Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

T., I use Scour Off Heavy duty paste by Shaklee to get that junk off my stove. You have to get it from a Shaklee distributor, but it is totally worth it. I also use it for baked on crud on pots and pans. If you need a distributor for Shaklee I can give you my girls name.

____@____.com

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Chicago on

My brother is the same way. I went to visit him and his stove top was gross! If your stove is like his, the built up stuff is in the groove around the burner area. I sprinkled baking soda into the groove, then poured vinegar over it to cover. Beware, it smells terrible and is a type of gas. So keep the kids away when doing this. Let it bubble then use the hottest water scrub it. The acid in the vinegar and the natural scrubbing of the baking soda should loosen all the black and it will come up. I had to do this 5 times at my brothers before it was clean. Once you've got it clean, just use the baking soda and a damp sponge for little clean ups then rinse. This is a natural cleaner.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.W.

answers from Chicago on

Plain ole baking soda works wonders and you don't have to wear yourself down doing it. When I first used it I was amazed, the gook came off so easily and you aren't inhaling all those harmful chemicals.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

I usually just place a hot, wet towel on the spot and wiat for it to work its magic. It makes it a little easier to get it off. Also, you can try spraying a little Easy Off on a sponge and let that sit on the spot for an hour or so. NEVER spray easy off straight on the stove top. And don't use all over the stove top all the time because it can eventually eat away at the finish. my sister's mother-in-law would always clean the top with Easy Off and eventually ruined the top. But once in a while for super tough spots is not a problem.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.M.

answers from Chicago on

I don't know what kind of stove top you have, but I used to just leave the burner on low for about 45 mins, let it cool, wipe it away! Good luck, and be thankful your hubby CAN cook and WILL!! :)

R.S.

answers from Chicago on

Baking soda might work. Use that, a little water and a scrubber.

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

Wow, alot of people use Bar Keeper's friend! If you want a great product, that works and is safe for you, your kids and the environment, try Scour Off from Shaklee. It is the best and leaves a nice shine. Also, it never scratches!

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C.E.

answers from Chicago on

Use Easy-off heavy duty original oven cleaner. I love it make sure you wear gloves. it works wonders!!!!!

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N.A.

answers from Chicago on

Hi T., I usually use Kitchen cleanser and then I use an SOS pad and that usually gets them pretty clean. Good Luck.

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M.H.

answers from Chicago on

OVEN CLEANER...i just tried it...it works so good. i was in the same boat as you! now it is squeaky clean! Happy holidays!

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C.C.

answers from Chicago on

How about steel wool/SOS pads? I used them pretty successfully on my former cooktop. And with a little Soft Scrub with bleach helped on my white surface.

Now I have a stainless one, and it's much more finicky and delicate.

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T.K.

answers from Chicago on

Oven off let it sit on the stove for 7min,make sure your kids are not around. Wear gloves. Sometimes it will take two applications. You will be amazed! Good luck!

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S.C.

answers from Chicago on

Hi,

Try a little baking soda, make a paste. Let it sit a little on the spot and then just scrub it off. If all else fails, use a razor blade and carefully scrape it off. Hope it helps.

S

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M.C.

answers from Chicago on

Buy the product plumbers and auto mechanics use to wash their hands, Gojo with orange and pumice in it. Also, buy some of those disposable gloves from the pharmacy that they sell for people for sanitary purposes to use when you scrub. Follow the directions, do not wet the surface first, etc. Good luck. If this does not work live with it and teach your husband to wipe off the bottoms of pans and to buy a splatter screen for frying pans if he does a lot of that and to turn down the heat before it boils over.

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K.C.

answers from Chicago on

Here is what works for me. I soak all of the removable parts of the top of the stove in scalding hot water and TSP for an hour. If you don't have TSP just use regular dish washing liquid. While that is soaking, I attack the stove. I use an SOS pad and scrub away everything that I can. Then I use that orange spray stuff to give it a final clean. I also use an SOS pad on the stuff in the sink as well. If you don't have SOS pads then a scouring pad or sponge and Comet or Bar Keepers Friend should do the trick. After the soaking, it usually comes off easier. I hope this helps you.

K.

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S.B.

answers from Springfield on

T.,
The Shaklee Scour Off is by far the best product I have ever used on my stovetop. It only takes a little bit on a paper towel, so my container lasts me forever! I am a distributor if you would like to use my website. I would appreciate the business www.shaklee.net/sheilabunch
And the best thing is that it is non-toxic! I have 2 small children and I only use Shaklee's Get Clean line, long before I became a distributor. Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck and Happy Holidays!!
S.

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T.A.

answers from Chicago on

I second the Shaklee stuff! Scour off. GREAT product plus safe.

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M.F.

answers from Springfield on

I second the barkeepers friend and Easy Off for occasional tough spots.

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C.P.

answers from Chicago on

I SWEAR by Shaklee's Scour Off Paste. It is all natural, smells great, and truly works wonders. I also use it as an oven cleaner. It works, I swear! Check it ____@____.com/cpeterson.

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S.A.

answers from Chicago on

Doesn't matter if you wipe as you cook (only possible to an extent if you are cooking)...it will still bake on the cooktop.

I use to use Ajax with bleach to get it off mine. You will have to read the booklet on your stove to make sure you can use that type of cleanser on it.

When we bought the new house I made sure I got a black stove. Now I just have to worry about a smeary look.

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D.F.

answers from Chicago on

T.,
Try Fabuloso and dish soap, Easy-Off, or 409.

All the Best,
D.

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S.K.

answers from Chicago on

I would use steel wool or if you are worried about scratching use bon ami with very little water. I also agree that letting oven cleaner sit should help.

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A.R.

answers from Chicago on

T., First you are so lucky your husband cooks! I would gladly clean up if mine cooked. When he does though the kitchen is a MESS!

Have you tried a small amount of oven cleaner spray on it? Also, lightly rub it with SOS pads but very lightly.

A.

R.T.

answers from Champaign on

I use oven cleaner on my stovetop and all my kitchen appliances to remove stuck on grease. Just spray a liberal coating on, let sit for 10 minutes and wipe off with a wet sponge. If the grease is really old you may need to repeat a couple of times. On movable objects I just run under a hot tap.

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G.W.

answers from Rockford on

SOS, it is a neat little steel wool with cleaner.

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S.D.

answers from Springfield on

Hi, try oven cleaner let it set 15 min then use a green scratch pad you may have to do it a few times. By the way a great trick with the Mr. Clean sponge is to use it with tilex "soap scum "remover on walls, bath,anything in kitchen. The Mr. Clean sponge last longer doesn't fall apart as easy and cleans the worst stuff easy something with the comanation of the two of them. I have had a cleaning business for 35 yrs. S. d

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D.K.

answers from Chicago on

You have already gotten both of these suggestions, but I usually start with baking soda mixed with a little water. I let it sit quite a while. If that doesn't work then I use Bar Keepers Friend.

Good Luck,
D.

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H.T.

answers from Chicago on

We use something called "bar keepers friend" on our stove. You need to check and make sure it is safe for your type of stove top but it is awesome at getting things off of pans and our stove top.

A.B.

answers from Champaign on

I don't have a response for you - I just wanted you all to know how happy I was to have found this post and all the responses! I gave up on my stovetop (disgusting when I moved here) a LOOOOONG time ago - now thanks to you ladies I will totally be taking all the burners off my stove and will see what color they really are!
Thank you so much!!

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M.H.

answers from Decatur on

T.,
I'm assuming that your stove top is white and with that assumption: Try using Soft Scrub and an S.O.S. pad or any product similar of your choice. These products have proven beneficial for me. Good Luck!

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