How to Clean an Induction or Glass Cooktop
Use a cooktop scraper for baked-on spills and vinegar water for white marks. Here is how to clean it without scratching.
What you need
Supplies
- Dish soap
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 200 ml (3/4 cup) water
Tools
- Cooktop scraper
- Soft sponge
- 2 microfiber cloths
How to do it
- 01
Let it cool completely
Turn off the power and wait until the cooktop is completely cool. Radiant cooktops stay hot for a while after switching off, so check that the residual heat light is off.
- 02
Scrape off baked-on spills
Hold the cooktop scraper flat at about 30 degrees and push in one direction to lift baked-on residue. Holding the blade upright can scratch the glass.
- 03
Clean with dish soap
Put a little dish soap on a soft sponge and wipe the whole surface to remove grease marks.
- 04
Remove white marks with vinegar water
White rings left by the bottom of a pot are minerals from water. Mix 1 tbsp of vinegar with 200 ml of water, dampen a cloth and wipe them away.
- 05
Dry and buff
Wipe off the soap with a clean damp cloth, then dry with a microfiber cloth. Water left behind creates new marks.
Be careful
- Steel wool, abrasive cleaners and melamine sponges leave fine scratches on the glass.
- Sugary spills are hard to remove once cool. Follow your manual for dealing with them promptly, and be careful not to touch the hot surface.
- Water pooling on the touch controls can cause malfunctions. Always wring out your cloth.
Malkkeum tips
- Wiping with a damp cloth while the cooktop is still slightly warm removes most spills before they bake on.
- Putting a pot on with a wet bottom leaves white rings. Dry the base first.
- Use a scraper made for cooktops. Utility knives are the wrong angle and dangerous.
Induction and radiant: same cleaning
Both have a ceramic glass surface. The difference is how they heat: induction heats only the pan, and the glass warms from the pan, while radiant cooktops glow red themselves. That is why spills on radiant cooktops burn on faster. Clean them the same way, but wait longer for a radiant cooktop to cool.
Preventing scratches matters most
Scratches on a glass cooktop never go away, and stains cling to them. So rather than scrubbing hard, soak, scrape and wipe. For thick baked-on spills, lay a damp cloth over them for 5 minutes before using the scraper.
FAQ
Can I use baking soda? Rubbing dry powder can leave fine scratches. If you want to use it, dissolve it fully in water and wipe gently with a soft sponge.
