Electric and Gas Cooktops
Most electric and gas cooktops are porcelain enamel,
which can be easily cleaned when cooled, with a damp
cloth (warm water) or paper towel. If greasy or sticky
soil, use warm sudsy water on cloth, paper towel, or
sponge; rinse with clean cloth; wipe dry.
If stubborn soil, lay sudsy wet cloth or towel over
spot and leave a few minutes to loosen soil (semi-
soaking). And/or rub with a nylon net scrubber or soft
plastic mesh pad. Do NOT use abrasive pads or scouring
powders as these can permanently scratch the porcelain
finish.
Control knobs are washed in warm suds with cloth or
brush, rinsed, and dried. If they come off, they're
easier to clean, but do not soak them.
The area under drip pans may be washed with warm
suds, rinsed, and dried. Use paste of baking soda and
water on difficult spots. A soap-filled steel wool pad
may be used occasionally if necessary, or use a plastic
mesh pad.
Cleaning Burners, Gas or Electric
Electric burners usually burn off food spilled on
them. Heavy spills can be wiped off with a damp cloth
when the burner is completely cold.
Gas burners and grates may be removed for cleaning.
Soak grates in very hot water and detergent about a
half-hour if very dirty; then scrub with a brush, rinse
and dry. A little ammonia may be added to the soaking
solution if they are very greasy. Soak burners in hot,
soapy water to soften grease and grime. Clean with a
brush. Do not use scouring powder which will clog the
holes. The metal ring with holes in it may come off the
burner for cleaning. If the holes in the burner are
stopped up, clean with a fine wire, hair pin, paper clip
or pipe stem cleaner. Don't use toothpicks as they could
break off and clog the holes. Rinse burners in hot water
and place them upside down in a warm oven (300 F.) to
dry; about 15 minutes.
Cleaning Reflector Bowls
Reflector bowls under burners may be taken out and
washed in hot suds. Soak several minutes to loosen heavy
dirt; up to 20 minutes may be needed if grease is burned
on the bowls. Wipe off trim rings with sudsy cloth. On
stubborn spots on chrome bowls and rings, use a paste of
baking soda and water with a plastic mesh pad. Rinse and
dry. Never put chrome bowls in the dishwasher or in a
self-cleaning oven. Porcelain reflector bowls can be
washed in either sudsy water or in an automatic
dishwasher. If your manual recommends it, porcelain bowls
can occasionally be cleaned in a self-cleaning oven
cycle, upside down on oven racks. Wiping spills off bowls
after cooking prevents stain build-up which requires
stronger measures.