skip to main content

Glass on Gas Cooktop--Porcelain/Grates

18 years ago

Hi!

I have a white glass gas cooktop by Whirlpool. It has porcelain under the burners and grey grates. Oh, how I wish I had black grates!

I don't use much oil at all since I have good Calaphon no-stick pots and pans. I don't fry much anyhow. The pots and pans are new, too, so there is no build-up of anything on them. The porcelain and grates gets stained every time I cook anything. (I don't have any trouble at all with the glass. Everything comes right off that.)

Whirlpool said to use this milky white cleaner...which did nothing...and to put the grates in the dishwasher. I did...same brownish/black discoloration on the grates. I have a good dishwasher and used the heavy duty pots and pans cycle.

I finally decided to try Comet...the one that says it won't scratch. It worked great on the porcelain for the most part, but I still have some black specks scattered around the porcelain burner part and brownish discoloration around the burner where the burner and glass meet. There is a thin brown line that is difficult to remove from around the burners.

The Comet took away some of the discoloration on the grates, but there is still some. Between the specks and brownish parts on the porcelain and the discoloration on the grates, the stove doesn't look clean to me...and it definitely doesn't look new. I don't even use the cooktop all that often.

If anyone has a similar cooktop, please share how you keep it looking nice and clean.

Thanks!

Dee

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

cora_lea
18 years ago
Dee, I use baking soda (yellow box) and sprinkle a small amount on my stove top and use an ever-so-slightly damp paper towel to rub stains and spills away. They almost magically disappear compared to the products recommended for such, which I scrub and scrub with, and get such slow results. It was just a fluke that I tried this in a hurry to find something with minimum texture one day as I was out of the recommended cleanser. It works SO much better than the products especially marketed for cleaning. I'll never go back to purchasing products marketed for cleaning stove tops. This "might" work. Give it a try and let me know. Good luck.
glassquilt
18 years ago
Baking soda will take baked grease off of pyrexware with the method CoraLea described. May need to add elbow grease. I've used it on DD stovetop as well.
Related Discussions
How to clean granite, gas cooktop grates?
Q
Comments (9)
Easiest way I've found to clean the grates (I'm guessing these are pro grates you will have) is to lay the grates in the sink, fill the sink with HOT water and pop 1-3 individual Cascade with Dawn automatic dishwasher detergent packs in there. The larger your sink/more water in your sink, the more detergent packs you will need. Let soak for 10-20 minutes then wipe with a sponge & rinse. For spots that are really stubborn, I use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Kitchen Scrubber (MEKS). I found that the Mr. Clean MEKS also works the best at getting all the grease off the enamel pan under the grates & doesn't leave streaks. I usually clean the pan while the grates are soaking. The soak works great for the vent hood filters too--the grease just melts off!
...See More
Is glass on a gas range fragile?
Q
Comments (13)
Thanks all for the responses! They have been useful. ya think, you are right, the sponge would not do much to the glass. We do a lot of wok cooking, and the frequent spatter cycles you go through when you half cook the meat first, then start all over with the veggies, etc, multiplied by several dishes, and after an evening, there are a lot of spatters that have been baked in by the heat. I am concerned, as with our old Jenn Air, that the glass would become hard to clean, especially since black shows everything (you are talking to one that owns black cars). Over the years, the porcelain has become scratched or permanently marred with baked in spatters we cannot get out. vivian31, you kind of echo the thoughts that we have on black glass, as much as we like the look. The comment about the glass breaking on AJMadison site kind of freaked me out, which is why I started asking all this. I guess if I can trust wikipedia (doubtful at times, just look at how they define the DVD acronym-the V does not stand for video)...but ceramic glass is different than tempered glass...it would appear that it is a true ceramic with glass like properties, but more fragile in that it is softer than glass, and not impervious to certain spills, such as those with high sugar content. So new question, has the porcelain coated steel cooktops gotten any better than 15+ year Jenn Air cooktop materials? Thanks in advance!
...See More
Gas Ranges and grates
Q
Comments (5)
You could look at open burner ranges and range tops like Blue Star and CC. They are made of cast iron and are very easy to clean, at least in my opinion. But the price on these types of ranges and range tops tends to be a bit on the high end as they are higher end appliances. Phil
...See More
'Gas on Glass' feature, and/or 'Glass Touch controls'.
Q
Comments (5)
Thank you for the reply. But (unlike electric heating elements) wouldn't the gas glass top be protected by the grates? If so, then the only time it would be vulnerable was when the grates were off, no? Also, wondering... is there still a FLAME? How would that work???! I LOVE the idea of a super-easy-to-clean (gas) range top and this is really intriguing me!
...See More
jenathegreat
18 years ago
I remove the thin brown line around the burners with a Magic Eraser. Baking soda works too, it's just messier to use and I worry about getting water or baking soda in the electric ignitor.

Sorry, I've no suggestions for the grates - but I'd try the magic eraser on them too.
dolce_vita
16 years ago
A big "THANK YOU" to Cora Lea! I've got a Thermador cooktop, which is black porcelain. I have been trying to get the burned on stains around the star burners clean for the three years I've had it. The baking soda, several toothbrushes and a lot of elbow grease was the trick. Its still not perfect, but wow, it will be after some more diligence! This also worked on the glass on my oven doors. BS got the brown, baked on grease lines off completely -- they look new! Thanks so much!!!
cupajoe
16 years ago
A product called Cameo will also take care of the spots without compromising the finish.Technically it is an alunimum polish,but it is great for a million other things and doesn't scratch glass or porcelin.
zachslc
16 years ago
I put the grates in the oven then set the oven to self-clean.
karla0020_charter_net
13 years ago
I have a Whirlpool Super Capacity 465, Accubake System, Gas stove. My stove top looked terrible and I tried many different things to try to clean it including, baking soda, Bar Keepers Friend, etc. One day I decided to try Easy Off oven cleaner! It was amazing!!! It cleans the grates also. My grates are coated and the top of the stove is porcelain. Spray it on and let it sit for a few hours. Then wipe off with paper towels. I had to reapply and let it sit a again or over-night. When you get down to those left over black flecks I used a butter knife to carefully scrape. A dobie may work also. I didn't try to get it back to brand new looking the first time. But after a few different times I cannot believe how beautiful it is again! To keep the cleaner from getting into the holes where the gas comes out lift the flat round piece off each burner and roll some paper towel up and set it in the burner area and replace the flat round piece on top to hold the paper towel in place. Then I sprayed the whole stove top, replaced the grates and sprayed them. Let sit for hours. I wish I had discovered this years ago. It works like a charm and you don't have to scrub forever! Good Luck!
carpet123
13 years ago
self cleaning is good method everything automatic not to care about if busy somewhere or not at home

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN The Future of Backsplashes

Grout is out. Continuous sheets of glass, stone, metal and porcelain are saving cleaning time and offering more looks than ever

MATERIALS An Architect Shares His Go-To Materials

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Aluminum doors, porcelain tiles, polished concrete. Here are the features and finishes this professional returns to time and again

KITCHEN DESIGN How to Add a Kitchen Backsplash

By Mitchell Parker

Great project: Install glass, tile or another decorative material for a gorgeous and protective backsplash

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Traditional Kitchen Opens Up for a Fresh Look

By Jeannie Matteucci

A glass wall system, a multifunctional island and contemporary finishes update a family’s Illinois kitchen

KITCHEN DESIGN How to Find the Right Range for Your Kitchen

By KitchenLab Interiors

Range style is mostly a matter of personal taste. This full course of possibilities can help you find the right appliance to match yours

SMALL KITCHENS The 100-Square-Foot Kitchen: No More Dead Ends

By Mitchell Parker

Removing an angled peninsula and creating a slim island provide better traffic flow and a more airy layout

KITCHEN DESIGN Design an Easy-Clean Kitchen

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

"You cook and I'll clean" might no longer be a fair trade with these ideas for low-maintenance kitchen countertops, cabinets and floors

BEFORE AND AFTERS A ‘Brady Bunch’ Kitchen Overhaul for Less Than $25,000

By Mitchell Parker

Homeowners say goodbye to avocado-colored appliances and orange-brown cabinets and hello to a bright new way of cooking

FIREPLACES Updated Woodstoves Keep Home Fires Burning

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Better technology means more efficiency than ever for modern woodstoves

KITCHEN DESIGN A Cook’s 6 Tips for Buying Kitchen Appliances

By Christine Tusher

An avid home chef answers tricky questions about choosing the right oven, stovetop, vent hood and more

Sponsored

More Discussions

how do I get ride of fertilizer discoloration on stamped concrete?!!

2

Paint off Black Window sill

1

How to rid of stains on black slate fireplace floor

2

How to remove stain from quartzite?

3

Is the black on this brick mold stain or is it natural color?

2