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How To Clean A White Glass Top Stove

April 25, 2017

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I've found the best way to clean a white glass top stove.

It does the job without scratching, scrubbing and keeps your electric cooktop looking new.

White glass electric stove in a white kitchen

I grew up with a gas stove and was told it was the only way to really cook.

My dad was in the gas business and my mom was an awesome chef, so who was I to argue.

Luckily our first home came with a gas stove.

But then we renovated the house.

Unfortunately, moving the gas line to the other end of the house proved problematic, and since I'm a cheap and easy kind of gal (you know what I mean), we went with an electric stove instead.

To make up for the fact that it was probably wasn't going to cook as well as the old gas range, we bought a good one.

Whatever that means.

But it was top of the line, had tons of bells and whistles (that I never use by the way) and the most beautiful, shiny white glass stove top.

When it was clean anyway.

When it wasn't, it looked like...well, it looked bad. Let's just say very, very bad.

A very dirty white glass cooktop stove

Disgusting.

Nope. I couldn't live with that.

And knowing my obsession with decor, people warned me, told me I was nuts to get an electric stove in white.

Well, bisque actually, but close enough, they just shook their heads.

It'll never stay clean. The glass will always have a cloudy film. 

The grease gets baked on and it stains. 


You'll get tiny scratches and dirt will settle in
....it'll be dingy in no time.

Perhaps.

But this was my stove now and I was determined to keep it pristine. As much as I could anyway. I mean we use the stove every day and I'm not a neat cook. And neither are the kids.

So, when I tell you that I have found the very best way to clean that white electric glass top stove, I'm not kidding.

I have it down to a science.

It's been tested on three glass cooktops in two houses over the course of twenty plus years.

And it never fails.

**Of course, you should always refer to your own cooktop manual for proper cleaning instructions.**

How To Clean A White Glass Top On An Electric Stove

How To Clean A White Glass Cooktop

1. Wipe It Down


I start by wiping down the surface with plain old water to loosen and remove the easy stuff. I either use a sponge, a rag or paper towels. 

Whatever I have within reach at the time.

2. Scrape The Surface


Next, I take a razor blade and very carefully scrape away anything that is baked on. 

I usually use a razor blade into a handheld scraper, but that's not necessary. It's just safer.

I always use a new blade, because I don't want to scratch the surface of the glass with debris lodged on the razor.

Then I take that same wet rag or paper towel and wipe the loose residue off the stove top.

Using A Razor Blade To Clean A Glass Cooktop


3. 
Grab The Cleaner


Once I'm satisfied that I have removed everything I can physically, it's time to break out the cleaner. I use Cerama Bryte.

Now. I know that there are baking soda and vinegar concoctions out there that work and I'm all for them.

A dirty white glass cooktop

In fact, in my home, even when I deep clean, I almost exclusively use lemon juice, water, vinegar and baking soda

I do toss a bit of bleach in the washing machine and toilets, for sanitary reasons, but other than that, I'm an au natural kind of girl.

Except for the stove.

The electric stove came with a sample of this product and since the manufacturer recommended it, we tried it and it worked so beautifully, that we never messed with anything else.

The ick just melts away...and it's not a harsh cleaner. Doesn't bother my lungs or my skin.

Cerama Bryte Cleaner

And like I said, three stoves in two houses, perfect every time.

I'm actually a bit obsessed with it now. I use it to clean my shower doors, my kitchen hardware. It even cleans my porcelain sink and scratched dishes.

It also removed the utensil marks on my white Pottery Barn dinnerware

It's my little miracle go to. 

A hand cleaning a glass stove top with a paper towel

4. Clean


I take a bit of the cleaner and squirt it onto the stove top and spread it around with a dry paper towel.

I don't really scrub, I just apply a little pressure to remove any tough stains, moving my hand in circular motions.

To make it even easier, sometimes I use a non scratch buffer pad, if I have a super tough spot.

Cerama Bryte even sells a kit with a scraper and scrubby pad in it, which has come in handy over the years.

5. Buff


Next, I get another paper towel and buff the film off until the cooktop shines.

How to clean a glass stove top

If there are spots that require a little more attention, I go back over them.

6. Wash It Off


Finally, I soap up a wet paper towel with dishwashing liquid and wipe the stove down.

The whole process takes no more than five minutes start to finish. And unlike the vinegar, there's no heavy backbreaking scrubbing.

Ahhh. Much better.

Tips To Keep My White Flat Top Stove Looking Great

  • The cleaner acts a protectant of sorts. Messes wipe up easily in the first few days after use. However, like my mom used to say, an ounce of prevention...

  • So, I also try to be as careful as possible when I cook. I pat any water from the bottom of a pot before I set it on the burner to prevent those circular burn marks.

  • I watch pots so they don't boil over and I never drag anything that might scratch across the burners.

  • I try not to overspray the cooking oil or crack an egg so it runs down the side of the pan onto the stove, as well. Of course, I miss all the time and the cooktop gets icky again.

However, overall, the stove looks perfect in the room.

I love the extra counter space it provides when it's not in use and truth be told, it actually cooks like a dream.

Even better, when it's clean, there's nothing prettier.

And now you know how to get it that way.

Fabulous.

How To Clean A Stove Top Glass Pinterest Graphic

Do you have a stove cleaning trick?

How To Clean A White Glass Top Stove

Author: Kim @ Exquisitely Unremarkable
prep time: perform time: total time:
The best way to clean and shine a glass cooktop.

materials:

steps:

  1. Wipe the stove down with a damp cloth
  2. Carefully scrape any burnt on debris away with a razor
  3. Grab the cleaner and apply it to a scrubby pad or paper towel
  4. Apply a bit of pressure and clean away any stains
  5. Buff the cleaner away 
  6. Wash the surface again with soap and water
  7. Dry

NOTES:

*Always refer to your manufacturer's directions
white stove top, white cooktop, how to clean a white stop
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Post a Comment | 58 Comments

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  1. Looks perfect in your kitchen . . .
    Gas burner look in your white world would look "off!"
    I have electric as well, and decided on it for the extra counter space, clean lines.
    And it fits in perfectly with our stainless look.
    My "go to" cleaner, when the glass top needs a bit more TLC
    then the daily cleaning up, is Soft Scrub . . .
    Soft for the glass, but able to remove any "extras" that may have remained.
    I love your "white" . . . by the way . . . with your touches of red!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thanks so much, Lynne and yes, I agree, the all white look is what I was going for. I wanted those appliances to just fade away. Of course, that can't be done if the stove is dirty! ;)

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  2. i have that kind of stove in my apartment. only in black. the office gives you that cleaner when you lease an apt here. and when you run out they replace it free. that's how adamant they are about your using it! and it truly is amazing. i had never used it before.
    though i hardly have to even use it now... since i don't cook that much with just me in the house!
    still it's nice to have. i like white appliances and this place has stainless steel.
    and it's wonderful for shining that! and it really doesn't seem to be very caustic either... which is always a plus. i'm like you. i prefer natural ingredients usually. and i'd rather have your white!

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    1. I have to say, Tammy, that I cannot deal with strong odors and I barely notice one with this product. I guess the fact that your office replaces it for free is a testament to the fact that it works. I read on the bottle that it is supposed to be good for stainless although, I don't have any of that, so I can't weigh in!! ;) Just my boring bisque appliances...thanks for the comment and visit today. It's always fun to catch up!

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  3. In between times of using the cleaner....try using a magic eraser pad. I have black top and keeps things shiny till I can get to using a polish cleaner. Using the pad daily I keep from adding build up.

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    1. Thank you for the tip! I had a Magic Eraser years ago and I don't know why I stopped buying them, but every time I run into a cleaning issue, someone reminds me of it. Maybe I should add one to the grocery list this week. :)

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    2. Kim, I buy the erasers in larger package...always have clean ones on hand. Another tip...often our glass coffee pot has stains, so I use a fresh new pad just for the pot and makes the glass nice and shiny.

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    3. You definitely convinced me!! It's on the list...thanks again!! :)

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  4. Kim, I've cooked on every conceivable stove type there is, and if I had to do electric again it would be a glass top. I had one in my Ohio home and I used the exact product you use. It did a great job and my stove looked amazing all the time. Like you, I can't abide any kind of gook on my stove. Ick. All that being said, I do prefer cooking on gas, and that's what I have now. You've seen my cute little stove. With sealed burners it's super easy to keep clean. I wipe it down after each cooking adventure with soap and water. If there's something stubborn spilled on it I use a natural all-purpose cleaning product. Just spray it on and leave it a few seconds. . .then wipe clean. Your kitchen is beautiful, as well as extremely clean. :) Hugs, Nancy

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    1. Your stove is fabulous, Nancy! It's perfect and those sealed burners to make clean up so much easier. Growing up, we had the standard gas model and it was so hard to keep neat. My mom used to have those silver foil liners (which I hated looking at), but they did do the job. Then she had the sealed burner model and what a difference! It took me a long time to get used to cooking on electric, but now I am an old pro. Of course, I am not a big cook. If I were, I'd probably feel very different about the topic. I am a form over function kind of girl, so this one suits me just fine. Thank you for your sweet words, as always! Hugs!!

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  5. I have smooth top ranges since the 80"s. I love them. The extra space is wonderful. I have always had white till our new house. It is Black. Still easy to clean. Just need to clean a smooth top when U finish with your meal, it has cooled down and is ready for the cleaning, I have seen people cook over and over without cleaning and them complain how hard it is to clean.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I totally agree, it's like anything else, frequent cleaning makes the job much easier. If you let it go, it's a bigger mess to tackle. I have to admit that sometimes, I am lazy about the clean up or I am running with the kids after dinner and don't get the chance. I have to say though, even when I have to scrape, it still comes out looking super. It just takes more muscle on my part...or my husband's!! ;) Thanks for the comment today!! I appreciate the tips!

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  6. Informative post, Kim. We have a gas stove, but there are times that messes happen. I never would have thought of a razor blade! But it makes sense. Plus a comment suggesting the Magic Eraser. Wonderful. Great tips.
    Have a blessed day! xo Kathy

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    1. I would never have used a razor blade had a scraper not come in my first package. I would’ve been scared to scratch the surface or the markings on the stove, but it works…no damage! I am totally getting a Magic Eraser. Thanks!! :)

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  7. Me so jelly of your stove. I have a ceramic top (I guess that's what they call it here in Europe) and it looks like bombs have gone off on it. Granted it is 20 years old and it and I have had our fair share of arguments. But it works and that's all that matters. I've also heard that we should not be putting sugar on it or it melts into the top.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I agree, clean or dirty, working appliances are the goal. My dishwasher stopped working this weekend and I was so frustrated. It's back up and running now and I don't care if it's clean or dirty...it's washing!! ;)

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  8. I've never had a stove top like that, however my family in Ireland does, and they use the same product, go figure!!

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    1. It's a very good stove, but I would imagine that a chef of your caliber would have gas. ;)

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  9. Well, from one cheap and easy gal to another...(sorry, couldn't resist, lol!) I love this! My mom has a stove top just like this and is forever trying to get it clean. I'm forwarding this to her right now. I like the dry paper towel idea too. For some reason, a dry paper towel does a better job than a wet one when cleaning my sink with Bar Keeper's Friend too. And yes...the wrinkle on the bedspread DOES ruin the whole room. ;) Oh, and LOVE your nails!

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    1. Thanks!! My nails are Jamberry. I have a great rep who sells them. I love them and I can clean all day long and they don't chip or fade. And the dry paper towels work great. :)

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  10. Lots of good tips. I don't have a glass top but my mom does and I will share your tips with her. I might buy some of your cleaner though and try it on my stainless.

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    1. I have heard it works well on stainless, Lorri and apparently others have the same in the comments. Let me know how it goes, if you do! :)

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  11. Hi Kim, Love your pretty stove top and looks like you found a wonderful product that keeps it looking gorgeous. I have a gas counter stove top in porcelain and it cleans really nice with just dish soap and warm water. However it's black, so it gets cleaned a lot since it shows everything. I also use a mix of half water and rubbing alcohol for shine and also to clean my granite, mirrors and windows. It works like magic but you have to make sure it's equal parts water and white rubbing alcohol.
    I had to smile at your remark about the wrinkle in the bedspread. Oh how I agree on that one too.
    xo

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    1. That wrinkle is my nemesis...I think it's the artist's eye! ;) Thanks for the cleaning tip. I am going to give it a try. My mirrors could use a little shine!

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  12. Any day my 27 yr old electric stove will die & I'll need to buy a new one. I've browsed, studied & read about all types of stoves & cannot make up my mind what I want! I could go gas because there is a line. I've never cooked with gas & it makes me a little nervous...especially the way my husband cooks. I can imagine the house going up in flames with his first meal! Also, I cook pretty much exclusively in cast iron..I've read so many contradictions about cooking in cast iron on glass topped stoves.

    So how often do you have to clean this thoroughly? I assume weekly?

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    1. Hi Jenny, I would say that I clean it about once every two weeks or so. It's really ready then. If I have the time, I will do it more often, but that seems to be when I manage to get it done. I suppose it depends on how much you cook and how careful you are. I think you cook way more than I do. We do have a cast iron pan and so far all is well, but generally we use stainless. I can see how cast iron could scratch the glass, I wouldn't slide it around. As far as even heating of the cast iron pan, I mean gas probably does a better job of that...good luck!!

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  13. I cook on a gas stove, but my daughter has a black electric stove similar to this so I'll pass this information on to her! She also loves the extra space that she gets in her small kitchen when the stove is not in use!

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    1. The space is so helpful, Deanna. I make sandwiches, cut veggies, roll out cookies...as long as the stove is not hot and on, it's just another counter area to me!! :)

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  14. Looks like absolute perfection! I just discovered this product recently and agree it works quite well. I have not tried the razor blade trick, but I must give it a go. Have a great weekend!

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    1. It really does work well, doesn't it, Lynn? I am all for something that makes light work of a heavy job! :)

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  15. Great tip, Kim! I also have a glass stove top, but mine is black. I have used the Weiman cleaner for years and it also works very well. I have a small hand scraper and I just buy the non scratch pads. It does a great job every time. I am glad to learn about the paper towels, because sometimes I forget to buy the cleaning pads. :) I am not a very neat cook either and the stove gets very messy every day. Oh,well! Maybe we should just stop cooking. :) xxx Maria

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    1. Stop cooking?? Count me in!! ;) Thanks for sharing your cleaner. It's always good to have options. You never know when they'll discontinue my favorite! I hate that...

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  16. My horrific glass cooktop thanks you for this post. I stopped by to Stumble from the thread and am SO GLAD I read through the post. good info! Thanks! Susie from The Chelsea Project

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    1. Oh I am so glad that you found some handy information today, Susie!! :) I hope it helps and thanks for the stumble. I love getting shared! ;)

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  17. I had a glass cooktop once and loved it. Hubs grew up with gas so he wasn't a fan. I did all the cooking though so his opinion didn't matter. ;) Great tips.

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  18. I have an ongoing battle with my stove top and I'm not winning. Yours sparkles.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Why thank you, Amalia. :) And I have that ongoing battle with my oven. Do not look inside!

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  19. My stove top needs lots of help. Kim to the rescue!
    Thank you for the tips.
    Carla

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  20. I have a gas stove, but it's sort of a glass top. Does that make sense? Anyway, we used to own a cleaning biz and that's what we used, but instead of a razor we supplied our teams with a gadget called a chisler, which is simply a stiff rubber thingie that can't scratch anything.

    In looking at houses recently, I was disappointed to see most places in Florida are electric. I'm strictly a gas girl. (Just realized how that sounds). :/ It's encouraging to hear you're happy though!

    xxx

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    1. I have to say, I was skeptical about electric, but our house is super old and moving the gas line was going to be a HUGE expense because the entire house line would’ve needed to be replaced. Plus, the permit process here is slow, very, very slow and the first time we renovated I was pregnant and the second time, we had toddlers. Neither one of those situations is pleasant without a kitchen. So we said no thanks. I guess it’s all about what you get used to and like I said, not a big cook. Glad to hear that I am using what the pros use. I may have to look into one of those chislers. Thanks for the tip! :)

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  21. That's me. I wanted to save money so we moved no lines. I remember that method on my glass stove. I didn't exactly the same, but can't remember the product I used as the last step. What's funny is that my gas stove has glass surrounding the burners. So when you lift the heavy cast iron off it that's what you see. Though it is grayish black, and I think at least on this stove it is less sticky than the stove I had in my last house, because I have not seen my spouse pull out the razor blade. I hate cleaning it so much, because the pieces are so heavy. My dad was a plumber and he scared me with stories. I used a company with union plumbers to fix the plumbing in here. You know what I don't like about gas, it leaves a sticky film, electric gets you normal grease, but not the stickiness. Good advice, Kim. xoxo Su

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    1. Oh yes, Su, I remember the stickiness!! It was always so hard to clean. I think the gas stoves of today are so much easier to take care of than the ones I grew up with...lots of pieces, but yes, today's grates are heavy., but it does cook so nicely! :)

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  22. I had a glass stove top in our last house, but it was black on stainless steel. I used Soft Scrub, and that worked well. My biggest issue was dust....you live in the desert, everything gets dusty, including the glass cooktop! I have gas in this house, and I am in love with it. I had never cooked on it before, but it would be hard for me to go back to electric now. Also, when you have a "Chefy Son," cooking on anything but gas is a serious infraction of cooking etiquette...seriously!
    Hugs, Carol

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    1. My sister is a big cook (not a pro like your son, but she could be!) and she will only cook with gas. As long as the stove is clean, I am a happy cook. Well, I am never actually a happy cook! ;)

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  23. Perfect timing- we just bought a new to us home that has a glass stove top. Going to try this right away. Thanks!

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    1. Hope it helps, Debra and congrats on the new stove. Enjoy it!! :)

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  24. Ladies! Help, please! New to the glass top electric. I have black. Manual says no soap or other product ever--only specialty made glass top cleaner--which I faithfully use. I have dreadful streaks all the time. Am I not buffing enough? Tips? Thanks!

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    1. Hi Wendy, I think that a little extra buffing would help. I would use a microfiber cloth to see if that helps at all. Good luck!!

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  25. Hi, I love the rules of cleaning stove what you discussed. But I want to avoid using the blade because I am not experienced with it. Do you have any alternative of using blade? Overall is ok. I appreciate your help. Many Thanks.

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    1. HI Joel, I totally get it. I believe that the Cerama Bryte cleaner kit comes with a scraper that has the razor encased in a safety housing that you may feel more comfortable using. If not, honestly, the scrubber and cleaner together work very well without the razor....it just take a little more elbow grease to get the job done. Hope that helps!

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  26. Fill a spray bottle with plain white vinegar and spray down the burners after each use. Let the vinegar sit on the grates for approximately ten minutes or so, then wipe off. Great Tips Thanks Mate.

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    1. Great ideas, thanks! Vinegar is one of my go to's as well!

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  27. I have a glass black top stove which is hard to keep clean, too! It came with a cooktop cleaner that I'm sure is similar to the Cerama Bryte that you use. However, once I use it to remove the stains, etc. and wipe off the residue that's left, I use a microfiber cloth to make it shine with an exceptionally clean look! In fact, it makes everything look clean including stainless steel. I can't be without my microfiber cloth!

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    1. I think black is as hard to keep clean as the white, Gail. My old stove top was gray...it looked great all the time!! I do love the idea of the microfiber cloth though. I've never tried that. I think I'm off to Amazon to grab a new one and give it a shot. Thanks for taking the time to visit and share the tip!

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  28. Hmm.. I guess I will have to find the cleaner that came with our stove. Sears went out of business in our area so I was not sure where to find Kenmore cleaner. I can never seem to get our top as clean as I would like to. So frustrating to me! There is a water spot on the one burner and it burns my britches I can never seem to get it off. Thanks for the tip!

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    1. You should give the Cerama Bryte a try, it really does work great. I hope that water stains comes off...that would drive me crazy, too!!

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