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The Ultimate Guide on How to Clean a Hob
From gas, electric, to air venting hobs, learn how to clean a hob of any kind!
A well-maintained hob should last for approximately 10 to 15 years. But if you neglect it, it can begin to deteriorate. Regular cleaning will save you time scrubbing away at particularly stubborn stains and will ensure your hob lasts for as long as possible!
This guide covers everything you need to know for keeping a shiny and well-performing hob. There are a few differences in the cleaning methods for each type of hob. So, we’ve covered each one individually so that you know exactly which steps to take to clean your hob.
How Often Should You Clean Your Hob?
A hob needs a regular cleaning or wipe down after every use, and a deep clean at least once a month. How often it will need deep cleaning will depend on how often it’s used, and how dirty it is.
Regularly wiping down the surface of your hob will prevent a build-up of grease particles. It will also make any future cleaning quicker and easier. That’s because you’ll be removing stains and spillages before they set and cause problems.
How to Clean a Hob
For all hob types, a regular cleaning can just be a quick wipe down with a damp cloth after use. If you need a little extra cleaning power, you can use a small amount of washing up liquid.
Out of all hob types, ceramic and induction hobs are the easiest to clean. This is thanks to their completely flat surfaces. Other hob types, such as gas, have more crevices that grease and other residue can hide. However, regardless of your hob type, regular cleaning is always beneficial.
The benefits of cleaning your hob regularly include:
Safety Warning: Always ensure that all burners are turned off and cold before any kind of cleaning.
Why Do You Still Need to Deep Clean?
You may be wondering why you still need to deep clean your hob if you’re wiping it down so regularly.
Although wiping your kitchen hob down with a damp cloth is perfect for removing excess grime, you still need to carry out a regular deep clean. This is because minuscule grease particles and other food residue are released into the air whilst cooking. Extraction fans do a great job of removing these from the air, however there will always be some that settle into your hob.
To keep your hob clean and hygienic, a regular deep clean is needed to remove all the grease and grime that has accumulated. Be sure to wait until it has cooled so you don’t burn yourself and the heat doesn’t cause a reaction between the cleaning product and the hob surface.
Learn how to deep clean your own hob with our hob cleaning guides for:
Glass-Top Hobs – including ceramic hobs and induction hobs
How to Clean a Gas Hob
To clean your gas hob, follow these 6 easy steps:
Step 1: Remove all pan supports and burner plates. Put these in the sink to soak. We recommend soaking them in hot water and washing up liquid. Another alternative is to soak them in hot water with added bicarbonate of soda. Leave these to soak whilst you focus on the hob itself.
Step 2: Using a dampened cloth, remove any loose debris from your hob top and crevices. Remove any stubborn debris using a dedicated hob scraper to avoid scratching the surface.
Step 3: Apply your preferred hob cleaner. We recommend a degreaser that is designed for hob use. Washing up liquid can also be used. Avoid using any abrasive chemical cleaners. If using washing up liquid, use a little hot water and a sponge to spread it evenly across the surface. Once your cleaner is applied, leave it for a few minutes to work into the grease.
Always check that your hob cleaner can be used on your hob’s surface material. Some are unsuitable for use on gas on glass hobs or stainless steel hobs. Washing up liquid can be used on either of these surfaces.
Step 4: Use a cleaning sponge to scrub away grease and food residue. Don’t use an abrasive scrubber as this could scratch the surface.
Step 5: Use a soft cloth to wipe away the cleaner, along with all of the grease and other debris. A dry microfibre cloth can then be used to buff the surface for a professional shine.
Step 6: Use a cloth to clean the pan supports and burner plates that have been soaking. A soft toothbrush can be used to clean burnt-on residue or hard to reach areas. Ensure they are completely dry before returning them to the hob.
How to Clean Electric Plate Hobs
Electric plate hobs, otherwise known as Metal-plate or solid plate hobs, are electric hobs with raised plates. Because of these raised plates, cleaning them can be a little trickier than other hobs. That’s because grease and food particles can easily become trapped in the grooves.
These easy to follow steps will hopefully make this task more manageable:
Step 1: Remove any loose food debris with a damp cloth. A hob or glass scraper can be used to remove any stubborn residue. This step should be carried out carefully to avoid scratching the surface.
Step 2: Apply your degreasing hob cleaner evenly across all surfaces. Be sure to use a hob cleaner that is designed for your hob’s surface materials. If you’re unsure, warm water and washing up liquid is a fantastic cleaner for all hob types.
Step 3: Use a cleaning sponge to scrub away any grease. Ensure you get into every nook and cranny. You can use a soft toothbrush to get into the grooves around the hob plates. Just be sure to use light pressure to avoid scratching the surface.
Step 4: Use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe away all of the cleaner and grease. You can then use a dry microfibre cloth to buff the surface for a professional shine.
How to Clean a Glass-Top Hob
A glass-top hob covers all hob types with a tempered glass top. This includes ceramic and induction hobs.
These are the easiest types of hobs to clean, thanks to their flush, glass surfaces. Additionally, there are no hidden and sheltered parts that can accumulate debris, making things even easier.
You can quickly and easily clean your glass-top hob by following these steps:
Step 1: Wipe the surface of the glass hob with a damp cloth or sponge. Use warm water and apply a little washing-up liquid to gently work away any other dirt and grime.
Top Tip: If you have a ceramic hob you can use a dedicated ceramic cleaner to ensure you get the best results.
Step 2: Wipe the residue off with a dry cloth.
And that’s all you really need to do! You can also use a dry microfibre cloth to give it a buff so that it shines.
How to Clean an Air Venting Hob
Air venting induction hobs are arguably the hardest to clean because it involves cleaning the extractor fan too. You can clean the surface of the hob using the same instructions in the above sections, depending on your hob type.
When it comes to cleaning the vent, some models include a grease filter that you simply remove and wash in your sink or dishwasher. However, grease and grime will build up on the outside of your vent too. To stay on top of this, follow these steps:
Step 1: Wipe the outside with a little bit of washing-up liquid using a damp cloth.
Step 2: Next, you just need to wipe away the washing-up liquid residue with another damp cloth. You can then either dry it, or leave it to dry naturally.
Step 3: If your model has a lightbulb cover, it is sometimes removable. If so, remove this and let it soak in warm soapy water for half an hour.
Step 4: Use a soft sponge to wipe it over before drying and reinstalling it.
Step 5: Lastly, clean the vent filters by removing them and soaking them in hot water, washing-up liquid and white vinegar. Leave to soak for a minimum of 30 minutes. Then, apply bicarbonate of soda and scrub it in.
Step 6: Let the filters dry completely before reinstalling.
As you can see, while cleaning your air venting induction hob is a little more fiddly, it’s still incredibly simple.
How to Clean a Burnt Hob
Sometimes a regular deep cleaning doesn’t quite get the job done. Burnt-on grease can be a real challenge to remove! But how do you get burnt-on grease off a stovetop?
Sometimes life gets in the way, and even with the best intentions, you may not always be able to clean down your hob straight after use (once it’s cooled down, of course). So, if you find yourself with a build-up of burnt grease, here are a few methods you can try:
1) Soak It
Don’t forget to switch off your cooker before doing this!
Pour a small amount of warm water with washing-up liquid over the burnt-on grease. Let it soak for a while (we recommend leaving it for 30 minutes) before using a wet cloth to scrub and remove the grime.
Be careful that the water doesn’t drip or run down any holes, or anywhere it can cause a problem.
2) Use a Hob Scraper
There are specially designed tools to remove any hard to remove residual food or grease. Although you are less likely to scratch the surface of your hob using this tool, it is still possible. You will therefore need to use caution.
Soaking the area before using the scraper may make this step easier.
3) Natural Cleaners
Natural remedies such as vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda can help release food debris and grime from your stove. You can learn more about how these can be used in our How to Clean a Kitchen Naturally guide.
FAQs
The only cooker hob that requires servicing is your gas hob. According to the Gas Safe Register, most manufacturers recommend scheduling a service once a year. There should be additional information about this in your owner’s manual. The service should be carried out by a Gas Safe Registered professional who will check that:
We don’t recommend using any cleaning product with bleach or ammonia as an ingredient. The harshness of these chemicals could leave permanent stains. Before cleaning your hob, double-check your owner’s manual to check what can and can’t be used.
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