The best stove-top cleaners you can buy

Ceramic stove tops are prone to scratching. So how do you get rid of burned-on food safely? Weiman Cooktop Cleaner Max can tackle the worst problems and still leave your stove-top streak and scratch-free.

After years of cleaning enamel and stainless steel cooktops that stood up to scrubbing from a steel wool pad, I encountered a smooth ceramic stove-top. It looked sleek and conducted heat well, but removing the overflow from a boiling pot was difficult until I found Weiman Cooktop Cleaner Max.

The micro-bead technology in the formula provides just the right amount of abrasive power to remove burned-on food and grease but doesn't scratch the surface. After cleaning with the lemon-scented paste and enclosed pad that conveniently stores in the lid of the container and rinsing, there are no streaks or watermarks at all.

One Amazon customer writes, "It's best for getting off that burn on stuff that doesn't like to come off with scrubbing pad and the polish. It's so fast and easy. I used to spend 30 minutes scrubbing (and getting irritated) but with this, it takes 2-3 minutes."

Pros: Removes the worst burned-on messes and grease effectively, will not scratch ceramic surfaces, comes with a scrubbing pad

Cons: Does not remove scratches caused by knives, pots and pans, not readily found in all mass-market stores

Buy Weiman Cooktop Cleaner Max in a 9-ounce container from Amazon for $4.99

TriNova Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish not only eliminates kitchen grease and stuck-on food, it helps prevent them.

Stainless steel stove tops have plenty of great qualities. They are extremely durable but can show every water spot and smudge. They don't hold up well under harsh scouring powders, steel wool or abrasive sponges. Once the damage is done, there is no reversing the marred finish.

Since almost every commercial kitchen uses stainless steel stove-tops, I turned to the expert users who recommended TriNova Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish for my home stainless steel appliances. Professionals have been using it for years to keep commercial kitchen appliances shining.

Not only does TriNova remove food splatters, grease, and smudges easily with a non-abrasive, water-based product, it also coats the surface of stainless steel to help repel messes so it stays shiny longer. Simply give the bottle a good shake and spray on the cleaner. The solution is slightly thick so it adheres to the surface.

If you have been a bit negligent in your cleaning of the stove-top (there are months and months of burned-on food and grease), I recommend using ZEP Heavy Duty Citrus Degreaser first to cut through the mess. Then finish up with TriNova to begin protecting the stainless surface for easier daily cleaning!

TriNova includes a large microfiber towel with each purchase. Fold it into quarters and use one side to wipe the cleaner in the direction of the grain. Finish by using a dry side of the towel for a final buff of the surface to increase the shine. When your stove-top is gleaming, don't forget the dishwasher, sink, and refrigerator!

Pros: Removes grease and burned-on food easily, leaves stainless stove-tops streak-free, comes with a microfiber cleaning cloth, can be used on all stainless steel appliances

Cons: Not readily available in mass-market stores

Buy TriNova Stainless Steel Cleaner in an 18-ounce spray bottle with complimentary microfiber towel from Amazon for $12.97

There's no scrubbing needed to clean grungy gas stove-top grates and burner heads with Austin's Clear Ammonia Multipurpose Cleaner.

I think we have established that we all love any type of cleaning that requires very little effort. If you own a gas stove-top, I can offer just that type of cleaning for filthy grates and grease-clogged burner heads: Austin's Clear Ammonia Multipurpose Cleaner.

All you need is a sealable plastic bag or container and Austin's. Simply place the grates and burner heads in the container and pour in just enough ammonia to cover the pieces. Seal up the container and let them "soak" for about eight hours or overnight. Remove the pieces, sponge them off with a bit of soapy water, rinse well with hot water, and they are sparkling clean! Just dry them and reinstall.

As with any too-easy-to-believe hack, there are a couple of things you should note. Ammonia has a very potent odor and should be used in a well-ventilated space. NEVER mix ammonia with other cleaning products, especially chlorine bleach, that can cause deadly gases. You should use tongs or wear protective gloves when removing stove-top pieces from the soaking solution to prevent skin irritation. Luckily, the ammonia can be safely disposed of down the drain.

Once you discover the cleaning potential of household ammonia, you'll find plenty of uses in the kitchen, laundry room, and throughout the house.

Pros: One-step cleaning, cuts through heavy grease and burned-on build up, works well to remove smudges

Cons: Powerful odor, potential skin irritant

Buy Austin's Clear Ammonia Multipurpose Cleaner in a 128-ounce bottle from Amazon for $12.04

For those lingering bits of burned-on food on stove-top drip pans, Mr. Clean Extra Durable Magic Erasers work like a charm.

A small, white, brick-like miracle cleaning tool arrived on store shelves in 2003. Mr. Clean Extra Durable Magic Erasers uses melamine-foam activated with water as micro-scrubbers to remove stuck-on grime from nearly every type of surface including electric stove-top drip pans.

I grew up with an electric stove with burner coils and drip pans that took lots of abuse. It was my mother's favorite chore assignment for me. "Make those drip pans shine!" I remember plenty of time at the sink with hot water, scrubbing powders, and steel wool trying to get rid of burned-on food. Of course, I blamed her for letting the pans boil over in the first place.

To make cleaning simple, my first suggestion is to use Austin's Clear Ammonia Multipurpose Cleaner to give the drip pans a soak to cut through the grease and food on the pans. But if any bits linger, it is Mr. Clean to the rescue.

I usually cut the erasers into smaller pieces that can be used to scrub away residue and then tossed after they become really messy. Finish by simply rinsing with warm water to remove any foam particles that might remain.

Pros: Eraser can be cut to fit the cleaning job, disposable, removes really tough grime

Cons: Can dull the finish of new, highly polished drip pans

Buy Mr. Clean Extra Durable Magic Erasers in an 8-count box from Amazon for $7.57