Are you looking for the best ceramic hob cleaner out there? Look no further! Today we're showing you how to clean your ceramic hob, including those tough burn marks!
Ceramic hobs are meant to look slick, sleek and shiny. This is not just for aesthetic purposes, but also for functionality. A dirty ceramic hob prevents pans from sitting flat enough to touch the heating element, making it much less effective.
You may worry your ceramic hob is in a state of disrepair, but it's never too late. Today we're showing you how to clean your ceramic hob the simple, natural way.
Ready? Time to get started.
Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in March 2018 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in August 2020.
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How to clean a ceramic hob
You will need:
The best ceramic hob cleaner is surprisingly simple. You really don't need much to get amazing results in your kitchen - natural products and a bit of elbow grease are more than enough to tackle ceramic hob burnt marks.
Here's what you need to get your hob spick and span:
- Bicarbonate of soda
- 2 cleaning cloths
- Newspaper
- Spray bottle filled with distilled vinegar
- A ceramic hob scraper
1. Clean off any debris
First things first, you're going to need a blank canvas.
Use soapy water, or your prefered kitchen cleaning spray, and give your hob a good once over. Remove any food debris, grease, and watermarks, then wipe once again and buff dry with a clean cloth.
When that's done, it's time to get down and dirty.
2. Spray on some vinegar
Spray a thin layer of vinegar around the ceramic hob rings. Make sure the burnt-on marks, in particular, are well-covered.
3. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda
Sprinkle your bicarbonate of soda over the vinegar, ensuring that enough is applied to create a fizzing reaction - this is what's going to help break down those tough, burnt on marks. Leave the solution to sit for a few minutes.
4. Rub with newspaper
Begin to work the bicarb and vinegar solution into the mark using newspaper. Use some elbow grease, and scrub as hard as you can to help break down the mark. Replace your newspaper when it becomes greasy.
5. Rinse away the residue
Once you have scrubbed the burn marks as much as possible, clean the stove. Use a cloth to remove the bicarb mix, grease, and wipe the hob clean with a clean cloth.
This method alone should have removed the majority, if not all, of the burnt-on stains. However, if, like the ceramic hob pictured above, yours is in a particularly bad state, you'll need something stronger. That's where a ceramic hob scraper comes in.
6. Use a hob scraper
Never underestimate the power of your ceramic hob scraper. Whilst it's extremely unlikely to do any damage to your hob, the angle between your blade and hob should be kept relatively small to prevent any chance of scratching. Start from the outside of the ring and, keeping your scraper relatively flat. Use firm, back-and-forth movements to gradually chip away at the stains.
6. Clean off any grime
Once you've completed this process for all your hob rings, it's time to clean your hob again. Remove all the debris the burn marks have left you with.
7. Use a hob cleaner
To finish off and remove any remaining stains, you may want to use a ceramic hob cleaner, such as Hob Brite.
We think this is the best ceramic hob cleaner ever, and we hope you do too! It may require a bit of elbow grease, but we're not afraid of a little hard work, and we know our committed readers aren't either.
8. Admire your work!
Just look at those results - you can even see your reflection! Not a smear, scratch or mark in sight.
How to prevent ceramic hob stains
As with most things, when it comes to cleaning your ceramic hob, prevention is much easier than cure.
Here are some of our top cleaning tips to stop a ceramic hob burn mark before it happens!
- Don't overfill your pans: Veg doesn't need much water to steam - prevent overflows by reducing the amount you use.
- Use a bigger pan: If you can't reduce the amount of water you're using, increase the pot size. It might be an inconvenience if you've already started, but it will save on hassle later.
- Clean up spills immediately: If your pot does happen to boil over onto the hot plate, remove the pan, turn off the heat and clean the spill up immediately. A quick, emergency cleanup will prevent a big cleanup later on.
- Clean your hob after every use: You might not always see food left on your hob after cooking. Don't leave it till later - someone might use the hob before you get the chance to clean it, making that small spillage a lot worse.
Speaking of pans - do you need help cleaning a burnt pan? We've got lots of tips in our other article!
Q&A
What is the best cleaner for a ceramic cooktop?
Our favourite product for cleaning a ceramic hob is HobBrite, but there are many other cleaners out there to try. Why not give HG Hob Cleaner a try?
Can I use The Pink Stuff on a ceramic hob?
You certainly can! We love using The Pink Stuff all around the home, and it's especially good at tackling the built-up grime on your hob.
Our video shows how it's done:
Can you remove scratches from ceramic hobs?
Sadly, it's not possible to remove scratches from your hob. It's important to take care when using and cleaning your hob to keep it looking great. That said, our handy guide might help you to reduce the appearance of scratches.
How do you remove ceramic hob burn marks? We'd love to hear your tips in the comments below.
can you use something else other than vinegar?? it makes me sick and I don't keep it in my house.
Hi Lilach. Water will also cause the bicarbonate of soda to fizz, but the reaction won't be quite as strong as with vinegar. I hope that helps :)
Lemon juice works. It’s the acid that makes it fizz
Hi Stephanie - Am I allowed to mention Lakeland? I use their Hob Heaven Daily Spray and Antibacterial Cleaner (both £3.99) on my ceramic hob plus my trusty hob scraper. After 15 years my hob looks almost new bar a few scratches. I'll have to try the bicarb and vinegar paste as well.
Hi Sandy, Yes, of course, you may mention Lakeland - we love it there! It's always great to get authentic product recommendations so thanks for this. I'm sure our readers will find it useful :) Thanks, Steph
thank you for this best article about ceramic burn marks scraper
We're glad you found the information useful!
Man I have burnt on a induction oven little portion please help me out 5day over i have done nothing still i am cooking nothing Will happened???
Hi there! What have you tried so far?
Hi I jad some whote burnt marks and did what you said but became much much worse. How can i remove white burnt marks please? My hob is very clean however insude the rings are noa very white instead of black :(
Hi Maria! What kind of hob is it?
I have a black Sprinter ceramic hob which is really shiny and clean but has matt white marks inside the rings...i tried bicarbonate os soda, vinegar, lemon and even Bar Keepers friend but they are still there unfortunately! Anthing else I could use?
I'd suggest you try a product called Hob Brite. I had the same problem with my hob - just a few white marks left - and it got them all off.
Hi. I'm trying to clean, a burned ring on my Indesit cook. Any tips please.
Hi Davina! You can follow the guidance in our article, but here are some tips. Scrape off any loose debris using a razor blade or a plastic scraper. Make a paste of baking soda and water, and spread it over the stain. Leave it on for a few minutes, then wipe it away with a damp cloth.
lemon juice will work as well as vinegar and has a pleasant smell.
Lemon juice is one of our favourite cleaners! Thanks for this tip.
where do u get the hob scraper from please
Hi there! We've included a link in the article, but that one is currently unavailable. Here is a similar one > https://amzn.to/2OCreM5
I have had my cooker for only a week and used approx. 3 times. It already has white round the rim and like a rainbow colour inside of the ring. I cleaned it once it had cooled down and only used water, then tried washing up liquid, then tried a ceramic hob cleaner. I will give your idea a go, but I cannot understand why the hob already looks second hand?
It's very frustrating, isn't it Debbie? It's a shame as ceramic hobs look so much nicer than the standard ones.
I was always told never use washing up liquid or even a cloth that has any trace of washing up liquid on it I use hob pride which has a special cloth included and a hob blade my job is around 12 years old and looks lovely.
Sounds like you know your stuff, Victoria!
thanks for all the suggestions, i will go home after work and try the vinegar and soda
Good luck, Janice!
where can I buy large box of bicarbonate soda , I am in central Scotland, thank you
Hi Elaine! I'm not sure about local stockists, but you can definitely find it on Amazon.
Iv been told when its clean to use car wax this puts a barrier on it and and that makes it easier to clean.
That's interesting, Mary! I've not heard of that before.
That was nothing short of miraculous! Thank you for the awesome tip!
You're welcome, Tereza!
Even the bi-carb and vinegar won't budge the burnt on carbon on my hob.
Hi Andy! Have you tried Hob Brite with a hob scraper? Hob scrapers are excellent for removing burnt-on food.
It did not work
Hi Jordan! What is it that you're struggling to remove?
I accidentally let a dish cloth touch a corner of my hob when it was hot. It has left an uneven surface, how do I remove the marks? I have tried hob bride.
Hi Margaret! Have you tried a hob scraper? It sounds like this could be pretty tough to budge!
I used a relatively cheap Wok on my induction hob this evening; lesson learnt! It left a residue from the base of the pan behind, my OH’s face said it all. A £2,000 oven & hob ruined..... the Bicarbonate of Soda trick saved me. I repeated it three times, and all marks have gone. Beyond happy. Thank you for sharing.
That's great to hear, Vanessa!
June 2020- Just used this method with the vinegar and bicarbonate of soda and it's worked amazingly. I'd always 'cleaned' my hob after use, but it was the burnt on debris that wouldn't shift. Thank you. I now have a gleaming hob that will fit in with my new cupboard doors.
Great to hear!
Just got a smeg ceramic hob .always used gas before for 40 hrs. The white circles seem to be disappearing a little .only had 3 wks .I've bought new oans .only using hob cleaner for ceramic . I think maybe my own bases too big or small . Should they overlap the outer rings preventing spillage or underlap so they're inside the rings
To prevent the white circles on your Smeg ceramic hob from fading too quickly, use suitable cookware with flat bottoms and adjust their size to fit the heating element properly. Clean the hob regularly using a ceramic hob cleaner and a soft cloth, and avoid using abrasive cleaners or scrubbers.
Hello, I left a saucepan of water burn out and have a discoloured ring on an AEG induction hob. Would you advise anything in particular to help remove it or is it not possible? Thank you. Sarah
To remove the discoloured ring on your AEG induction hob, you can try making a paste with baking soda and water or applying white vinegar and wiping the area clean with a damp cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, as induction hobs are delicate and easily damaged.
I accidentally let a tea towel touch my hot ceramic hob and it burned into it, I tried hob cleaner but it didn’t budge. Can you help.
Hi Josephine! I would try a hob scraper.
My son house sat and whilst he was there he burnt a pan of pasta on the ceramic hob. It has marked the hob in the shape of a circle where the pan was. It doesn’t feel raised at all but there is a definite ring. I’ve used everything and cleaned it dozens of times but it won’t shift. Any ideas?
To remove the stubborn burnt mark from your ceramic hob, use baking soda and water or white vinegar. If these methods don't work, you may need to replace the affected area or the entire hob.
Took me forever to figure out what a 'hob' is!!!. Is this in Europe? Can't find anything that says Hob Brite here either. The ideas sound like they will work well on my smooth electric stove top. Thanks.
Hi Shirley! Yes, a hob is a British term for a stove. You might have an equivalent product for that.
How do I know which pans are ceramic I’ve marked my hob and now afraid to use
To determine if your pan is ceramic, look for markings or check the colour, and use a magnet to see if it's magnetic. If you've already marked your hob with an unsuitable pan, try using a hob cleaner or soapy water to remove the mark, but it's best to avoid using unsuitable pans.
I have white marks on my hob. It's only 3 weeks old. Any ideas how to remove them? I've tried hobrite, vingear and bicarb, pink stuff. Nothing is removing it.?
Hi Jane! Have you tried a hob scraper or are the marks more like stains?
Excellent advice, hob looks as good as new! Was terrified of using job scraper, but came out great. Thank you.
We're so glad to hear that, Jade!
I what are the best saucepans to use on a ceramic job ? I have only used my job once and I already have white stains on it
Use saucepans with flat and smooth bottoms on a ceramic hob to avoid scratching the surface. Clean the base of the pans before use and wipe the hob with a soft cloth or sponge to prevent stains.
we live in a hard-water area, and now I have limescale residue on the surface of my new ceramic hob, caused by a couple of water droplets landing on the hot surface. How do I remove them? I've now learned that you shouldn't cook anything without a lid on the pan, and remove the pan if you need to stir what is being cooked!
To remove limescale residue from a ceramic hob, you can try using a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar, soaking a soft cloth, and gently rubbing the surface in circular motions. If this doesn't work, you can try using a specialized hob cleaner and follow the instructions on the product label.
Had tenants who did not look after the glass cooktop. Professional Cleaner has cleaned it up, so now no grease etc. BUT THERE IS A RAINBOW/PINKISH COLOURED STAIN still IN THE MIDDLE OF 2 RINGS. Cleaner said it was HEAT marks/Stain, and she cant get them off. Not raised, but a flat stain. How do I remove these stains? Can they be removed? Is she right? HELP Evelyn
Use a baking soda paste or a specialised cooktop cleaner to remove the pinkish stain on your glass cooktop caused by heat. If these methods do not work, the stain may be permanent, and you may need to replace the cooktop.
Is it OK to use hob brite on my hob every day after use it's bran new
Hi Deirdre! Yes, you can use Hob Brite daily, if you wish.
Hi, what about the stain inside the ceramic (I mean its not something on the surface of hob which I can wipe only using damp cloth), is it possible to clean? Please advise. Thank you
Hi Paul! These methods should work for those kinds of stains, too.
Just tried some bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth and it took the ring mark ( which looked like it was inside the glass surface) completely off. It did not look like food residue but an actual damage mark after using a wok on my 2 week old AEG induction hob . But all sorted in 30 seconds !!
That's amazing, Janice!
This stuff really worked like magic... I would not now use the creamy hob cleaner, where before it was inevitable, I felt. Thank you, you have done the world a world of good today, as well, as the vinegar and baking soda are natural and do not harm the environment, I would think. I will check.
Glad to hear it, Grace!
Having done all the things illustrated here, and still have marks and stains on the ceramic hob, what do I try next? One of use daily uses a tiny coffee pot, sits it in the middle of the small hob, and it always spits out some coffee onto the hob. Constantly cleaning it but not winning the battle. It is like a permanent dulling of the hob area. Another hob has drip marks - lighter discolouration in drip shaped blobs, with dark edges. Bicarb, vinegar, Hob-brite, scraping, detergent - none of these make any difference. Does anyone have any other ideas for me to try?
If traditional cleaning methods haven't worked to remove marks and stains from your ceramic hob, try using a magic eraser. Alternatively, you can call a professional cleaner or repair service.
I have a new zanussi oven with ceramic hob which I have used only once. There is nothing burnt onto the hob but just white/rainbow coloured marks in a circle shape on the hob. Although it is perfectly smooth. What can I do?
Have you tried using a ceramic hob cleaner?
Should this be malt or white vinegar
Both malt and white vinegar can be used for cleaning, but white vinegar is more effective. It's always best to test a small surface first.
We have a white smeg induction hob and this morning some coffee from our stove top coffee maker has marked our hob - we have tried the above and the marks have almost gone but there are some feint marks remaining - should we just keep going with the above in the hope they disappear? Thanks Catherine
Hi Catherine! We would keep trying until they fade.
Laid a plate on top of my ceramic hob and accidentally turned on the ring, the plate obviously exploded but it has left a horrible mark on the ring, any suggestions what I can do to improve the appearance of the hob. Please help.
Hi there! Have you tried using a ceramic hob cleaner or using a polishing pad to buff out the stain?
I wiped off some spilled soup with a damp dishcloth on a hot hob and it has made a dreadful mark. I have tried all your suggestions, bicarb soda and vinegar and a hob scraper - I am at my wit's end as my hob always looked great
I'm sorry to hear that, Joan! Keep trying, and maybe it will fade.
I have tried all your suggestions - what else can I do?
It sounds like a nasty stain! If you can try them a few times, that might help. Otherwise, you may need to replace your hob if it bothers you.
Any suggestions please for removing a mark on my induction hob caused by an unsuitable pan. My usual excellent hob cleaner has no effect on it at all. Thank you.
To remove a mark on your induction hob caused by an unsuitable pan, try using a paste made of baking soda and water or a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Alternatively, consider using a cooktop cleaner or a razor blade scraper, but be careful not to scratch the hob's surface.
I have tried a lot of different products such as Cerama bryte, a razor blade, Weinmannes glass top oven cleaner, Method degreaser, baking Soda with vinegar and left these products soak on over night and I have scrubbed at them using a microfiber cloth. None of these methods have worked to clean the scorched marks and the black burnt marks on the cook rings. I guess I am out of luck and tired of cleaning it that will not remove these marks.
Hi Gae! I'm sorry to hear this. Have you tried a magic eraser?