How to Clean a Stainless Steel Stovetop: A Step-by-Step Guide

How To Guide

March 10, 2025

If you’re wondering how to clean a stainless steel stove top and restore its original shine, you’re in the right place! Stainless steel stove tops are a sleek and modern addition to any kitchen, but they can quickly lose their luster due to scratches, fingerprints, grease, and water spots. Below you’ll find my favorite products to achieve this brand new look.

These products are specifically designed to tackle scratches, rust, discoloration, and more, leaving your stove top looking brand new. Let’s dive in!


Materials You’ll Need

Before you start, gather the following materials:

  1. Restore It All Product Kit – Perfect for removing scratches, rust, and discoloration from non-coated stainless steel.
  2. Metal Polish and Cleaner – A versatile polish that works on stainless steel, plastic, fiberglass, and more.
  3. Microfiber cloths – Gentle on stainless steel and ideal for polishing.
  4. Gloves – To keep your hands safe from the harsh product.

Step-by-Step Instructions on How To Clean a Stainless Steel Stovetop

Step 1: Test Your Stove Top

Before you begin, confirm that your stove top is long-grain and made of non-coated stainless steel. The Barry’s Restore It All Kit includes a test strip to help you determine this. Simply rub the strip on a small, inconspicuous area of your stove. If it’s raw stainless steel, you’re good to go!


Step 2: Remove Loose Debris

Start by wiping down your stove top with a dry microfiber cloth to remove any loose crumbs, dust, or debris. This will prevent scratching during the cleaning process.


Step 3: Address Scratches and Discoloration

Next, take the applicator provided in the scratch kit and add a generous quarter-sized amount of Barry’s restore polish to the applicator and start buffing into the stovetop. Make sure to make buffing motions in the same direction of the grain. Tip: Go slow and steady as stainless steel is pretty soft so you want to be gentle here!


Step 4: Buff for a Streak-Free Finish

After applying the Barry’s polish to the entire stove top, use a clean microfiber cloth gently go over the buffed surface. Then, take the Flitz metal polish and start scrubbing with a microfiber cloth. This will ensure a streak-free, mirror-like finish. Avoid circular motions, as they can leave swirl marks.


Step 5: Final Touches

Once you’ve polished the entire stove top, take a step back and admire your work! If you notice any streaks, simply buff them out with a clean microfiber cloth.


Tips for Maintaining Your Stainless Steel Stove Top

  • Clean spills immediately to prevent staining.
  • Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive tools that can damage the surface.
  • Use the Flitz Metal Polish regularly to maintain shine and protect against fingerprints.

By following these steps and using the right products, you can easily restore your stove top’s shine and keep it looking like new. Don’t forget to save this guide for later and share it with anyone who needs help with how to clean a stainless steel stove top!

For more tutorials, check out my refrigerator cleaning blog here!

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