How To Protect And Maintain Your Glass Hob
Easy to wipe down and nice to look at, glass electric hobs have become more popular in recent years. However, there’s much more to consider than just those two simple observations. Despite these advantages, there’s definitely still a right way and wrong way to maintain and clean such hobs. In the article, Repair Aid is going to go through the things to avoid that are slowly going to break or damage your glass hob, as well as the right way to clean your glass hob.
Glass hob mistakes to avoid
There are a number of ways in which glass hobs can become damaged over time – but this is mostly related to the cleaning process.
Cleaning the hob while it’s still hot
Eager to get our cleaning out the way, particularly if we’re waiting for the rest of our meal to finish cooking, we can sometimes be too quick to jump to cleaning the hob. But if it’s still hot, not only do you run the risk of getting burned, but liquid cleansers can also be burnt into the surface of your hob because of the heat – causing damage to the glass. While it is unlikely to break your hob, it will leave small indentations and imperfections that will annoy you.
Under pressure
So your hob is made of glass. While it can be easy to forget this whilst you clean, and because of a perception of durability, it’s important to remember the surface is glass. Glass breaks – especially when it is put under pressure. To avoid cracking the glass, you’ll want to take it easy when scrubbing particularly stubborn stains.
But not that type of glass…
Yes, it is glass – but that doesn’t mean it’s like all other types of glass. If you’re using a cleaner that is specifically for glass windows or tabletops, stop using it on your hob. The cleaner will be too strong for your hob – leading to damage. If you want a light cleanser, try white vinegar.
Skip harsh sponges and steel wool
Due to being so harsh, steel wool can end up leaving imperfections – like little pits – when used over time. This can lead to little bits of food getting stuck in the holes. Similarly, the scrubbing side of your sponge (the flat side is fine) can also end up scratching the surface. If you have a particularly tough stain or grime that isn’t reacting to your other cleaning efforts, try taking a razor blade and running it across the surface at an angle of about 45 degrees. This should hopefully lift the stain off the surface while keeping your glass in good condition.
Not cleaning up spills when they happen
It’s 9pm, you’re tired after a long day and you need to have your dinner before you turn in and begin it all over again the next day. We’ve all been there! During those times, we’re tempted to take shortcuts or ignore when we spill things. Unfortunately, when it comes to glass-ceramic hobs, these spillages will stick, harden and become hard to move. Instantly wiping them up with a paper towel can save you a whole lot of work down the road.
With all of the things to avoid out of the way, let’s focus on the things that you should be doing.
Here’s how you clean a glass hob
After letting your hob cool, use a paper towel, soft cloth or the flat side of your sponge to wipe away residue or leftover food that is easily moved.
For harsher residue, take a razor blade, or scraper, and run it along the surface at an angle of 45 degrees. Apply pressure, but not too much. This should scrap the stains off the hob. Use your paper towel/soft cloth/flat sponge to wipe away any debris.
Purchase a ceramic cleaner, or use white vinegar, and apply some of it to the surface of the hob. Use your wipe of choice to gently rub the cleaner into the surface and on the remaining stains.
Finally, spray down your hob with water and give it one more wipe to get rid of the cleaner.
Doing this on a regular basis will keep your glass hob in good condition and means you won’t have to call out Repair Aid to repair your hob!
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