# How to remove melted plastic from stove top?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-melted-plastic-from-stove-top/501575>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 1, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-melted-plastic-from-stove-top/501575 "2009-07-01T13:54:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-melted-plastic-from-stove-top/501575/1 "2009-07-01T13:54:01Z")

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So, in my latest act of stupidity, I was rushing to get ready for work and accidentally left a plastic carrier bag resting on a switched-off but still-hot electric hot-plate, with predictable results. So far I have only tried scraping it with a blunt knife, which is reasonably effective but maddeningly slow. I’m also a little concerned about damaging the surface. Does anyone have any better ideas?

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**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-melted-plastic-from-stove-top/501575/2 "2009-07-01T14:23:31Z")

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Turn it on low and then scrape it off. Silicone gloves would be a good idea.

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**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-melted-plastic-from-stove-top/501575/3 "2009-07-03T15:04:32Z")

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Sorry to abandon this thread! Thanks, I’ll give that a try, it may be smelly but I guess it’s the easiest way.

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**Author:** ![Clare\_de\_Loone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/clare_de_loone/32/3407_2.png) [@Clare\_de\_Loone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clare_de_Loone)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-melted-plastic-from-stove-top/501575/4 "2009-07-03T19:55:17Z")

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A hair dryer might help, too. Worked for the melted spatula on the stove of the condo I once bought.

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**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-melted-plastic-from-stove-top/501575/5 "2009-07-03T21:02:54Z")

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Acetone dissolves plastic.

But the easiest way is just to turn it on and burn it off. That’s what the instruction booklet says.  
Open all your windows and have the exhaust fan on. And prepare the smoke detector. And leave the house for a few minutes.