# I need cleaning help: NEED URGENTLY **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 23, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375 "2009-12-23T21:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/1 "2009-12-23T21:45:03Z")
Okay, here’s the deal. I had just put a pot of lima beans on to cook when my cell phone rang. The phone was upstairs, the range is downstairs and I ran up to answer the phone, forgetting the damn beans. It was my attorney and the call took a while; the damn beans boiled over and I didn’t know it until I smelled them. The long and short is that the range is a very expensive glass topped thing and I can’t get the thing cleaned up. If I don’t get it clean, my survival is problematic. I need suggestions and I need them ASAP; Please come through for me, my beloved and only friends and I’ll say a little prayer for all of you. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/2 "2009-12-23T21:50:49Z")
What are you using and why isn’t it working? Sounds like some Fantastic or 409 type stuff would do the job. ETA: Let it soak and don’t use an abrasive pad. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/3 "2009-12-23T21:56:24Z")
I have strickt orders to only use some specific range top cleaner called **Ceramabryte** my sister has; so far as I know, it is recommended for all glass range tops; abrasives are right off the list. How would 409 do the job? I’ve got that but no Fantastic. Remember, I’m a guy; I don’t know from cleaning. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/4 "2009-12-23T21:56:41Z")
Yeah, wet some paper towels and lay them on the surface. Softscrub might work best to clean it, after it’s soaked for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/5 "2009-12-23T21:58:38Z")
We always use Soft Scrub, and we have the same type of range. It’s never hurt it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/6 "2009-12-23T21:58:46Z")
I’d be tempted to try baking soda, with the soak-then-rub-gently method. I don’t\* think \*it would be too abrasive, but I’m not positive, so you may want to save that for a last resort. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/7 "2009-12-23T21:58:52Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Yeah, wet some paper towels and lay them on the surface. Softscrub might work best to clean it, after it’s soaked for awhile. I’ll give it a shot; thanks for the input. This really might be life or death for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/8 "2009-12-23T22:02:10Z")
I’ve gotta go, but I wish you luck. I think with any product you use, you can’t go wrong Letting It Soak! ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/9 "2009-12-23T22:08:32Z")
damn attorneys 😉 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/10 "2009-12-23T22:13:42Z")
You need to test them to make sure it won’t hurt the surface, but a slightly [wetted ScotchBrite heavy duty scrubbing pad](http://www.epinions.com/content_142272138884) will cut through just about any organic or inorganic material short of glass or ceramic with enough elbow grease. Never mind I saw the warning about abrasives and they are abrasive. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/11 "2009-12-23T22:15:05Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > damn attorneys 😉 Yeah, this was a true bearer of bad news but I’ll have to let it percolate before I post about it and maybe I really shouldn’t post at all. But my wife is a total bitch, I’ll go that far. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/12 "2009-12-23T22:17:23Z")
> [@astro](#): > > You need to test them to make sure it won’t hurt the surface, but a slightly [wetted ScotchBrite heavy duty scrubbing pad](http://www.epinions.com/content_142272138884) will cut through just about any organic or inorganic material short of glass or ceramic with enough elbow grease. I’m going to try this even though my sister has already threatened me with death if I use such a thing; I can’t make it any worse. I was hoping for some sort of magic crap remover but I think this is beyond Charmin. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/13 "2009-12-23T22:20:15Z")
What I always did - scrape as much of the burned-on stuff off as you can (using butter knife or something like that. Cover the remaining gunk with the glass-topped stove cleaner. Cover _that_ with water-soaked paper towels. Clean after an hour or so. Repeat as needed. If it was _your_ stove, not your sister’s, I’d just say get the Comet or Magic Eraser on the job. I cleaned my glass-topped range with Comet (gently) with no problems. Actually, you could still try Magic Eraser if you have one - those things are spectacular. Good luck with both issues! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/14 "2009-12-23T22:23:14Z")
I’ve got a glass hob too, and water and regular washing liquid works perfectly well to get the initial crap up. Also, a Teflon-coated scrubbing sponge is great for that. Not sure if you can get them in Florida, but they’re quite common in UKland, and are the best invention since sliced bananas. You can treat it afterwards when it’s clean and dry with some pointless fancy-schmancy-ass shit, but at the end of the day it’s just glass. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/15 "2009-12-23T22:24:58Z")
Whose stove is it? If it is your sister’s, follow her directions. Everything I’ve ever burned onto mine has come off, with time. If it is your very own stove, I’d try Bar Keeper’s Friend. It is abrasive, but it gets stuff of easily and I can’t see any scratches from using it on my glass top. Edit: I’ve also had success with a Magic Eraser. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/16 "2009-12-23T22:34:55Z")
> [@Hanna](#): > > Whose stove is it? If it is your sister’s, follow her directions. Everything I’ve ever burned onto mine has come off, with time. > > If it is your very own stove, I’d try Bar Keeper’s Friend. It is abrasive, but it gets stuff of easily and I can’t see any scratches from using it on my glass top. > > Edit: I’ve also had success with a Magic Eraser. I’m not in the UK; where can I get one in Florida? On Christmas Eve? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/17 "2009-12-23T23:08:05Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > I’m not in the UK; where can I get one in Florida? On Christmas Eve? Walgreen’s. Any major, full-size grocery store. Joe ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/18 "2009-12-23T23:19:03Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > using butter knife or something like that I would actually caution against anything that could scratch it. Use a plastic scraper instead. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/19 "2009-12-24T00:23:37Z")
My glass-top range came with a metal scraper, similar to those sold in the paint department (the kind with replaceable straight blades). I don’t use it very often though. The Ceramabryte stuff works great, but the surface has to be cleaned of any solid debris first. Magic Erasers do a great job, by the way. (They’re also great for cleaning brake dust off of your car’s rims.) Out of curiosity, what brand is your sister’s range? ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375/20 "2009-12-24T00:41:59Z")
Make a paste of baking soda and water and cover the stains. Put the wet paper towels over the whole thing and wait until the paper towels are dry. Use an old credit card or a plastic scraper to scrape as much crap off as possible. Repeat this process until you’ve removed as much solid material as possible. Rub the baking soda-water paste around on the glass surface to remove the rest of the material. The baking soda-water paste is non scratching. Hope this helps. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-cleaning-help-need-urgently/522375.md?page=2)