I have black marks on my cooktop ( it's that speckled gray one) & those seem to be underneath the surface! I've tried lots of things but nothing works..If somebody has a solution, and would like to share, I'd really appreciate it..

That is exactly why I came here, to find out if there is anything Ican do to remove those rings. Mine were on the stove when we bought the house in 1999. Nothing I have tried has worked. I haven't tried the Maas Metal Polishing Creme, but I have tried their glass cooktop cleaner and was not impressed. A wet sponge would have worked the same. I do have some of the other Maas creme as I odered both from a magazine ad and will try it out tonight. I'll let you know if it helped.

Still to my frustration, some minimal scratches have appeared. Now, to the benefit, you cannot see them unless up close with the microwave light on, but its not good with the precautions ive taken to see this result.

Mike, you have to clean the outsides and bottoms of your pots with these stoves, and that, my mom says, is not a guy thing. Get on the phone with Sears. The under the glass thing may entitle you to a replacement top. Here is info from another reader:

Anyway...after I ran my hand across the "scratched" cooktop burner, I noticed the scratches appeared to be "raised," and my husband even said that he thought it was food burned out, but I had not boiled anything over with the water or the rice. After getting some ideas on how to clean the cooktop, I went to Home Depot and bought a bottle of the "Cerama Bryte" cleaner, the scraper, and some "Wright's Silver Cream." First I cleaned the area with the scratches with the "Cerama Bryte" making sure it was nice as dry. Then, I applied some of the silver polish and swirled it around in circular motions on the burned. Being very careful I then took the scraper (used as directed)and begin slowly "scraping in a straight line. You use the scraper like you were using a paint scraper using a small movements left and right. It took a few times to work on each of the scratches, but it worked beautifully!

Now for the bad part...having just finished my kitchen remodeling..new granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances, I would not buy another black ceramic cooktop again! I'm not even sure that I would go with the stainless steel appliances since they are so hard to keep from scratching too, but I have to live with what I have now, so I have to make the best of it.

I know so many people face this same problem with their new cooktops, and I just wanted everyone to know that the ideas posted here realy do work. I'm so glad that I found this site.

My range still looks brand new with nary a scratch, scar, or smudge. I use Cerama-Bryte after EVERY use. Wiping it on with a damp paper towel, letting it dry to a paste, then buffing it out with a microfiber cloth that I only use for cleaning my stove. Following this regimen has given it a showroom-like appearance. For what it's worth, I have soft water. It's my understanding that most of these mysterious "spots" and stains people complain about are actually hard-water deposits easily removed with vinegar or Bar Keeper's Friend. I've also used the blue 3M No-Scratch sponge with great success. Mine's a "EuroKera" top--made in Europe. Temperature control has never been an issue for me.

No, cracks from dropped things are NOT covered by the warranty.

No, cracks over burners cannot be repaired, and DO NOT use the burners that have cracks while you await replacement.

At the high end there are sealed coil electrics (no drip pans) that cook like regular electrics, look nice and are easy to clean.

I have a 3-month old Electrolux range (EW30ES65GS), which has a black glass top. My cookware is primarily stainless steel All-Clad. In general - they are well cleaned but I'm sure there have been times where I missed a tiny spot or two!

I have several different types of marks on the glasstop.

The first are these 3 tiny silverish marks - maybe 1-2 cm long that are in the center of one of the radiant burners. Will these come out with Maas? If not, what do you recommend?

Second, I have these darkish marks, primarily around the expandable rings on some of the more frequently used radiant elements. Will these greasy, spotty, and sometimes smuudgy marks come out with Maas?

So far, cleaning has been primarily with a very mild scouring pad, Weiman products (their scouring pads, their glass cook top wipes), bar keeper's friend and on one occassion - cerama bryte.

So - do you think Maas would work on those tiny silver spots and/or the spotty marks around the more frequently used rings - or should I stick with what I've got and accept that the glasstop won't be picture-perfect?

A couple of other questions. Paula Wolfert has some recipes that require a terra cotta cooking pan (cazuela). Those recommended are "flame proof" (www.latienda.com) and can go from the stove to the oven. I think it was on her website that I saw that she was recommending using a heat diffuser on a glass ceramic stove. Do you think I should do this or should I just put the pan on a very low setting? Again, I am using a new Electrolux.

However, I have some options to try based on a long history of experiences and suggestions and I can try in due diligence to take off the "stains" left by a copper bottomed Wearever pan that I thought I could treat like a waterless pan and let it pre-heat on the stove top. Yeah, I know...bad idea.

The residue baked on in a semi circle, about 1/2" wide and was dark silver. You could feel a slight ridge to it when you slid your finger over it but barely. It was almost negligible.

I had used the Scotch brand Cooktop cleaner and it didn't do much of anything for it. It thought for sure I had ruined the stove top.

I looked for Lemi Shine and for Barr's, among other products listed here.

I couldn't find any of them interestingly. I tried Walmart and Target.

I did find something called Weiman Glass Cook Top cleaner. I bought the cream in the bottle, not the spray. And I also purchased the Weiman soft scrubbies to go with it. This got it off in less than 5 min of scrubbing with the cleaner! I am so elated and all for less than $8.

Also, I may be investing in new pots and pans...any suggestions? My current set is over 70 years old...really. It is a Steelco stainless steel brand and doesn't look more than a year old. Flat bottoms, cleans up beautifully, the black wood handles are still tightly in place but given their age, just wondering.

These tops have MANY restrictions as to heating, pan size, use and care, and I would not ever suggest putting one in a rental unit. You can replace the glass, or the stove top, but it is not the result of intentional abuse and I would not hold them accountable; on the other hand, I would not pay for the pan either, since you have the expense of the stove top.

For grime & grease, I found the Whink Glass/Ceramic Cooktop Cleaner to actually work. No other cleaner (that was manufactured for this purpose) has worked for me. My stove strictly instructs NO Ammonia, so I need to be careful. I cursed every night (for hours) trying to clean my stove until I found Whink.

I wish I would have found it sooner, because I now have permanent scratches from the razor, I have 2 places that I rubbed dull (looks cloudy) with Barkeeper's Friend (so be careful with this!). The Ceramabryte, Weiman's, etc. appeared to create a waxy film over the grime making it impossible to razor/scrape off. It polished nicely, but didn't clean (for me).

For the Whink Cleaner, I use a red scrubby pad made for Glass/Ceramic stoves by Weiman's "Cooktop Scrubbing Pads". I do not use water- shake the Whink well & pour some on your stove. I do not add water. I scrub the whole surface (focusing on the grimy spots) then rub off the excess with a clean, dry paper towel. If I see a few grimy spots left, then I add pressure with quick, short rubs and they come off. When the grime is gone, I just polish off the rest with a clean papertowel.

The only thing I don't like about the Whink is it leaves a greasy-look which is subject to major fingerprints. To correct this, once I'm done polishing off the Whink, I give my stove just ONE squirt of AMMONIA-FREE MultiSurface Windex and wipe with a paper towel. I find that more than one squirt takes too much of the Whink off (and I feel that the Whink conditioner helps protect the stove from the next cooking event).

For those of you that still haven't found what works for your stove, give Whink a try (if you haven't already done so). I only use a razor now to pop off something big stuck on the stove, I don't need a razor for the grime & little dots on and around the burners since I found the Whink.

Don't get me wrong, I still hate this stove! The Whink works well, but now these rings have appeared - and the Whink doesn't get in contact with them because it appears that they are under/inside the glass.

I'm praying for magical things from the Maas and I'm hoping it will hide some of my scratches from my razor days. If this works on the rings - I'll write back.

I tried to find out if GE uses Ceran for their cooktops. Called customer support and was told they do not tout one manufacturer over another because they use material from a variety of sources.

After reading the posts on this site I'm sure I won't be getting a GE which is too bad because I have access to great prices.

"Which appliance manufacturers currently make cooktops with CERAN panels for US market? Europe? Which ones are planning if any?

All Whirlpool Brands with glass ceramic including freestanding, slide-in and induction and electric cooktops, including Whirlpool, Maytag, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid and Amana. Available in Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sears, HH Gregg, Best Buy and local appliance dealers.

All Wolf cooking appliances with glass ceramic including electric and induction cooktops, which can be found at authorized Wolf dealers.

All Dacor cooking appliances with glass ceramic found at authorized Dacor dealers.

Most common issue for scratches is sliding or turning the pans on the burner, for example, while stirring.

For keeping cooktop clean: ALWAYS ensure the bottom of your cookware is spotless. It should be as clean as your cooktop! Enamelled cookware can be easily cleaned with any good ceran cooktop cleaner. If you are used to cooking with other kinds of cooktops, but now have a glass cooktop, you MUST scrub clean and polish the bottom surfaces of all your cookware before using your new ceran cooktop.

Wanted some urgent solutions. Im in a rented apartment, having a black ceramic cooktop (all this is so new to me so i dont even know if those are the right terms, if its a ceramic cooktop. it just is all black in colour).

Restaurant supply houses in the USA carry "degreasers" for cleaning griddles, stainless steel. They usually spray on. That would be your best bet for the vent fan cleaning, if you can get such a product where you are.

reasking the above qn for the last time :) -

I bought a Bosch cooker with black glass ceramic just about two weeks ago, and I was really happy , but after using it I noticed the spots and scratches , and after reading here I bought MAAS cream , the strange thing that it works with some spots only and not with other spots and not at all with the scratches, any idea whats going on with this new cooker?

Hayla, if you have never cooked on one of these tops, go do that first, they are a whole different world from any other top.

I just read every post in this thread. I have searched, and reshearched, stoves for 3 days. The questions and responses I have seen here have convinced me - I WILL NOT buy it. I am a pretty rough cook. I use 18/10 pans and when I sear and cook I do slide and change pans and burners - as any good cook is wont to do. You have taught me, and so many others who love to cook, that a smooth top stove is not for us.

The GE seems to be a big offender. See these tips from another manufacturer:

However, as that is not an option, I'd like to confirm that MAAS Metal Polish is still the best product for cleaning...? If so, it looks like the product in the tube is the one to use for ceramic cooktops...? We live in BC, Canada, and can't get all the MAAS products available in the US. (The previous owners left us their Cerama Brite, which is OK but definitely not great.)

If you are buying a house, consider buying yourself a new stove.

I have a whirlpool gold gas range slide in i have had for 5years. I am careful to not spill anything on it really careful. But sometimes pots and pans will scratch no matter how careful.

I clean up any spots that i have to immediately after using my stove. Do not laugh have alwyas used Pledge on my stove. It has an unbelievable shine, and the little scratches on it after 5 years on not that noticeable.

Does using turtle wax with carnumba work on a frig that is black with scratches, not deep but they are there, and noticable more when the light shines thru

It works SO well on our cooktop that it took off some marks & stains left by the previous owner! I didn't use gloves when cleaning with it - there is no scent and my hands did not feel dry or otherwise uncomfortable. I highly recommend it; I found it in a small town in BC, Canada.

I can only find the old fashioned coil cook-tops when I search. Would you know what they are called or who sells them or what brand they are?

This discussion board has been very helpful.

Do you have the same scratching, etching problems?

I have a Black Glass/Ceramic top - Question 1 - is there a difference and how do I tell?

Some scratches have happened to one of the cooking rings - they look like faint red colour, almost the same as match heads. I haven't found anything that works yet, but I saw your recommendation for Maas - the scratches seem quite shallow. Does this sound like the right option to you?

Thanks for your time,

I would NOT use the lovely grill on the stovetop- wrong shape, wrong size and ceramic- get a hot plate for this, as they are much more reliable than they used to be. Besides, preheating the essentially empty pan is a specific no on these.

The element is the rings- the red coloring will not be more than an inch outside, and that is why the extra inch is OK. These burners work by sensing the heat of the bottom of the utensil, and the wrong shape or size puts them off.

We do very good business with some very famous supermarkets in the world, now we have certifications of ISO9001, BSCI, LFGB , FDA, SGS, Rohs for factory audits and quality control, look forward to hearing from you whether you're interested in a quotation for reference, many thanks!

Your Faithfully,
Mr Jimmy Li (Marketing Representative)

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