How to Remove a Scratch on Glass Cooktops

Co-authored by Eric McClure

Last Updated: November 5, 2021 References

Glass cooktops have a lot of benefits. They’re slicker and easier to clean than traditional metal cooktop. Unfortunately, glass cooktops do tend to get scratched from time to time. The good news is that this is usually pretty easy to fix. With a little bit of elbow grease, you’ll have that cooktop looking brand new in no time!

Question 1 of 6:

Can scratches be removed from glass cooktops?

Yes, minor scratches can often be buffed out or repaired. There are a few solutions you can use to lift out scratches. You can even repair cracks and chips, although you will need a glass filler kit to do this. If the cooktop has shattered because someone dropped a heavy pot or something, you may need to just replace it.^{[1]
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- Always let your cooktop cool before you touch or work on it. You don’t want to burn yourself!

Question 2 of 6:

How do you get minor scratches out of a glass cooktop?

1
Use a baking soda paste. Mix a few spoonfuls of baking soda with water in a small cup. Combine them with a spoon or popsicle stick until it has the consistency of thick pudding. Spread this over your scratches or scuff marks and rub it gently into the cooktop with a clean cloth. Then, wipe the cooktop clean to see if the scratch has disappeared.^{[2]
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- If this doesn’t work, you can either repeat the process or try another solution. If it looks like the scratch is starting to disappear, giving baking soda another shot may be a good idea.
- If you can run your finger over the scratch and you don’t feel any gaps, it’s probably small enough to qualify as a minor scratch.
2
Try toothpaste. If baking soda doesn’t work, you may be able to get the scratches out with some toothpaste and a clean rag. Squirt a bead of toothpaste over any scratches you want to remove. Then, grab a damp rag and rub the toothpaste into the cooktop using moderately-firm circular motions. Wipe the toothpaste up to see if the scratch is gone.^{[3]
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- Any white toothpaste with baking soda in it will work for this. The gel-style toothpastes likely won’t work as well.
- If toothpaste and baking soda don’t work, you’re likely going to need to use polish and an orbital sander.

Question 3 of 6:

What will get a deep scratch out?

Use car, metal, or glass polish and an orbital buffer for tough scratches. Any non-abrasive polish will work for this. On a cool cooktop, pour a few pea-sized dollops of polish on top of your scratches. Then, grab an orbital buffer with a cloth or foam pad on it and set the buffer to the lowest speed setting. Gently work the polish into the cooktop with the pad by working in a constant back-and-forth motion.^{[4]
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- After you cover the scratches 3-4 times with your pad, your scratches should be totally gone!
- If this doesn’t work, you’re going to have to fill the scratch in with a glass filler kit or replace the cooktop.

Question 4 of 6:

How do you fix a cracked or chipped cooktop?

Use a glass filler kit or epoxy to fill in the cooktop. Pick up a glass filler or two-part epoxy kit. Clean the crack or chipped area with denatured alcohol and a cloth. Follow the instructions to mix the filler or epoxy paste in a container to activate it. Put on some nitrile or rubber gloves and spread the filler over the chip or crack. Wipe up any excess filler or epoxy, and run a popsicle stick over the surface to make sure it’s flush. Wait for the filler to dry.^{[5]
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- You can paint the filler after it dries if you want it to match the rest of the cooktop.
- You can line the edges of a crack with painter’s tape if you’re worried about the epoxy getting everywhere.
- If the edge of your cooktop is cracked and it’s exposed, place a popsicle stick flush on the edge where the crack is located and tape it to the cooktop with painter’s tape. So long as the side of the popsicle stick is higher than the top of the cooktop, you’ll have no problems filling in the gap.^{[6]
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Question 5 of 6:

Can you replace a glass cooktop?

Yes, although you’ll need to order one from the manufacturer. Look in your oven or on your stove for a sticker or label with the model number on it. Call the manufacturer and explain that you need a replacement cooktop for your model. They’ll ship out a replacement for you that will fit your stove. In most cases, this is pretty easy to do on your own. You just have to unscrew the cooktop and slide the new one into place.^{[7]
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- Wear cut-resistant gloves and use a vacuum to pull up any broken shards of glass before you replace the cooktop once it arrives.
- While it varies drastically from brand to brand and model to model, you can expect to spend $100-200 on the replacement glass.

Question 6 of 6:

How do I clean my cooktop without scratching it?

Avoid using abrasive cleaners. To clean your cooktop, get a rag damp with water and squirt a little mild dish soap in it. With the cooktop cool, wipe the surface down in a smooth circular motion. Any abrasive or friction-based cleaning method will scratch the cooktop. This includes scraping the surface with a spatula or abrasive pad.^{[8]
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- Steel wool, the abrasive side of a sponge, and a brillo pad are all going to scuff or scratch the surface.

Warnings

Do not use a cracked or chipped cooktop without repairing it. It’s a safety issue. If you go to clean or wipe the cooktop after cooking, you could cut your hand. The crack can also get worse over time as your cooktop heats and cools.

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Glass cooktops aren’t actually straight glass—they’re a blend of glass and ceramic. This means that some chemical glass cleaners, like Windex, may actually weaken the cooktop over time.^{[9]
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Always let your cooktop cool completely before you clean or work on it.^{[10]
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