How to Clean a Hot Plate (Electric Burner) with a Steam Cleaner

Ah, the electric hot plate — that loyal round warrior in the kitchen that`s been serving here for over 30! years.
It’s been there for early morning coffee, quick scrambled eggs, late-night “I’m too tired to cook properly but I’m starving” pasta.

But here’s the thing. . . while it never complains, it does keep souvenirs from every single meal. Burnt milk, boiled-over pasta water, mystery sauce from who-knows-when. . . until one day You look down and realize Your faithful hot plate is starting to resemble an archaeological dig site.

Rather than spending a Saturday scrubbing like Cinderella before the ball, I armed myself with the big guns: a steam cleaner.

And oh, my friends — what a difference it made.

Why a Steam Cleaner?

If You’ve never tried cleaning with steam, You’re in for a treat.
It’s like having a little superhero in Your cleaning cupboard — no chemicals, no harsh smells, just pure water turning into hot, dirt-busting magic.

Steam loosens stubborn grime, melts away greasy build-up, and blasts dirt right out of those awkward nooks and crannies. Plus, it’s eco-friendly, safe, and fast. Basically, it’s the cleaning version of a win-win-win. Check out the blogpost where I turn deeper into 5 reasons You need a steam cleaner in Your household here.

Step 1: Turn Off, Cool Down, and Unplug

First things first: safety. Always make sure Your stove is completely off, unplugged, and cool before You start.
Yes, even if You’re in a hurry. We’re aiming for clean burners, not third-degree burns or an electrifying YouTube moment.

Step 2: Get Your Steam Cleaner Ready

Fill Your steam cleaner with plain water — no soap, no vinegar, no secret potion from Your grandma’s cupboard. The beauty of steam cleaning is that water alone gets the job done.

You can make it with an attachment — for this job, the small round brush (this one is the one I`m usually using) or the concentrated nozzle (this one fits the steam cleaner I`m using) works best.

Step 3: Let the Steam Work Its Magic

Hold the steam nozzle right above the burner surface and let the hot vapour do its thing.

You’ll literally see grime softening, grease loosening, and old burnt bits starting to surrender. Scrub it a bit with the harder side of the sponge.

Step 4: Wipe, Admire, Repeat

After steaming an area, wipe it with a clean microfibre cloth. Most of the dirt should come away like it’s been waiting for the right moment to leave.

Got a stubborn spot? Just give it another steam blast and wipe again.

No arm workout required — unless You count lifting Your coffee mug to celebrate 😉.

Step 5: Don’t Forget the Edges

Hot plates have those annoying edges and ridges where crumbs and grime love to hide. Use Your steam cleaner’s pointed nozzle for precision cleaning, or wrap a cotton swab in a bit of cloth for a DIY detail tool.

Step 6: Dry Thoroughly

Once You’re done, give the burner a good dry with a fresh cloth. Any leftover moisture can shorten its lifespan — and after all this work, You want Your hot plate sticking around for the long haul.

Here`s a video, where You can see the Magic happening in process:

Why I’ll Always Steam Clean My Hot Plates Now

• Fast: Faster than just scrubbing.
• Eco-Friendly: No harsh chemicals — just water.
• Satisfying: That moment when the blackened crust slides away? Chef’s kiss.
• Effortless: The steam does the hard work so I don’t have to.

Pro Tips from My Kitchen to Yours

1. Wipe after each use. Even a quick once-over keeps the “archaeological layers” from forming.
2. Use distilled water in Your steam cleaner if You live in a hard water area — it keeps the machine happy and limescale-free.
3. Work slowly. Let the steam linger for a few seconds on stubborn areas before wiping.
4. Pair it with a good playlist. Cleaning feels faster when You’re dancing in the kitchen 😉.

Final Thoughts

Next time Your hot plate looks like it’s been through a kitchen war, don’t reach for the harsh chemicals or heavy-duty scrubbers.
Reach for Your steam cleaner, put the kettle on, and in less time than it takes to finish a cup of tea, You’ll have a shiny, fresh burner that’s ready for whatever culinary adventures (or disasters) You throw at it next.

Trust me — Your future self will thank you, and Your kitchen will look just that little bit happier.

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

This is the steam cleaner I used:

This is the Number One steam cleaner in the US (according to my modest observations):

This is a cheaper but with over tenths of thousands great reviews steam cleaner on Amazon:

A Steam Cleaner for those, who goes fully professional (up to 120 min. non-stop steam):

Final Results

Here are the pictures of the clean Hot Plates:

If these steam-cleaned results have sparked a little cleaning inspiration in You, drop a comment below and tell me what You’d tackle first!