9 Best Hob Cleaners 2024 | UK Chef Reviewed
No matter how hard you try, parts of your kitchen are going to be impossible to keep clean all the time. Oven hobs are one of those spots, with pots bubbling and pans spattering everywhere. Soapy water often isn't enough to do the job on its own, which is why you need something more powerful and more specialised. With the help of this guide, you'll be able to find a cleaner that works miracles!
From ceramic to induction to gas and with delicate tops of glass and stainless steel, hobs come in many different styles and you need to make sure that you treat yours in the right way. Whether you want an eco-friendly option or a chemical cream cleaner from an expert brand like Astonish, we'll show you where to find the best products from Tesco, Asda and Amazon. Moreover, we have partnered with chef Ryan Yen for reviewing and fact-checking the article to deliver you the best information.
Quick List - Top Hob Cleaners
Ryan is a trained chef with experience in several restaurants (with various kitchen supplies across the restaurant experience) and hotels, he also attended le cordon bleu to further his training in cuisine and patisserie and focus on creating simple and delicious dishes. Ryan is now formally working as a chef tutor.
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Fact-Checked & Approved by Chef Ryan Yen
Ryan is a trained chef with experience in several restaurants (with various kitchen supplies across the restaurant experience) and hotels.
He also attended le cordon bleu to further his training in cuisine and patisserie and focus on creating simple and delicious dishes. Ryan is now formally working as a chef tutor.
How to Choose a Hob Cleaner in the UK
- Verify That the Product Is Compatible With Your Type of Hob
- Determine Whether You Prefer Chemical Cleaning or Manual Scrubbing to Remove Dirt
- Keep an Eye Out for Hazardous Ingredients Such as Anionic or Non-ionic Surfactants
- Choose Between a Cream Formula for Beautiful Shine or Easy to Use Liquid Formulas
Check if the Product Is Suitable for Your Type of Hob
There are a few different types of hobs, though electric, ceramic, gas, induction and glass are the most common. First and foremost, learn which one you have in order to find the most suitable product.
Lots of products are suitable for a variety of different hobs, but many are better at cleaning certain styles than others. You should aim to get one that will best serve the hob that you have, so look for one that is specialised, especially when it comes to treating the more sensitive surfaces on induction and ceramic hobs.
When you're ready to tackle cleaning the oven, we can give you some ideas for the best oven cleaners too!
Decide Whether You Prefer to Clean With Chemicals or Manually Scrub the Dirt Away
To Get the Job Done With Powerful Ingredients, Use Chemical Cleaners
Chemical cleaners are by far the most popular choice when it comes to cleaning your hob. They are extremely effective at getting even the greasiest marks off, but this is usually because they include strong ingredients that some people might prefer to avoid due to allergic reactions and abrasive and rashes that can occur on your skin.
We recommend you wear kitchen gloves (the ones that protect your forearm) when cleaning. However, buying a chemical product doesn't have to mean using harsh ingredients. There are plenty of solutions that use eco-friendly ingredients that are more gentle and perfect for family homes.
To Avoid Harsh Ingredients, Use Scrapers and Cloths to Clean Your Hob Manually
Scrapers and cloths, on the other hand, don't use these chemicals but because of that, they require you to put in more elbow grease to rub away the muck. This type of cleaning also won't be as good at killing any nasty bacteria that might have built up over time.
While some manual products claim to not require the use of chemical cleaners, many of them are best used in conjunction with sprays and creams which is why you often see them being sold together.
Watch Out for Potentially Hazardous Ingredients Such as Anionic or Non-Ionic Surfactants
Hob cleaning products have to strike a fine balance between being powerful enough to get rid of dirt but not so powerful that the products could be corrosive or toxic. Some products are much stronger than others and use ingredients that could be potentially harmful if not used correctly.
You don't need to avoid these products, but look at the label to see the strength of the products you're working with and make sure that you are wearing necessary protective equipment. Stronger ingredients include anionic or non-ionic surfactants, in addition to some other strong chemicals, so look out for these on the packaging. These ingredients can cause skin and eye irritation, so be careful when using them.
Pick a Cream Formula to Give the Surface a Lovely Shine, but Liquid Formulas Are Easier to Use
Chemical hob cleaners come either as cream formulas or as liquid formulas. Cream formulas are nice to use and also polish surfaces, leaving them with a lovely shine. If you have a steel stovetop, these are much less likely to leave streaks.
Liquid cleaners, on the other hand, might not leave as nice a finish but they can be quicker to use and easier to wipe away. With manual cleaners, they won't have a formula, but they sometimes include items like a polishing cloth that have properties to help give surfaces a smudge-free finish.
9 Best Hob Cleaners in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Astonish Hob Cream Cleaner | | Be Astonished by This Amazing Cleaner | |
2 | Delphis Eco Ceramic Hob Cleaner | | A More Sophisticated Environmentally-Friendly Hob Cleaner | |
3 | Cillit Bang Power Hob Cleaner | | Blast the Burnt-On Food Away | |
4 | Hob Brite Hob Brite | | A Product That Keeps Things Clean and Safe | |
5 | ECOVER Oven & Hob Cleaner | | A Sweet-Smelling, Eco-Friendly Option for Ovens Too | |
6 | Kilrock Hob Cleaner | | A Useful Cleaner to Protect and Polish Your Hob | |
7 | Neff Original Cooker Glass & Ceramic Hob Cleaner Kit | | A Complete Kit for Ceramic and Steel Hobs | |
8 | HG Kitchen Hob Cleaner for Everyday Use | | Daily Spray That Leaves No Residue | |
9 | E-Cloth Hob & Oven Cleaning Cloths | | Clever Microfibre Technology That Cleans With Just Water |
Be Astonished by This Amazing Cleaner
The smell of cleaning products can overpower a room, even long after you've finished the housework, so it's worth looking into a product like this that has a lovely, lemony scent. The formula contains chemicals to fight dirt but only gentle ones, which makes it safer to use.
It also helps to fight invisible bacteria in addition to obvious food marks and stains. Astonish cleaning products are hugely popular and with good reason, they are excellent at getting the job done and they're affordable too. This cleaner really will do it all – it's even suitable for microwaves!
A More Sophisticated Environmentally-Friendly Hob Cleaner
This luxurious product is as good as it looks. The front label clearly tells you everything you need to know: this is a product that is eco-friendly but most definitely packs a cleaning punch.
All of the ingredients are plant-derived and you won't find any nasty bleaches or any other overly strong cleaning products. Because they aren't tested on animals, Delphis products are suitable for vegans. The plastic bottles are made from recycled plastic and are themselves recyclable.
Blast the Burnt-On Food Away
If you're worried about scratching and damaging your hob, do not fear, because this cleaner is specially designed to treat induction, electric and ceramic hobs, all of which are more prone to picking up scratches.
After use, you'll notice the glorious shine that is left, and the powerful formula means you get 40 uses from this small container. Because of the large number of hazardous ingredients, though, you'll have to make sure you wear protective gear when using it.
A Product That Keeps Things Clean and Safe
Cleaning your hob is about more than just getting it looking as good as new – it is also about keeping your family safe by removing dangerous bacteria. This cleaner from Hob Brite kills 99% of bacteria so you can keep your surfaces as hygienic as possible.
This product is loved by professional cleaners for its ability to remove burnt-on food that has built up after daily use. It also helps to protect against future staining and potential bacteria growth.
A Sweet-Smelling, Eco-Friendly Option for Ovens Too
You might well be looking for a spray option that uses chemicals, but not ones that damage the planet in the process. Ecover has created all sorts of wonderful products that all have an eco-friendly ethos but don't sacrifice their cleaning power.
The cleaner uses natural ingredients to make something that will efficiently clean both the hob and oven but won't be unsafe, and these ingredients also make this spray smell really nice. And once you're done with it, the bottle is recyclable too!
A Useful Cleaner to Protect and Polish Your Hob
This hob cleaner not only gets rid of dirt in the first place, but it also helps to stop it from building up in the future. The spray cap makes it easy to apply evenly so you can get to work with the scrubbing and wiping.
This cleaner is suitable to use on a wide variety of hobs, but especially on those that are electric and ceramic. Anionic surfactants are included, which makes it a powerful cleaner, but it also means that it's more likely to cause irritation. Don't forget the gloves!
A Complete Kit for Ceramic and Steel Hobs
This set has more to offer than most hob cleaners. Not only does it have a powerful solution that provides a chemical way of cleaning, but it also has a scraper to assist with the really tricky stuff.
And, once you're done, there's a polishing cloth that will leave any glass or stainless steel patches looking spotless. This set is specifically for ceramic hobs, so won't be as versatile as some, but it does mean you'll get a really good, specialised clean if that's what you're looking for.
Daily Spray That Leaves No Residue
Safe and fresh-smelling, you don't have to worry about this spray-on product leaving any nasty residue. Because the chemicals aren't too strong but still get to work instantly, this cleaner can be used daily.
Designed to be used quickly, this cleaner is only able to get rid of mild scale. If you have anything tougher staining your hob, you'll want to get your hands on a product that is a bit more powerful.
Clever Microfibre Technology That Cleans With Just Water
Want to get your hobs sparkling but don't want to use lots of harsh chemicals to do it? These cloths are specially designed to wipe away grime with the help of just some water. They use clever microfibre technology to pick up specs of dirt without a hard abrasive harsh abrasive, so you don't need to worry about scratches.
These cloths can do a lot with a little, but they might struggle to shift dirt that is really burnt onto the hob. A good choice if you want to go for something eco-friendly, but not if you want a really deep clean.
How to Clean a Ceramic Hob
There are a few things you might need to clean the hob, depending on how dirty it is. The most common ones to have are:
- Scraper - Helps clean rigid stains like burnt food that's stuck
- Cloth - Keep at least two of them
- Scouring pad - This will help make the hub shiny, bringing back to its original look
- Cleaner - Check our buying guide to know which one's more suitable
Written and researched by Emma Cramp
Top 5 Hob Cleaners
No. 1: Astonish｜Hob Cream Cleaner
No. 2: Delphis｜Eco Ceramic Hob Cleaner
No. 3: Cillit Bang｜Power Hob Cleaner
No. 4: Hob Brite｜Hob Brite
No. 5: ECOVER｜Oven & Hob Cleaner
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.