How to Remove Melted Plastic from a Stove

Demelza said, “A plastic bag has melted onto the side of our solid fuel stove. How do I get it off?”

Table of Contents:

Removing the Plastic
Additional Tips and Advice
Sources

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if a stove surface is still hot. When it comes to plastic though, that’s something you want to keep far away from your stove whether it’s hot or not, just to get in the habit of keeping it away. Whether your stove is stainless steel or enamel, the steps below can help you to remove the melted plastic on it.

Removing the Plastic

You Will Need:

A dull knife
WD-40
A razor blade
Dish liquid
Water
A cloth
Nail polish remover
Baking soda
A soft-bristle brush

Steps to Remove the Plastic:

Open windows to ventilate the area – burning plastics can produce dangerous fumes and a terrible smell.
Let the stove cool completely.
Peel off as much of the plastic as you can.
Use a dull knife to gently scrape off as much of the plastic as you can.
Spray the plastic that remains with WD-40. Let the WD-40 sit on the plastic for a few minutes.
Use a razor blade to scrape off the remaining plastic. Be careful not to scratch the stove.
Clean off the WD-40 with some soapy water, then pat the area dry.
If any plastic remains, you can try using nail polish remover to remove it. Be sure to test this on a small, hidden area of the stove first to ensure it does not damage the finish, particularly for enamel stoves.
Another option for removing the remaining plastic is baking soda. Mix some baking soda with water to make a paste, then rub the paste over the area. Be careful not to scrub too hard on stainless steel stoves as baking soda is a mild abrasive.¹
If there is still some plastic left, use a soft-bristle brush and some soapy water to scrub it off. Be particularly careful when scrubbing a stainless stove as it can be scratched by too much abrasion.
Wipe the area clean with a damp cloth.

Additional Tips and Advice

Always use caution when working with razor blades, particularly when the surface is slippery from WD-40.
Don’t have WD-40? Try using Windex, kitchen cleaner, or a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
If you would prefer not to use any chemicals, you can try rubbing an ice cube on the plastic to make it brittle, then scrape it off with a razor blade.