How to Easily Clean Your Oven

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning An Oven

This comprehensive guide will teach you how to clean every part of your oven, including racks and glass doors. With these simple steps and a little bit of time, you’ll be on your way to a truly clean appliance.

Before you start cleaning your oven, cleaning experts advise against the use of chemical oven cleaners. These products contain harsh chemicals and release fumes that can linger in your oven long after the cleaning is done.

STEP 1: CLEAN THE OVEN RACKS

Before you can clean the interior of your cooled oven, you’ll need to remove your racks and set them aside. This gives you an opportunity to let them soak in soapy water to remove burned on grease and grime.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Follow these steps

1. Remove your oven racks by sliding them out.
2. Take your oven racks to a large tub such as a large basin, utility sink or even your bathtub. If you are soaking your racks in your bathroom, line your tub with old towels to avoid scratching.
3. Fill your basin, sink or tub with enough hot water to cover the racks.
4. Pour in ½ cup of mild dish soap or ¾ to 1 cup of laundry detergent.
5. Let the racks soak for at least two hours. Very dirty racks may need to be soaked overnight.
6. Once the racks are done soaking, use your cleaning brush and rag to scrub and wipe the racks clean.
7. Rinse your oven racks completely.
8. Dry your racks thoroughly using soft cloth towels. It is important to get the racks completely dry to avoid rust or corrosion.
9. Once the racks are dry and the inside of the oven is clean, place them back in your oven. Follow the steps below to clean the oven interior.

STEP 2: CLEAN THE OVEN INTERIOR

Once you have removed your oven racks, you can start cleaning the inside of your oven using supplies you may have at home. If your oven isn't too dirty, this process is fairly quick and shouldn't take very long.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Follow these steps

1. Ensure that your oven is cool and empty. Remove all pots, baking sheets or other baking accessories, as well as your oven racks.

2. Place towels or a plastic trash bag under your oven door to catch any drips.

3. Pour baking soda into a bowl and add enough water to create a paste. Consistency is key here – you want it to be spreadable, but not too thin.

4. Use a brush or flexible silicone spatula to spread the baking soda mix throughout the inside cavity of the oven. Be sure to coat the sides and bottom of the oven, as well as the door. If your oven has a glass window, avoid spreading the baking soda on this area for now. 

5. Let the baking soda mix rest for a minimum of 20 minutes. If your oven is very dirty, you may need to let the baking soda mix rest overnight.

6. When you’re ready to remove the baking soda mix, spray it down with white vinegar or lemon juice.

7. Immediately wipe up the baking soda mix with a damp rag or dish cloth. Use a plastic scraper to remove stubborn spots.

8. Spray surfaces again with white vinegar or lemon juice and wipe down again with a damp cloth. Repeat this until all of the baking soda is removed.

Cleaning inside your oven might involve only minimal manual labor if your range has self-cleaning capabilities. Using your oven’s self-cleaning option can help make clean-up quicker and simpler.

STEP 3: CLEAN THE GLASS OVEN DOOR

Cleaning the interior glass on your oven door is similar to cleaning the interior of your oven. However, there are a few different steps.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Follow these steps

1. Place towels or a plastic trash bag under your oven door to catch any drips. 

2. Make a spreadable paste mixing baking soda and water. 

3. Spread the paste along the glass using a brush or flexible silicone spatula. 

4. Let this paste sit for a minimum of 20 minutes. This step may take longer depending on the amount of grime. 

5. When you are ready to remove the baking soda mix, use a damp cloth and scrub in a circular motion to wipe away the grime. You can also use a plastic scraper to remove any stubborn spots. After scrubbing, rinse your cloth and wipe up the paste. 

6. Spray the glass surface with white vinegar or lemon juice and wipe down with a damp cloth. Repeat this process until all of the baking soda is removed, or for a more thorough cleaning, including between the door glass, follow the steps in our guide to cleaning an oven window.

7. Spray down one last time with vinegar or lemon juice, then dry with a soft cloth. 

8. Close your oven door and spray the exterior window with vinegar or glass cleaner. Wipe with a soft cloth. 

9. If the outside of your oven door is stainless steel, use a special stainless steel cleaner on these sections.
   

Cleaning the glass on your oven’s door is an important part of cleaning the entire oven and may need to be tackled before running a self-cleaning cycle.

STEP 4: CLEAN THE STOVE TOP

Now that your oven is clean, why not finish the job by cleaning up your cooktop? Follow the steps below to clean a glass stovetop. If your stovetop is stainless steel, check out this guide to cleaning stainless steel cooktops.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Follow these steps

1. Use a plastic scraper to remove any food residue. 

2. Spray down your cooktop with white vinegar or use an affresh^® cooktop cleaner¹. 

3. Use a soft plastic scrubber to loosen stubborn spots. 

4. Remove the cleaner with a damp cloth. Continue to rinse until all of the cleaner is removed.

For an all-in-one solution, use the affresh^® cooktop cleaning kit which includes a cleaner, scraper, and scrub pads. Cleaning an oven may be a multi-step process, but the results will speak for themselves. In addition to looking better, your newly cleaned oven will smell better and perform more efficiently.

Knowing how to clean the oven is an important part of appliance maintenance, doing it properly can ensure your oven is always ready for the next day’s meals.

How do I get burnt stuff off the bottom of my oven?

Make a paste with baking soda and water. Use an abrasive pad to scrub the oven. If the debris is really tough to remove, you can apply a layer of the baking soda paste over the surface for 12 to 24 hours, then wet it and scrub it off. The baking soda may help loosen the mess, making it easy to wipe away.

The self-clean option on your oven is also a good way to get burnt stuff off the bottom of the oven. However, if you don’t have a self-clean option or you don’t want to use it, the baking soda method can be a great alternative.

How do I clean my oven without oven cleaner?

You can clean your oven without oven cleaner by using baking soda and water. The baking soda acts as an abrasive and the water softens baked-on messes. 

Create a thin paste using 3 tablespoons of water and ½ cup of baking soda to spread throughout the (cool and empty) oven cavity. Let sit anywhere from 20 minutes to overnight, depending on the level of soil. To remove the paste, spray white vinegar or lemon juice and wipe with a damp cloth and a plastic scraper for stubborn spots.

How often should you clean your oven?

Keeping your appliances clean inside and out is important. You should clean your oven every three to six months or more often if spills and messes occur.