How to Clean Oven and How to Keep It Clean!

Last Updated : February 13, 2023 /

Sharing is caring!

how to clean oven 1

We all use our ovens on a daily basis and they can get really gross – especially if you don’t clean it after each use. But there’s nothing like opening your oven and seeing that shiny, clean inside ready for your next meal. 

Cleaning can be a chore, but it’s necessary to keep your oven working at it’s best. Check out these oven cleaning tips to learn how to clean oven parts and what to use when you’re cleaning your entire oven.

Always check the owner’s manual for your oven to make sure the cleaning products or methods are safe to use with your oven. 

What Do I Need to Clean My Oven?

You don’t need a lot of different things to get your oven clean. Here are some of the things that will be handy: 

  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Store bought oven cleaner
  • Paper towels
  • Rags
  • Rubber gloves
  • Razor blades
  • Microfiber cloth

Most of these things are probably all in your home so you don’t need to spend a lot purchasing things to clean your oven. Using a simple damp cloth is very helpful to keep your oven clean between more extensive cleanings.

Cleaning with Baking Soda Mix

Using a baking soda mixture, that can be as simple as baking soda and water, to clean your oven is a very popular way to get rid of the oven grime that’s built up on your oven. 

Here are a couple of the most common ways to clean your oven with baking soda: 

  • Mix baking soda and water together to make a baking soda paste. Usually the go-to formula for cleaning paste is one part baking soda and one part water. It’s ok if it’s not precise. 
  • Let it soak. Sprinkling baking soda in your oven and letting it sit can help to loosen the baked on things in your oven. Before you wipe up the baking soda, wet it with vinegar or water to make a baking soda paste.

The most common ingredients in a baking soda mixture are baking soda, white vinegar, water, and dish soap. Recipes to clean with baking soda don’t have to be specific with the measurements in order for them to work well.

You can use a damp cloth, microfiber cloth, or a paper towel to wipe up the mixture and clean your oven. 

How to Clean the Stovetop

Stove tops can certainly take a beating. Water boils over when you’re making pasta. Sauce drips when you’re making spaghetti sauce. Oil splatters when you’re frying chicken. 

It can be a lot to work to keep your stovetop clean. Wiping it down after every use can keep things looking ok between your deep cleaning. When it comes time to clean up the build up on your stovetop, there are a couple of things you could do: 

  • Cleaners from the store. Grabbing a store bought oven cleaner can be an easy way to get your stovetop clean. Be sure to follow the directions on the back of the oven cleaner for the best result and for your safety. 
  • Baking soda. For a more natural cleaner, you can use baking soda, vinegar, and liquid soap you’d use to wash your dishes. Try using two parts vinegar and one part baking soda with a few drops of dish detergent mixed in. You’ll need to put the paste on your stove top and let it sit for about 30 minutes before wiping it off.

Before you try to clean your stovetop or burners, be sure they’re turned off and cool so you don’t burn yourself. 

Use a damp cloth to wipe your stove top down frequently to help make these deep cleaning days a little easier. 

How to Clean the Bottom of the Oven

Some good old scrubbing and a little elbow grease is the best way to get the bottom of your oven clean. There are a variety of oven cleaners you can purchase to help clean your oven. Even if you use these, you’ll still have to spend some time scrubbing the inside of your oven. 

Be sure if you’re using cleaners that you’re in a well-ventilated area during your oven cleaning. If you’re home and the weather allows, consider opening the windows to bring in some fresh air. You can also turn on a fan to help circulate the air as well. 

If you have a lot of baked on stuff in the bottom of your oven, sprinkle baking soda all over the bottom of the oven. This method does need to sit overnight, so plan accordingly so you have time to finish cleaning the next morning. 

When you wake up, spray some water onto the baking soda to make a thick paste and scrub that baked on stuff away. Wipe out all that grime with a paper towel or rag and fresh, clean water.

To keep the bottom of your oven clean between cleanings, you can put down a layer of aluminum foil to catch food that falls or melts over when cooking. Change out your foil as needed. 

inside an oven

How to Clean Oven Racks

The oven racks in your oven can get dirty too. And because they’re so big, they can be really hard to clean. Now, this might sound crazy, but your bathtub can be a great place to soak your racks. 

Letting the oven racks sit in your bathtub soaking overnight with hot water and baking soda is a good way to get that stuck-on gunk off. You can also add some dishwashing detergent as well to help cut through grease and baked on food. 

You can gently scrub the racks with a scouring pad to help get rid of the stubborn stains. Dry them off with a soft cloth before putting them back into the oven after the deep clean.

To keep your oven racks clean between full cleanings, wipe them off with a damp microfiber cloth periodically. Be sure that the oven cools off before you wipe them down. 

How to Clean the Oven Door

Just like the tips for cleaning the other parts of your oven, using baking soda and vinegar is a homemade oven cleaner option for cleaning the glass door. You can also use a store-bought oven cleaner to get the oven window clean.

No matter what method you choose, you’re going to need a little elbow grease while you’re scrubbing to get the glass clean on your oven doors. You won’t need to use as much elbow grease when you’re wiping the mixture or natural oven cleaner off the oven glass.

If you’re wondering how to get that glass inside your door clean, we can give you some tips to clean that too:

  • This is a two person job. Because you need to fully remove your own door to clean the glass, you’ll need someone to help you without breaking the door or hurting yourself.
  • You’ll need to be able to do some basic assembly and disassembly. To get to that glass in your door, you need to remove the door from the oven and take the door apart. 
  • You’ll need to do some prep work. Before you remove the door to clean the glass, put down some old pillows or rags down to protect your floor and the door when you’re laying it down. 

After you have the area prepped and the door off, you can take the door apart to get to the glass inside the door. Clean the glass on both panels of the door then let them dry before reassembling the door and putting the door back on the oven. 

If you have baked on grease or food on the glass door, you can use a razor blade to scrape the glass. Be sure to be very careful while you’re using the razor. Using rubber gloves can add a layer of protection. 

Another method to clean the glass door, you can also use a steamer to steam clean the glass and get rid of all that grime that’s built up. Steam can also be helpful to clean the seal around the door as well.

gas stove

How Do You Clean a Self Cleaning Oven?

Wondering how to clean self-cleaning ovens? Here are a few tips: 

  • It’s going to get hot. When you’re using the self-cleaning setting on your oven, the actual cleaning happens due to high temperatures. Be sure that there’s nothing sitting on the stovetop before you start the self-cleaning process.
  • It’s going to take time. Plan to be around while your oven is cleaning itself just to keep an eye on things. 
  • It’s going to have a funny smell. As all that gunk and loose food in your oven melt off, it can put off a funny smell. You may want to open the windows to help diffuse the smell.

When you’re ready, activate your oven’s self-cleaning function. You may need to manually lock the door so it’s not able to be opened during the self-cleaning cycle. 

It’s recommended that you run the self-cleaning feature at least twice a year. Be sure to check the owner’s manual to find the recommended cleaning plan for your specific oven. 

Get a Free Quote on Home Cleaning Services  

Upstairs Downstairs is a housekeeping company that offers a variety of different services to our customers in northwest Chicago

We can get you a quote online now or call us at (630) 394 – 5543 to talk with us about your needs.

You must be logged in to post a comment.