The Best Oven Cleaning Hacks For a Spotless Finish

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Investing in an oven is worth it. Not only do you get to bake yummy cakes, brownies, and any pastry, but you can also use it to roast a whole chicken or turkey. It is truly convenient, especially if you love hosting get-togethers at home, but not as convenient when it comes to cleaning. For instance, you need to wait for it to cool down before you could wipe the interior. And waiting could lead to you forgetting to clean it at all! Luckily, with these oven cleaning hacks, you can get the gunk off on your oven in no time and on your own time!

Importance of Maintaining a Clean Oven

Not all of us have the time to deep clean our ovens. However, leaving the oven dirty could to serious kitchen problems. Keep on reading to understand the importance of keeping the oven grime-free. 

Reduces The Risk of Fire

Small grease splatters seem harmless at first, but they can eventually cause a fire. If grease is exposed to high temperatures, it can smoke and ignite. This is one of the reasons why you should make sure the oven is clean before using it again. Just avoid using the self-cleaning function, especially if you haven’t cleaned the oven for months. It raises the temperature in the oven to help burn off leftover food and grease spills. Although this feature makes oven cleaning more convenient, it could cause a fire. Keep in mind that oven grease is combustible, so it could catch fire and explode under high temperatures. Better stick to traditional cleaning methods to avoid such kitchen hazards.

Ensures Longevity and Efficiency

Ovens are one of the most expensive kitchen appliances. The average cost of a regular oven is over $2,000! You wouldn’t want to waste the power of such an expensive item, so we advise cleaning it regularly. Although gas ovens are more durable than electric ones, their igniters are most susceptible to damage. Usually, they only have an average lifespan of two to three years, but with regular oven cleaning, they may last longer. 

In addition to that, maintaining a clean oven makes it more efficient. It doesn’t have to work too hard to keep the right temperature, thus allowing you to cook your food properly. 

Minimizes Food Contamination

Grease spills and leftover bits in the oven can cause food contamination. Once they get burned in the oven, they produce carbon-based fumes, affecting the smell and taste of food. Moreover, cross-contamination can occur. For example, if you try to roast a turkey, and bake some cupcakes right after, expect the cupcakes to have a lingering taste of turkey. This is why wiping the oven’s interior right after it cools down is very important.

How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?

Although regularly wiping the oven with soapy water and cloth can help, this is still not enough to dissolve the baked-on grease. We recommend deep cleaning the oven every three months if you use it almost every day. Meanwhile, if you use it occasionally, you should deep clean your oven at least twice a year.

Oven Cleaning Hacks: The Best Way To Naturally Clean an Oven

Using store-bought oven cleaners is the easiest method to remove hardened grease. However, most are caustic cleaners that release toxic fumes. This can negatively affect you and your family’s health, so better stick to all-natural oven cleaners. After all, the natural ones are more affordable and are as effective as store-bought cleaners. You can even make a homemade natural oven cleaner with the readily available ingredients in your pantry!

Here are some easy oven cleaning hacks on how to use it to degrease an oven:

Step 1: Make a Thick Paste Out of Baking Soda and Water

Baking soda cleans almost everything — including the oven. It is an alkaline substance that can help break-down acidic oven grease. Not to mention, it’s easier to remove hardened grease and dried food with baking soda due to its abrasive properties. Just make sure to mix the baking soda with water to create a paste. Adding water will help soften burnt-on crud in the oven, allowing you to wipe it off easily.

As for how much baking soda and water to use, it depends on the size of your oven. Usually, most people will use ½ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of water, but feel free to add more until you make a thick paste. 

Step 2: Cover the Oven’s Interior with Your DIY Natural Cleaner

Before applying the cleaning paste, you should remove the steel racks and other oven accessories. Don’t forget to turn off and unplug the oven too! Next is to apply your cleaning paste all over the oven’s interior. You can use your hands, but you should wear some rubber gloves for safety purposes. Alternatively, you can use a clean paintbrush to spread the paste evenly. Also, consider using a toothbrush for cleaning tight corners. 

We recommend leaving the cleaning paste for about 15 to 20 minutes. But for heavy-duty oven cleaning, you have to leave it on overnight to give enough time for the baking soda to break down the burned food. 

Step 3: Wipe with a Damp Cloth and Scour Pad

Don’t just use any cloth; use a microfiber cloth to minimize streaks. It’s also highly absorbent, so you can easily wipe off the paste. For extra sticky areas, you can use an abrasive scouring pad. 

Step 4: Use a Vinegar Solution to Remove Stubborn Grime

If your oven is heavily soiled, a baking soda cleaning paste is not enough. You have to spray it with vinegar to remove the stubborn grime and the remaining baking soda paste. You can add two drops of essential oil to your vinegar spray to mask up the sour smell. Choose either tree tea or lemon oil as both have natural degreasing properties. Once done, wait until the vinegar bubbles up and wipe with a microfiber cloth. 

As for cleaning the oven glass door, just repeat all the steps above. You can clean the glass door without removing it from the oven. But if you can, try to unscrew it. Doing this will make it easier to get rid of the crumbs stuck between the oven and the glass door. We also suggest using a handheld vacuum to ensure all leftover crumbs are removed.

Oven Cleaning Hacks: The Best Ways To Clean Oven Racks

Most manufacturers recommend removing the oven steel racks first before activating the self-cleaning feature to prevent the steel rack discoloration. Even if you choose to clean your oven naturally, removing the steel racks is a must. This allows you to reach into the nooks and crannies of the oven easily. Once removed, follow these oven cleaning hacks about degreasing oven racks.

Using Dryer Sheets and Dishwashing Soap

Dryer sheets do not only reduce static on clothes, but they also help remove grease from oven racks. This is one of the most effective oven cleaning hacks because dryer sheets have anti-static and fabric softening properties that help dissolve hardened grease.

If you decide to try this method, you will have to use your bathtub. First, grab an old towel and lay it on the bathtub. Next, line some dryer sheets on the towel and place the oven racks above them. Start pouring warm water into the bathtub and add ½ cup dishwashing soap. Leave it overnight to allow the hardened grease to dissolve. The following morning, remove the oven racks from the bathtub, rinse and wipe them using the soaked dryer sheets. You may also use a dish towel to dry them. 

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar

You will also have to use the bathtub for this method. The first step is to cover the bottom of the bathtub with a towel to protect it from scratches. Next, put the oven racks on the towel, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda, and spray some vinegar until it foams. Wait for the foam to stop, fill the bathtub with hot water, and submerge the oven racks overnight. The next day, rinse the oven racks and use a dish towel to scrub off the grime.

Non-Toxic Oven Cleaners

If naturally cleaning your oven seems too much work, you may use a store-bought cleaner instead. Even though most contain toxic chemicals, a few are made from natural ingredients. Just don’t forget to keep these oven cleaners in a garage storage cabinet to keep them out of children’s reach. Even though natural cleaners are generally safe, children can accidentally ingest them, and this can cause vomiting and diarrhea. 

Below are some of the non-toxic oven cleaners on Amazon. 

Read more: Bedroom Cleaning Hacks That Don’t Work: Try These Instead

1. [Method] Heavy-Duty Oven Cleaner

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This product has a rating of B.*What does this rating mean?

Artificial preservatives such as parabens can help extend a product’s shelf life, but these chemicals can be harmful as they can potentially cause skin irritations. They are used commonly in many beauty products, but some household cleaners also have them. Better to choose cleaners made from natural ingredients to protect you and your family’s health. Luckily, this Heavy-Duty Oven Cleaner from Method is also made from plant-based grease busters, so it is safe to use. Moreover, it has a lemongrass scent, keeping your kitchen fresh while cleaning your dirty oven.

2. [Grab Green] Kitchen Degreaser

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Some homeowners are adamant about using store-bought oven cleaners because of the strong fumes. But this Kitchen Degreaser from Grab Green is different. It has a relaxing, herbal scent as it is made from thyme and fig leaf. Thyme also helps disinfect ovens and other kitchen appliances due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.  

This oven cleaner is guaranteed safe because it is an EPA Safer Choice Approved product. Having this label means that the product has undergone rigorous scientific tests to ensure it doesn’t contain toxic chemicals.

3. [Puracy] All-Purpose Cleaner

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Upon checking the ingredients list of this product, you will notice C-10 alcohol ethoxylate is included. It sounds like another toxic chemical, but according to the Food Drug Administration (FDA), C-10 alcohol ethoxylate is one of the food additives that is generally safe. This ingredient makes oven cleaning more convenient because it helps evaporate sticky residues. What also makes this product a good oven cleaner is it is made from plant-based ingredients.

4. [GP66] Green Miracle Cleaner

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When choosing commercial oven cleaners, look for those with a water-based formula — just like this Green Miracle Cleaner from GP66. Water-based cleaners are safer than their solvent-based counterparts because they are non-flammable and contain fewer chemicals. Not only that, but these surface cleaners are also more affordable. 

Moreover, the GP66 Green Miracle Cleaner is NSF-certified. This means that the product is safe, environmentally friendly, and complies with the general public health standard.

Read more: 5 Kitchen Cleaning Hacks That Just Don’t Work

5. [The EcoGurus] Natural Cleaner

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Some commercial oven cleaners are so harsh you can feel your skin burning, even if you are wearing rubber gloves. Thankfully, this Natural Cleaner from The EcoGurus is specially formulated to be gentle on the skin. In addition to that, this natural oven cleaner is made of plant-based ingredients and has a fresh lemon scent!

Important Oven Cleaning & Maintenance Tips

Many people don’t like deep cleaning their ovens because of how difficult and time-consuming it is. Even if they already have a powerful natural oven cleaner on hand, they will still try to evade this dreadful task as much as possible. With these tips, deep cleaning the oven will become more manageable!

Quickly Wipe Your Oven Every After Use

We know it’s extra work, but taking the time to wipe the oven after using it can make deep cleaning your oven easy. Now, you don’t have to go through the hassle of scrubbing stuck-on food with a toothbrush! Plus, wiping spills immediately helps avoid nasty odors. Don’t worry, this will only take a few seconds. You just have to grab a dish towel, use a degreaser, and wipe the interior. It’s as simple as that!

Keep Your Windows Open While Cleaning

Some of you probably still prefer using store-bought oven cleaners because they are easy to use. Before you clean your oven, open the windows first to keep the kitchen well-ventilated. This is to avoid exposing yourself to the toxic chemicals that most commercial cleaners contain. 

Minimize Spills with Oven Liners and Roasting Bags

You can prevent grease from splattering all over the oven using oven liners and roaster bags! Oven liners are silicone mats that help catch grease and food spills. Most are made from non-stick, temperature-resistant silicone, so it’s durable and easy to clean. Meanwhile, roasting bags are used to keep the food moist in the oven. You can also use these bags to minimize oven spills. 

Conclusion

Regular oven cleaning requires a lot of work, but it is essential to prevent bugs and rodent infestation. Once those bugs and rodents start infesting the oven, it would be harder to clean it up. You might even have to replace the oven with a new one because the rats could chew on the wires. Moreover, leaving the oven soiled with grease and food scraps can cause various health risks. We mentioned earlier how oven grease spills and food scraps could cause food contamination, so it’s best to schedule a regular oven cleaning to prevent such cooking hazards. For starters, you may want to go back and review some of our oven cleaning hacks above! Our guide will help you clean your oven quickly and efficiently!