From gameday spreads to holiday feasts, your oven works hard and inevitably collects grease, food spills, and stubborn stains. Your oven stays spotless and performs better, delivering efficient heating, safer, smoke-free cooking, and tastier meals.
Whether you’re tackling a deep clean or maintaining regular upkeep, this oven cleaning guide covers everything you need to know to keep your appliance clean and fresh.
How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?
Most ovens benefit from a deep clean every 3 to 6 months, depending on how often you use them. If you're an avid baker or cook large meals regularly, you may need to clean monthly. For occasional cooking, twice per year is usually enough.
Common signs that it’s time to deep clean your oven include:
- Smoke during preheating
- Lingering odors that affect your food’s taste
- Visible grease buildup on surfaces
- Food debris on the oven floor
Pros and Cons of Using the Self-Cleaning Feature
Most modern ovens come with self-cleaning features that use temperatures around 900°F to incinerate food residue into ash that easily wipes away. This hands-off approach is convenient for removing grime, especially for heavily soiled ovens.
Self-cleaning oven cycles have a few drawbacks, such as high energy use and potential safety hazards. High heat output can strain oven components, and burning off heavy buildup may produce odors and enough smoke to trigger fire alarms. High oven temperatures can also be dangerous for small children or pets in your home.
Avoid using the self-cleaning feature if your oven has significant grease buildup, damaged seals, or aging parts to minimize fire hazards. Manual cleaning is generally safer since it puts less stress on your oven’s components and allows you to control the process with environmentally responsible products. Plus, you can clean your oven anytime without the lengthy cycle time of a self-cleaning cycle.
Supplies You’ll Need to Clean Your Oven
Gather these environmentally responsible supplies for oven cleaning:
- Baking Soda:This natural abrasive breaks down grease and neutralizes odors.
- White vinegar:The acidity cuts through buildup and boosts cleaning power when paired with baking soda.
- Mild dish soap:A few drops of gentle dish soap help lift greasy residue.
- Microfiber cloths:Wiping surfaces with microfiber cloths leaves a streak-free finish.
- Plastic scraper: Gently dislodge baked-on food without scratching oven surfaces.
- Rubber gloves:Protect your hands from cleaning solutions and rough surfaces.
- Large bowl or bucket:For mixing cleaning paste and soaking the oven racks.
Step-by-Step: The Best Way to Clean the Oven
Follow this gentle cleaning method to tackle tough oven buildup without relying on harsh chemicals.
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven
Let the oven cool completely before cleaning, and clear the area around your oven and lay down towels to protect your floor. Remove the oven racks, thermometer, and any other removable components.
Step 2: Mix a Cleaning Paste
This eco-friendly cleaning paste is at the heart of this project. Mix half a cup of baking soda with three tablespoons of water. Use more or less water as needed until the mixture reaches a consistency resembling thick frosting.
Step 3: Apply the Paste
Spread the baking soda paste inside the oven while avoiding the heating elements. Coat the oven floor, walls, and door interior, and pay extra attention to spots with visible buildup, using the same approach as cleaning a toaster oven and other small appliances.
Step 4: Give It Time
Let the cleaning paste sit for about 12 hours or overnight. This allows the baking soda to break down stuck-on food residue and grease.
Step 5: Wipe Away the Paste
Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe away the baking soda paste, rinsing and wringing it out as needed. Use a plastic scraper or an old credit card to gently remove stubborn buildup.
Step 6: Spray With Vinegar
Fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray any remaining baking soda residue. The vinegar and baking soda will foam and help to lift away any remaining buildup.
Step 7: Do a Final Wipe-Down
Give the oven interior a final wipe with a damp microfiber cloth to remove any lingering residue or cleaner. Save the leftover baking soda paste and vinegar spray to clean the stovetop.
How to Clean Oven Racks
Fill a deep sink or large basin with hot water and a few drops of dish soap. Soak the oven racks for several hours. For stronger cleaning power, sprinkle baking soda on stubborn spots before soaking. You can take a similar approach for wire racks when you clean your refrigerator, just not at the same time.
After soaking, scrub the loosened grime from the racks with a non-abrasive sponge. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and dry completely before returning them to the oven.
How to Clean Oven Glass
Glass oven doors require special attention because they're prone to grease splatter and can become cloudy. Spread your leftover baking soda paste on the glass, and let it sit for up to 20 minutes. Then, gently scrape the paste and grime with a plastic scraper, working in one direction to avoid scratching. Spray the glass with vinegar and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth for a streak-free finish.
Tips for Keeping Your Oven Clean
Keep your oven sparkling and prevent heavy buildup with a few environmentally-responsible cleaning habits:
- Place a baking sheet or aluminum foil on the bottom rack (never directly on the oven floor) when cooking messy dishes to catch drips and spills.
- Wipe up cooking spills immediately after the oven cools.
- Give your appliance a weekly wipe-down to prevent stubborn buildup.
- Keep a spray bottle of vinegar and water under the sink for quick cleanups.
Read our ultimate kitchen cleaning guide for more tips on keeping your appliances and cooking surfaces ready for your next bake-off or dinner party.
When to Call the Pros at The Cleaning Authority
Regular oven maintenance is manageable for most homeowners, but professional help takes the pressure off when your oven is overdue for a deep clean, has baked-on buildup, or you'd simply rather leave the scrubbing to someone else.
Rely on professional house cleaning services from The Cleaning Authority. Our professional house cleaners have experience using environmentally responsible products and proven methods to clean ovens, stainless steel appliances, and all other kitchen surfaces.
Keep Your Kitchen Sparkling Clean
Regular oven cleaning improves food taste, helps prevent smoke, and extends your appliance's lifespan. With quick wipes and light but consistent cleaning, deep cleaning your oven is much less of a chore.
When time is short, or the mess feels like too much to tackle, leave it to our oven cleaning services. Ready to enjoy a spotless kitchen? Get your free estimate today, and let us handle the deep cleaning so you can focus on cooking instead of scrubbing.