5 Ways to Deep Clean an Oven

Cleaning your oven is one of the household tasks that people tend to avoid, but this leads to grease and grime building up over time. Our step-by-step guide will walk you through how to give your oven a deep clean and have it looking brand new again. Once your oven has been deep cleaned, regular, quick cleaning should allow you to maintain its sparkling state. 

To give your oven a thorough clean, you will need the following supplies:

• Oven cleaner
• Sponges
• A face mask
• Rubber gloves
• Old toothbrush
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Old towels or rags

1. Use the self-cleaning function on your oven

Modern ovens frequently have a self-cleaning function. A convenient time-saving feature is the self-clean cycle. The oven is heated to roughly 880 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the cleaning procedure. At this temperature, food within the oven burns up, leaving some ash behind. The remaining ash is readily removed with a moist towel.

The simplest way to clean an oven is by the self-cleaning variety. If you don’t want to fiddle with chemical oven cleansers or even homemade cleaners, it’s also among the best ways to clean an oven. The main disadvantage is that your oven locks up for three to five hours, emits a lot of heat, and uses a lot of energy. Additionally, it could produce a disagreeable odor in the home.

If your oven is particularly dirty this method will not remove all of the grease and grime or ensure the glass door and the trays are sparkling. However, if your oven is only a little dirty, this is a good option. Otherwise, continue reading this guide for advice on how to deep clean your oven. 

2. Using heavy-duty cleaners

When using a store-bought heavy-duty oven cleaner, safety is essential. Ensure you wear rubber gloves and a face mask and make sure the space is well-ventilated. Use newspaper or old towels to prevent the caustic product from dripping onto your floor. 

Ensure that the oven is off and cool before you begin. Cover gas burner jets with care and shield any exposed heating parts. It’s also a good idea to change into some old clothes because cleaning the oven can be quite filthy. Remove any food remnants you notice inside the oven while wearing rubber gloves.

Remove racks and tracks and spray your oven cleaner of choice onto every surface of your oven. Leave it to sit for at least 30 minutes, then wipe it off using a rag or cloth. 

Please note that if your oven does have a self-cleaning function, you should not use a caustic product. This is because a self-cleaning oven has an enamel coating on the inside that can be damaged by such cleaners.

If your oven is self-cleaning and the self-clean function has not done enough to make your oven sparkling clean, try our next section on cleaning your oven using natural cleaners. 

3. Using natural cleaners

Whether you want to protect the interior of your oven or you are wary about the ingredients in commercial cleaners, natural cleaners are a popular alternative. 

A homemade paste formed by combining one cup of baking soda with one and a half cups of vinegar works best for deep cleaning the inside of an oven. Make your paste in a sizable bowl, and then spread it evenly inside the oven. Remove with a moist sponge after letting rest for at least six hours. 

Baking soda and vinegar working together will help to dissolve accumulated dirt, and then a thorough scrubbing will remove the remainder.

4. Cleaning the racks and trays

Clean the oven racks 

The best approach to cleaning the metal racks is to completely remove them from the oven and soak in boiling water with a little dishwashing detergent, regardless of the type of oven you have. Oven racks can be soaked in the bathtub, but you might wish to clean the tub afterward. The racks should be scrubbed with a firm brush, rinsed, and then dried when the two hours of soaking are over.

Clean the baking trays

Cleaning baked-on grease can be difficult, but with the correct cleaning agent, it is simple. Put your enamel baking trays in a sink filled with hot water and dishwashing liquid to restore them to their previous splendor. Use a scourer to remove the grease, then pat the area dry. On baking trays that are non-stick, avoid using a pot scourer.

Another method is to soak the trays in boiling water and baking soda. Carefully fill your sink with boiling water and add in a cup of bicarbonate of soda. Your stained trays should be placed in the sink and left there for an hour. After soaking, the tough spots should be softened and easily scrubbed away. 

5. Thoroughly clean the glass door

A spotless glass door provides the finishing touch to your clean oven. Stubborn food can be removed with the aid of a glass scraper or scourer. Hot water and detergent combined are effective against grease and oil. Please note that glass shouldn’t be cleaned with a caustic oven cleaner.

Place some old towels on the floor beneath the space between the oven and where the door opens to prevent any liquid dripping onto your kitchen floor.

After cleaning the door, wipe down the entire appliance to get rid of any cleaning liquid or residue that may have remained. Your oven should now look as good as new