Your oven works hard in the kitchen, so it gets dirty quickly. Food spills and grease can build up on the walls, racks, and door, causing bad smells and making the glass hard to see through. Over time, this can also affect how well your oven works. That’s why regular cleaning is important. Here are some tips to help you clean your oven and keep it looking great.
How Often to Clean Your Oven
Deep clean your oven every three months, but if you cook or bake often or notice burnt food, strong smells, grease, or dirt, clean it more frequently. To prevent grime buildup, wipe your oven after each use.
How to Clean an Oven With the Self-Cleaning Feature
Use your oven’s self-cleaning feature to get rid of tough food and grease without heavy scrubbing. Most ovens have a button or setting for this. Just empty your oven, press the button, and let it clean itself.
The self-cleaning cycle can take a few hours, depending on your oven. It heats up to very high temperatures (around 800–900°F) to burn off food residue. Once it’s done, let the oven cool down. Then, open the door and wipe it clean with a damp microfiber cloth.
Is it safe to use the oven’s self-cleaning feature?
Using the self-cleaning feature can cause strong smells and might release dangerous fumes. To keep these smells from filling your home, it’s best to keep the area well-ventilated when using this feature. Remember, ovens vary, so it’s crucial to read and follow your oven’s manual closely before you start the self-clean cycle.
Materials Needed
If you’re cleaning your oven by hand, gather these supplies first.
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Water
- Dish soap
- Spray bottle
- Small bowl
- Scrubbing sponge or brush
- Bathtub or large container
- Microfiber cloth
How to Clean the Inside of the Oven
Mix baking soda and vinegar to create a foam that helps remove dirt and grease from your oven.
- Take out the racks, trays, and any other removable parts from the oven.
- Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with water until it turns into a thick paste.
- Use a spatula to spread the baking soda paste evenly inside the oven. Avoid putting it on the heating elements or other sensitive parts.
- Leave the paste on the oven surfaces for a few hours.
- After the paste sits for a while, fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spray it inside the oven. This will create a foaming reaction.
- Once the foaming stops, use a sponge or brush to scrub the inside of the oven, especially on tough stains.
- Wipe off baking soda residue and dirt with a damp microfiber cloth.
- Wipe the oven dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
How to Clean Oven Racks
Clean this part regularly to remove tough spills and stains.
- Fill a tub or large container with hot water.
- Add natural dish soap to the water. For tough grime, add 1 cup of baking soda.
- Soak the racks in the tub.
- Scrub the racks with a sponge or brush.
- Rinse with water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
TIP: Microfiber cloths are ideal for cleaning your oven. Their fine fibers attract and remove bacteria and debris effectively.
How to Clean the Oven Door
Avoid abrasive materials to prevent scratching the oven glass.
- Mix natural dish soap with warm water in a small bowl.
- Dip a microfiber cloth in the mixture.
- Wipe the oven door, focusing on dirty areas.
How to Clean Oven Knobs and Handle
Clean the knobs and handles, the most touched parts.
- Mix natural dish soap with warm water in a small bowl.
- Dip a microfiber cloth in the mixture.
- Wipe the knobs and handle clean.