Oven Cleaning Hacks That Make Your Life Easier

Oh sure…you know your oven is dirty, but cleaning the oven is one of the most daunting cleaning tasks and so you find yourself putting it off. And, yes, you’re aware that a clean oven makes your kitchen look and smell better. And, sure, over time, dirty ovens can become less energy-efficient and cook food less evenly…but, still, who wants to roll up their sleeves and sweat as they scrub? We’ve got good news for you: These easy oven cleaning hacks work so well that you won’t put off the task ever again. We tapped experts to bring you the tips that make oven cleaning a breeze.

1. To clean without chemicals: Use this baking soda recipe

Baking soda can come in handy for many different purposes, including cleaning your oven. Experts explain that baking soda’s alkalinity makes it the ideal cleaner for your oven, plus, it doesn’t have any weird ingredients, and you probably have some in your kitchen already.

Here’s the best baking soda oven cleaning hack, according to Hashi Mohamed of Ivy Cleans, a cleaning company in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Create a paste by mixing ½ cup baking soda with a few tablespoons of water. Adjust the consistency until it forms a spreadable paste.
Spread the paste over the interior of the oven, avoiding the heating elements.
Let it sit overnight or for at least 12 hours.
Use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe away the baking soda paste. For stubborn spots, use a plastic or silicone spatula to scrape off residue.
Spray vinegar on any remaining residue, and wipe the oven clean. Vinegar will react with the baking soda, creating a fizz that helps with the cleaning process.
Finally, rinse the oven with a damp cloth to remove any leftover vinegar.

You can also try a homemade oven cleaner made with Dawn dish soap! (Click through to discover why you should never mix baking soda with bleach.)

Dirty and clean oven, before and after cleaning and washing the stove glass. Washed grease on the oven window door, collage — Homemade cleaners can take your oven from splattered to spotlessGetty

2. To lift stuck-on grime: Try a steam clean

Another way to lift grime and dirt without much elbow grease is to steam clean your oven before you tackle it manually. Lily Cameron, cleaning supervisor for Fantastic Services, breaks it down:

Take an oven-proof bowl, fill it with water and squeeze the juice of two lemons into it.
Carefully place the bowl inside the oven and turn it on.
Once the water starts boiling, turn off the oven and allow the steam to circulate for some time.

“The steaming process will loosen burnt-up bits and grease so you can easily wipe them with a cloth,” she explains. Plus, the lemon will add a lovely fresh scent.

3. To deep clean your oven racks: Give them a bath

“Take out the oven racks and clean them separately in a bathtub,” recommends Angela Rubin of the cleaning company Hellamaid. Your bathtub gives you much more room to deep clean your oven racks than you’d have in your sink. Once you remove your oven racks and put them in the tub, simply “soak them in a mixture of hot water and dish soap,” she says. No awkward maneuvering over your kitchen sink necessary!

4. To remove stubborn stains: Try a salt scrub

Salt scrubs aren’t just for skincare. They can also work wonders on particularly dirty areas of your oven. “For stubborn stains, sprinkle some salt over the area and then scrub it using a damp sponge,” says Michael Golubev of Mold Busters. “The abrasive nature of salt helps remove tough stains.”

5. To remove grease: Try a pumice stone

Pumice stones are more commonly associated with your bathroom than your kitchen, but they actually make for the perfect oven cleaning hack. “All you need to do is dampen the stone with water and run it off over the stubborn grease until it is removed. Then rinse and clear the mess with a fiber cloth,” says home improvement pro Davin Eberhardt of Nature of Home. As a bonus, you can also use a pumice stone to clean other things in your home, like lampshades.

6. Bonus tip: To remove crumbs: Use your vacuum

That’s right, you can vacuum your oven! Before you do a deep clean, you’ll want to get rid of any loose, charred bits lurking at the bottom by vacuuming it.

See the vacuum hack and other oven cleaning hacks we love in this TikTok video:

@neat.caroline
Oven-cleaning hacks that make the job easier! #ovencleaning #cleantok #ovenclean #fyp #cleaninghacks #cleaningtips #hometips #homehacks #learnontiktok
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