Oven-Cleaning Hacks That Don’t Involve Harsh Chemicals

By Mathhew Paul On Aug 15, 2022

Sometimes it can seem like an insurmountable task to clean your oven. Whether you use the oven for occasional baking or to prepare a full dinner every night, it’s unrealistic to expect it to stay spotless all the time. The oven needs a thorough cleaning every so often, despite your best efforts at spot cleaning (cue the sighs). Here are some of the most effective ways to clean your gas or electric range after a spill, or any time dirt and grease have built up over time.

Using Baking Soda and Vinegar, You Can Clean Your Oven Without Harming Your Family

If you need to clean your oven but don’t have any oven cleaner on hand, or if you just want to go the all-natural route, a mixture of vinegar and baking soda can do the trick. Neat Services’ Sean Parry recommends using a paste made from half a cup of baking soda and water. Next, he instructs us to “spread the paste all over the bottom of the oven, the side walls, and the interior of the glass oven door, being careful not to get any on the heating elements.”

You should let the concoction sit for at least two hours, preferably overnight. Then, spray the baking soda with a mixture of half water and half white vinegar. The acid in the vinegar, he explains, will react with the baking soda to create foam. The burned-on stains from the food can be cleaned off the oven better after doing this, the author says.

After 30 minutes, scrape the baking soda solution off with a rubber spatula (if necessary) and a clean rag. To conclude, use a damp cloth to wipe down the entire area.

Fix Things Quickly with Salt

Nathan Ripley of Maid Just Right claims that salt can be used to efficiently and affordably clean an oven. There may be spills on the oven floor from the food you’re cooking, he warns. “If that’s the case, you need to open the oven door immediately and sprinkle salt on the drip. Once the oven has cooled, the stain can be cleaned up more easily.

Vinegar Is a Great Steam Cleaner for The Oven

John Linden, an interior designer based in Los Angeles, is fond of the hot water and vinegar method of cleaning. He says, “They soak up the grime and soften it, so you can wipe it off with a cloth.”

Get the stove started by bringing a third of a pot of water to a boil. “When it reaches a boil, pour in some white vinegar. Just give it another 30 seconds at the stovetop “As Linden puts it.

The next step is to take the pot off the stove and place it on the rack inside the oven before closing the door. Just leave the pot alone for about an hour. “You can begin tidying up as soon as the door is opened. Use a soapy rag to clean the area, “To quote Linden: It’s much simpler than scrubbing to remove the dirt and grime.

Put Some Lemon Juice in Your Water

Expert oven cleaner Cyrus Bedwyr from Fantastic Services claims that all you need is a bit of water and two lemons to get your oven sparkling. “Take two lemons and squeeze them into the water, then pour the mixture into a pan. The lemons should be cut in half and added to the pan “he explains

Then, heat the oven to the specified temperature and place the pan inside. “Wait for the water to boil before removing the pan. Oven grime and grease will become easier to remove after being loosened by the steam.” Cleaning the oven with a damp cloth after it has cooled down is not recommended.

Use an Old Toothbrush to Reach Hidden Areas

A lot of us use old toothbrushes for cleaning the bathroom, but they can be put to good use in the kitchen as well. “It’s a pain to clean the corners and nooks of your oven,” Bedwyr says. You can clean those hard-to-reach places with ease using just a toothbrush and some cleaning solution.

Use the Bathtub to Scrub the Oven Racks

Oven racks aren’t cleaned as frequently as they should be because of their awkward size and shape. Soaking racks in the tub is the most effective method, according to Parry.

So that the tub doesn’t get scratched, he recommends lining it with old towels first. Then put a dishwasher tab in the tub and fill it with water. “There’s no reason why dishwasher tablets couldn’t do an equally good job of cleaning your oven racks,” argues Parry.

It is recommended to completely submerge the racks. Put them aside for at least a few hours, and preferably overnight. To get rid of any food that has become stuck, he recommends soaking them in hot water and then using an old toothbrush (or a heavy-duty scrubber). “Take out the shelves from the bathroom. You can get them ready to use by giving them a quick rinse in warm water and drying them with a clean dish towel.” When you’re done, remember to scrub the tub!

To Begin, Always Use a Vacuum Cleaner

Before doing anything else, vacuum out the dirt, dust, crumbs, and debris from your oven. (You really ought to vacuum after the self-cleaning cycle, too.) The vacuum hose can be used, or if that’s too much power, the crevice tool can be used. The Bissell CleanView Vacuum, available at Target for $75, is a convenient choice due to its small size and lightweight. It’s great because it has a built-in storage compartment for the cleaning tools, making it simple to switch between the hose and the crevice tool.

Handheld vacuums, such as the Shark Wandvac ($110; amazon.com), can be useful if an upright model is too awkward to use or if the kitchen is too small.