How to Clean an Oven Effectively: A Complete Guide

James Sturmay
James Sturmay
June 30, 2025
8 min read
How to Clean an Oven Effectively: A Complete Guide

Maintaining a clean oven is vital for both hygiene and appliance performance. Even small spillages can carbonise and produce unpleasant smells or smoke that taint the flavour of food. Moreover, layers of grease act like insulation, forcing the oven to work harder (using more energy) and cooking unevenly. Leftover oil and crumbs also attract bacteria or mould, and in extreme cases can ignite – so regular cleaning greatly reduces fire risk. By keeping your oven clear of burnt-on food, you ensure tastier meals, lower energy bills, and a safer kitchen. In practice, that means wiping up fresh spills quickly and doing a thorough deep clean every few months.

Cleaning your oven does not have to be a chore. The following sections break down the process into clear steps, with both natural and chemical options. Read through our step-by-step guide, choosing the methods that suit you (and your conscience!), and you’ll have a sparkling oven in no time.

Step-by-Step Instructions (General Method)

Prepare the oven.

Ensure the oven is turned off and completely cool. Put on rubber gloves and open a window or switch on the extractor fan for ventilation. Remove all pans, baking trays, foil and any oven liners. Pull out the oven racks as well – this prevents them warping and makes cleaning the interior easier. (Clean the racks separately – see below.) Discard any large loose crumbs or debris with a paper towel or vacuum to avoid clogging the sink later.

Remove loose residue.

Give the empty oven a quick sweep or vacuum to clear out dust, crumbs and flaky bits. If your oven has a self-cleaning function, you may already have ash to sweep up. Wipe away any fresh splatters with a damp cloth. Removing loose material now prevents streaks and heavy scrubbing later.

Apply a cleaning solution.

You have two main options here:

  • DIY natural paste: Mix a thick paste of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and water (about ½ cup of soda to a few tablespoons of water). Spread this paste evenly over the oven interior surfaces (avoiding heating elements) using a cloth or brush. The baking soda will slowly soften grease and baked-on food.
  • Store-bought oven cleaner: Alternatively, use a commercial oven-cleaning spray or gel. Follow the product instructions exactly. These cleaners usually contain caustic chemicals (like sodium hydroxide) that dissolve tough grime.

Let it work.

Once applied, the cleaner needs time to break down the dirt. For baking-soda paste, leave it on for at least 12 hours or overnight. (You can press a piece of baking paper over the paste to keep it moist if needed.) If using a chemical cleaner, follow the label, but typically 10–30 minutes is sufficient. Never run the oven hot during this step – keep it off so the treatment can soak in.

Wipe out the interior.

Use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe away the cleaner (paste or spray) and the grime it has lifted. Rinse your cloth frequently under warm water. If some deposits remain, you may need a little scrubbing with a non-abrasive pad. Once the paste is removed, spray white vinegar or clear water and wipe again – the vinegar will foam on any soda residue and help remove it. In the end, your oven interior should be free of paste and looking much cleaner.

Clean the oven door.

The glass window often needs special attention. You can use the same baking-soda paste or a window cleaner. Coat the glass with the cleaner and let it sit for 20–30 minutes, then scrub gently with a soft brush or cloth. (Avoid scratching – a plastic scraper or old credit card can help remove caked-on bits.) Finally rinse and dry the glass and door edges. If you have stainless steel surfaces on the door or controls, wash these with warm soapy water and buff with a dry cloth for a streak-free shine.

Dry and reassemble.

Once all surfaces have been wiped clean, leave the oven door open to air-dry completely. Return the (now-cleaned) racks and trays to their places. Optionally, turn the oven on to a low heat for 10 minutes to evaporate any remaining moisture. Finally, give the exterior of the oven a wipe with a soft cloth and warm soapy water; you can polish the handle and knobs to remove fingerprints.

Following these steps will remove grease and burnt food, leaving your oven fresh and hygienic. Be patient with stubborn areas – you may need to repeat the paste or spray on tough spots. A little elbow grease goes a long way with natural methods.

Eco-Friendly Oven Cleaning Methods

If you prefer to avoid harsh chemicals, try these green cleaning tricks:

Baking Soda & Vinegar Paste:

Baking soda is mildly abrasive and non-toxic, making it ideal for scrubbing off grease. Make a paste with baking soda and water, coat the oven interior generously, then spray or sprinkle white vinegar on top. The mixture will fizz and lift grime. After letting it sit (ideally overnight), wipe everything away with a damp cloth. This method avoids toxic fumes while still cutting through baked-on dirt.

Steam Cleaning with Vinegar:

You don’t need a special setting to steam-clean an oven. Simply put a heatproof dish of water mixed with a generous splash of white vinegar on a low rack. Heat the oven to about 120–150 °C (250–300 °F) for 30–60 minutes – the steam will loosen gunk on the walls and floor. Once the oven cools, wipe out all softened residue with a sponge. (This is a great “hands-off” way to clean daily spills between deep cleans.)

Lemon Juice Spray:

Lemon’s natural acidity helps break down grease. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into water (or use bottled lemon juice) and put it in a spray bottle. Spritz the inside of the oven or its glass with the lemon-water and let it sit for 10–20 minutes. Then wipe clean – you’ll find that citrus cuts through grease and leaves a fresh scent. You can also heat a pan of water with lemon slices in the oven for 20–30 minutes to steam-clean (similar to the vinegar trick).

Soapy Water:

For light jobs or polishing, a soft cloth and warm water with a drop of dish soap often suffices. Washing-up liquid can cut mild grease without the need for elbow grease. Wipe surfaces gently, then rinse with plain water and dry. Using eco-friendly dish soap is quick and low-risk if you haven’t left heavy bake-on spills.

These natural methods require a bit more time and scrubbing, but they are safe for pets, children and the environment. (Always test a small area first if you have an especially delicate oven coating.) After using any eco-friendly cleaner, make sure to remove all baking soda residue – leftover powder can scorch when you heat the oven again.

Non-Eco-Friendly Cleaning Options

For very stubborn ovens or quick fixes, chemical solutions can be used – but use them with care:

Commercial Oven Cleaners:

Heavy-duty oven sprays (like lye-based or ammonia-based cleaners) will quickly dissolve baked-on grease. However, they often contain caustic substances that can burn skin and lungs. It’s essential to follow the manufacturer’s directions: wear rubber gloves (and even goggles or a mask), work in a well-ventilated kitchen, and never mix them with other chemicals. If fumes make you dizzy or you smell irritation, leave the room and get fresh air. After using, rinse the oven thoroughly. These products are effective but should be a last resort due to their harshness.

Self-Cleaning Feature:

Many ovens have a self-clean cycle that heats to extremely high temperatures (often over 500 °C) to incinerate grease and food scraps. This method is chemical-free, but not entirely “green” – it uses a lot of energy and produces smoke/ash. If you do use self-cleaning, remove the racks first and follow the manual precisely. Keep the kitchen well-ventilated and stay nearby (warn kids and pets to stay away) because the oven gets very hot and may smell like burning fat.

Ammonia Soak (Old Trick):

Some people warm the oven slightly and then leave a bowl of household ammonia inside, closing the door overnight. The ammonia fumes soften grease, making it easy to wipe off in the morning. This is not a recommended eco-method – ammonia vapour can irritate your eyes and lungs, so only use it in a cool, ventilated kitchen. If you try this, bake the oven briefly the next day (to air it out) before cooking.

In short, chemical options work fast but come with risks. If you do use them, always heed safety warnings. Many users prefer the natural methods above to avoid toxic residue and fumes.

How to Clean Oven Racks Effectively

Don’t neglect the racks – they collect much of the grease and crumbs. Cleaning them is easy:

Soak in hot, soapy water.

Fill your bathtub or a large sink with very hot water and a few squirts of dishwashing liquid or half a cup of dishwasher detergent. Submerge the oven racks and leave them to soak for at least 30 minutes – or overnight if they’re grimy. This lets the grease soften.

Use soap and detergent.

A classic tip is to add laundry detergent or dishwasher tablets to the soak, which provides extra grease-cutting power. Some people even add a dryer sheet to help lift the gunk (though results vary).

Scrub off loosened gunk.

After soaking, lift the racks out and scrub them with a sponge or scouring pad. Most of the mess should wipe away easily. If any baked-on spots remain, make a paste of baking soda and water and scrub again – just be careful not to use soda paste on aluminium racks, as it can cause discolouration.

Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Once clean, rinse the racks well with hot water. Dry them completely (air-drying is fine) before sliding them back into the oven.

With these methods, your oven racks will be bright and grease-free. Regularly wiping them after each cook (or doing a quick weekly soak) will prevent the need for heavy duty cleaning later.

Ready to Shine?

By following the steps above—scrubbing interior surfaces, doors and racks—you’ll have a spotless oven ready for your next meal. Regular maintenance (a quick wipe after spills and a deep clean every few months) keeps your kitchen healthy and your appliance efficient.

If your oven needs expert attention, let FrescaVida Home Solutions handle it. Our professional oven and deep cleaning service in London will leave every corner gleaming without you lifting a finger. Contact FrescaVida today to book a thorough oven clean – your kitchen will thank you!‍

Share this post
James Sturmay

James Sturmay

Director at Frescavida Home Solutions
James Sturmay is the founder of FrescaVida Home Solutions, a trusted cleaning company based in London. With years of hands-on experience in the industry, James leads a dedicated team committed to delivering consistent, high-quality cleaning with a focus on reliability, attention to detail, and customer satisfaction.