Deep cleaning an oven is one of those dreaded household chores that we easily put off until later. Until later comes and we can’t avoid it any longer! These steps will show you how to deep clean an oven, including several simple oven cleaning hacks and tips to make this dreaded task much easier!
Best of all, learn how to keep your oven clean between uses so that you can reduce how often an oven deep clean is needed!
Deep cleaning your home is easier with a plan! It helps you make sure you aren’t forgetting to clean anywhere too!
Deep Cleaning An Oven
Over the years I have tried many different products and techniques said to magically make light work of cleaning an oven.
Most of them did very little or they required a whole lot of elbow grease to get the job done. Or worse, they resulted in revolting fumes that lingered.
As a household with young children, we always look towards more natural cleaning products and hacks, avoiding toxic chemicals where we can.
And some of those oven cleaning chemicals are downright nasty!
Thankfully there are a few ways you can deep clean your oven using natural ingredients from your pantry or a few simple cleaning supplies you may already have in your home.
I am going to be sharing with you several techniques to clean the different sections of your oven so that you can choose the cleaning methods that work best for you.
Time to clean your oven!
Oven Cleaning Essentials
To get started with cleaning your oven, having a few of these essentials in your tool kit will make it an easier task.
I am recommending both natural oven cleaning hacks, as well as a couple of my personal favourite cleaning supplies.
I prefer to use disposable cleaning cloths for my oven cleaning to avoid staining my reusable cloths, however, if you have a dark-coloured cloth you like to reuse, that works as well!
- Scrubbing pads or a Scrub Daddy
- The Pink Stuff Cleaning Paste – This is a newer product I have been using and it is amazing! The whole range is fantastic and so effective!
- Napisan or similar laundry soak solution
- Dishwashing liquid
- Koh universal cleaner – this stuff is amazing if you do want an all-round non-toxic cleaning product. Spray, leave it on for a few minutes and wipe clean.
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
How clean oven racks
Start by removing your oven racks from the oven.
If you have recently used your oven, wait for everything to cool down before you start cleaning.
If your oven racks are only slightly grubby, a sink filled with hot water and dish detergent will often do the job, teamed with a scrubbing pad, such as a Scrub Daddy or scourer pad.
Another great option is using some Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste with a scrub pad. Often this can make a really big difference!
Scrub each metal bar of your oven rack with the soapy scrubbing pad until they come clean again.
For really dirty oven racks, with baked-on stains, or if you want to drastically reduce the effort needed, try this oven cleaning rack hack instead:
How To Clean Oven Racks In The Tub (With Napisan)
Fill your bathtub up with scalding hot water, taking care if you have small children in the house that they aren’t nearby.
Place an old bath towel at the bottom of your tub. This is to prevent your oven racks scratching your tub.
Add a scoop or two of Napisan or similar nappy soak washing powder to the tub and place your racks in the bathtub to soak. Leave them for an hour.
Once the racks have soaked for long enough, use a scrubbing pad to scrub off any remaining stains from the metal. It should come off with minimal effort.
How To Clean Oven Trays
If you have an oven tray at the base of your oven for collecting spills or if you have a grill tray, these can be cleaned using either of the methods used for the oven racks.
Cleaning the Inside of The Oven
For cleaning the inside of your oven, use a disposable cloth and a scrubbing pad with soapy water to clean the sides, roof, base and rear of your oven.
If your oven is extra dirty, sprinkle baking soda around the base of your oven and add a little vinegar. Just enough to get it fizzing.
Leave it for a few minutes then start scrubbing.
The vinegar and baking soda combo will clean almost everything and is a great way to naturally clean an oven.
Take care when cleaning the fan and elements in the rear of your oven.
Learn how to clean your microwave and descale a shower head using vinegar and baking soda solution.
How To Clean Glass Between The Oven Door
Have you ever had something drip down the space between the glass of your oven door?
It can be downright frustrating trying to wipe it clean, only to realise it’s between the gap.
Thankfully most ovens are designed to remove one of the oven door panels so that you can easily clean between them. In most cases, this will involve releasing a latch or similar.
Refer to your oven manual (or search online for your oven model) to find out how to do this for your own oven if you aren’t sure.
Failing this, a long-handled bottle cleaner may work if the gap between your oven door is large enough
Just take care when removing the oven glass panels so that you don’t drop them!
My favourite products to clean the oven glass are either The Pink Stuff or Koh universal cleaner.
Cleaning The Stove Top
If you have a glass stovetop, it’s relatively easy to clean, using an all-purpose cleaner, waiting a few minutes, then wipe down.
For more baked-on food, use a soapy scrubbing pad and scrub in circles until this comes off. Ensure you don’t use anything that will scratch the glass.
My current preferred method is using The Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste and a Scrub Daddy. They are a perfect combo for really baked-on mess!
For coil elements or raised hot plates, a similar method will work on most stovetops to remove baked spills and grease build-up.
Don’t forget your splashback!
Wiping down your hot plates each time you use them, once they’ve cooled completely (or are still slightly warm) is a good way to keep them from needing a lot of effort when you deep clean.
Cleaning The Outside Of Your Oven
To finish your deep clean, use a cloth to wipe down the gaps between the door and the oven, where a lot of spills and crumbs can land and around the edges of the door.
Clean the front of the oven glass and wipe the edges and oven control panel.
Place all your oven racks and trays back into your oven and enjoy your fresh, clean oven… until it’s time to cook dinner!
Tips For Keeping An Oven Clean
If you really dread cleaning the oven, as most of us do, there are a few ways you can save time and reduce how often you need to clean it.
I’m all for time-saving cleaning hacks and one of the best ways is to stay on top of it, instead of allowing it to become a big job again.
- Get into a habit of wiping down your oven once it has cooled down after cooking a meal. This can help prevent spills from baking onto the racks and trays over time.
- If your oven does not have a bottom tray for catching spills, consider using a standard baking sheet tray at the bottom of your oven to easily keep the base clean.
- Cover the catcher tray with aluminium foil that you can easily replace once it starts to get a few spills.
- Incorporate cleaning the oven into a weekly cleaning schedule rather than having it as an as-needed task. By regularly deep cleaning your oven, you can do it in a fraction of the time.
Need more motivation? Try my 30-day deep clean challenge to clean your entire house!
For more home cleaning hacks and tutorials: