How to Clean an Oven Without Harsh Chemicals

 

Commercial oven cleaners work, but the fumes are rough in a closed kitchen. Baking soda and water do almost the same job if you give them time. The trick is to apply it at night and wipe it out in the morning.

 

 

The overnight baking soda method

1. Take out the racks, the thermometer and anything else loose. Make sure the oven is off and cool
2. Mix about half a cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water until it's a spreadable paste
3. Wearing gloves, spread it over the inside of the oven, thick on the dirty spots, avoiding the heating elements and any gas openings
4. Leave it 12 hours or overnight. It will turn brown as it softens the grease
5. Scrape out the paste with a plastic spatula, then wipe with a damp cloth
6. Spray a little white vinegar on any remaining residue. It will foam where it meets the baking soda, which helps lift it. Wipe it out with a clean damp cloth

 

Oven racks

Put the racks in the bathtub on an old towel (to protect the tub), cover them with the hottest tap water you have, and add a generous squirt of dish soap or a half cup of baking soda. Soak overnight, then scrub with a stiff brush and rinse. Check your manual before putting racks through a self-clean cycle; many will discolor or lose their slide.

 

The glass door

Make a thicker baking soda paste and spread it on the inside of the glass. Leave it 20 to 30 minutes, then wipe it off with a damp cloth and buff dry. For grease trapped between the glass panes, check your manual; on many ovens the door can be removed and the inner panel accessed.

 

The self-clean cycle

The self-clean setting heats the oven to around 900°F and burns residue to ash. It works, but:

• Remove the racks unless the manual says they're self-clean safe
• Wipe out loose food first, and expect smoke and an odor. Open windows and run the hood fan
• Keep pet birds out of the house during the cycle. Fumes from self-cleaning ovens can be dangerous to birds
• Never leave the house while it's running
• Don't use commercial oven cleaner on the interior of a self-cleaning oven unless the manual allows it. It can damage the enamel

 

Keep it cleaner longer

Put a sheet pan on the rack below anything that might bubble over. If something spills, sprinkle salt or baking soda on it while the oven is still warm (not hot) so it's easier to wipe up later. A quick wipe once a month means you'll rarely need the overnight method. See our appliance care guide and kitchen cleaning tips for the rest of the kitchen.