How to clean an oven, with or without a self-clean setting
To clean an oven, take the racks out, coat the inside of the cold oven with a paste of baking soda and water, and leave it overnight. Wipe the paste out with a damp cloth, mist any white film with vinegar and water, and wipe again. Soak the racks separately, and use a razor scraper only on the door glass.
If your oven has a self-clean setting, that's the low-effort route, with a few cautions below.
What do you need to clean an oven?
- Baking soda and water
- White vinegar in a spray bottle, mixed half and half with water
- A plastic scraper or old spatula
- A glass scraper with a fresh razor blade, for the door glass only
- Non-scratch scrub pads and a few microfiber cloths
- Rubber gloves
- Dish soap and a bathtub or utility sink for the racks
- An old towel to protect the tub
Skip steel wool on the enamel and anything that leaves scratches. Scratched enamel holds burnt-on food the next time.
How do you clean an oven with baking soda?
This is the method for any oven, self-cleaning or not. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes of work spread across two days.
- Start cold. Turn the oven off and let it cool all the way. Pull out the racks, the thermometer and anything sitting on the floor of the oven.
- Scrape the loose stuff. Use the plastic scraper on burnt drips and crumbs on the floor, then vacuum or wipe them out.
- Make the paste. About half a cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water, until it spreads like frosting.
- Coat the inside. Spread it over the floor, walls and inside of the door with gloved hands or a soft brush. Go thick on the brown spots. Keep it off the heating elements, the fan cover and the gas outlet.
- Leave it overnight. Ten to twelve hours gives the paste time to soften baked-on grease. It will turn brown in places. That's the grease lifting.
- Wipe it out. Use the plastic scraper on thick patches, then a damp cloth, rinsing the cloth often.
- Mist with vinegar. Spray any white haze left behind. It foams a little where it meets the baking soda. Wipe again with clean water until no film is left.
- Dry it and put the racks back. Run the oven empty at a low temperature for 15 minutes if you smell anything left over.
How do you use the self-clean setting safely?
The self-clean cycle heats the oven high enough to burn residue to ash. It works, but it isn't free of fuss.
- Take the racks out unless your manual says they're made to stay in. Standard racks can discolor and start to stick.
- Scrape out big spills first. A thick pool of grease smokes a lot and can flare.
- Open a window and run the hood fan. Expect a smell for the first hour.
- Move pet birds well away from the kitchen. Manufacturers warn that self-clean fumes can harm them.
- Stay home while it runs. The door locks for the cycle and for a while after, and the cycle can take a few hours.
- Wipe out the ash once it's fully cool, with a damp cloth.
Don't use heavy-duty spray oven cleaner inside a self-cleaning oven unless your manual allows it. It can damage the enamel lining.
How do you clean oven racks?
Lay an old towel in the bathtub so the racks don't scratch it, set the racks on top, and fill with hot water to cover them. Add a good squeeze of dish soap and leave them for a few hours or overnight. Scrub with a non-scratch pad, paying attention to the corners where the wires meet, then rinse and dry.
How do you get the oven door glass clean?
Do the inside of the glass with the same baking soda paste. On stubborn brown film, once the paste is wiped off, hold a razor scraper at a low angle and push gently in one direction. Keep the glass wet while you scrape, and never use the blade on enamel or painted surfaces.
How do you keep an oven cleaner for longer?
- Put a sheet pan on the lower rack under casseroles, pies and anything that might bubble over. Don't line the oven floor with foil; many manufacturers warn it can block airflow and damage the finish.
- Wipe fresh drips once the oven cools, before they bake on again the next time you cook.
- Wipe the door seal gently with a damp cloth. Don't scrub it or soak it.
A full clean every three to six months keeps it a short job.
Can you book someone to clean the inside of the oven?
Yes. On Standard, Deep and Move-In / Move-Out cleaning, the inside of the oven is an add-on you pick when you book. It cleans the oven interior, racks and door, and the self-clean cycle should be run first.
The outside is covered either way. Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, wipes the stovetop, the range exterior and the hood exterior on every visit. On Deep Cleaning, PureRenewal, they're degreased.
For the rest of the room, see how to maintain a clean kitchen, and for the sink next to it, how to clean a kitchen sink.
FAQ
How do you clean an oven with baking soda? Mix about half a cup of baking soda with enough water to make a spreadable paste, coat the inside of the cold oven while avoiding the heating elements, and leave it overnight. Wipe it out with a damp cloth, spray any white residue with vinegar and water, and wipe again.
Is it safe to use oven cleaner in a self-cleaning oven? Not unless your manual allows it, because heavy-duty oven cleaner can damage the enamel lining of a self-cleaning oven. Check your manual, and stick to the self-clean cycle or a baking soda paste if you're not sure.
Should you take the racks out before running self-clean? Yes, unless your manual says the racks are made to stay in. The high heat can discolor standard racks and make them stick when you slide them in and out.
How often should you clean your oven? Wipe up drips once the oven has cooled, and give it a full clean every three to six months, or sooner if it smokes or smells when you preheat. A sheet pan on the lower rack under anything that bubbles over cuts down on the big jobs.
Can I book someone to clean the inside of my oven? Yes. Inside oven is an add-on you pick when you book a house, deep or move-in / move-out cleaning, and it covers the oven interior, racks and door. Run the self-clean cycle before the visit.
Book a cleaning
We clean homes across South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455.
