10 Genius Oven Cleaning Hacks You Need to Try Now
Let’s face it, cleaning the oven is probably not at the top of anyone’s list of favourite household chores. It’s often a job we put off until we can’t ignore it any longer!
But what if I told you there were some brilliant tricks to make this task much easier?
Whether you’re dealing with last week’s pasta spillover or months of built-up grime, these 10 hacks will help you get your oven sparkling clean with minimal effort.
And the best part? Most of these methods use items you probably already have in your kitchen cupboards!
Simple Hacks You Need To Try For Cleaning Your Oven
Cleaning your oven doesn’t have to involve harsh chemicals or expensive products. In fact, many effective solutions can be found right in your kitchen.
Below are some simple, yet highly effective hacks to help you tackle even the most stubborn oven grime:
Use A Vacuum Cleaner
Before you start any deep cleaning, grab your vacuum cleaner. It might sound odd, but trust me on this one!
Use the brush attachment to suck up all the loose crumbs and debris from the bottom of your oven. You’ll be amazed at how much comes out!
If you’ve recently made a crumbly apple pie that left bits all over the oven floor, the vacuum will make short work of it. This step is especially useful if you have a self-cleaning oven, as it reduces the amount of smoke produced during the cleaning cycle.
Remember to vacuum the door seals, too! Food particles can get trapped there and prevent the door from sealing properly, which affects your oven’s efficiency.
Use A Toothbrush
That old toothbrush you were about to bin? It’s about to become your new favourite cleaning tool.
How? A toothbrush’s small size and angled bristles make it perfect for getting into those awkward knobs, nooks, and crannies in your oven.
Imagine you’re tackling the area around the oven light. It’s a spot that often gets neglected because it’s hard to reach.
Just dip your toothbrush in a mixture of warm water and washing-up liquid, then gently scrub around the light fitting. You’ll shift grime you didn’t even know was there!
TIP: Keep a couple of old toothbrushes specifically for cleaning. Mark them clearly so they don’t get mixed up with your regular ones! Oops.
Use Salt
Salt is not just for seasoning your food – it can also be a powerful cleaning agent!
If you have a fresh spill in your oven, sprinkle some salt on it while the oven is still warm. The salt will absorb the spill, making it much easier to clean once the oven cools down.
For tougher stains, you can create a paste with salt and water and let it sit on the stain before scrubbing.
Are you roasting a chicken, and some of the juices dripped onto the oven floor? Before the spill hardens, sprinkle salt over the liquid. The salt will absorb the moisture and prevent the spill from baking onto the surface.
Once the oven has cooled, you can easily wipe away the salt and the spill along with it!
Use A Mixture Of Bicarbonate Of Soda And Vinegar
If you’re not new to cleaning, you’d know that this dynamic duo is a cleaning powerhouse.
The mild abrasiveness of bicarbonate of soda combined with the acidity of vinegar creates a reaction that lifts stubborn stains and grease.
Make a paste with bicarbonate of soda and a little water. Spread this all over the inside of your oven, avoiding the heating elements. Leave it overnight if possible.
The next morning, spray white vinegar over the paste. You’ll hear a satisfying fizz as the two react. This fizzing action helps to lift the dirt.
After a few minutes, wipe everything away with a damp cloth.
This method is brilliant for ovens that haven’t been cleaned in a while. I once used it on an oven that hadn’t been cleaned for months (don’t judge!), and the difference was night and day.
Use A Lemon Steam
If you love the fresh smell of lemons, you’ll enjoy this method. It’s particularly good for deodorising your oven as well as cleaning it!
Cut two lemons in half and squeeze the juice into an oven-safe bowl. Add the squeezed lemon halves to the bowl along with about 1/3 cup of water. Place this in your oven and heat it to 250°C for 30 minutes.
The steam created will help to loosen any baked-on food. Once the oven has cooled down enough, wipe the interior with a damp cloth. Not only will your oven be cleaner, but it’ll smell wonderfully fresh too.
This method is perfect for when your oven is a bit smelly. Maybe you’ve cooked a particularly pungent fish dish, or perhaps there’s a lingering odour you can’t quite place. The lemon steam will help neutralise these smells.
TIP: Don’t have fresh lemons? You can always use a cup of lemon juice!
Use A Vinegar And Water Steam
Similar to the lemon method, this technique uses the power of steam to make cleaning easier. It’s a great option if you don’t have any lemons to hand.
Fill an oven-safe bowl with equal parts water and white vinegar. Heat your oven to 150°C and let it run for 20 minutes. Turn off the oven and let it cool down a bit before wiping the interior with a damp cloth.
This method is particularly effective for loosening light to moderate build-up. I find it works well as a monthly maintenance clean to prevent heavy build-up from forming.
Use Washing Up Liquid
Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Can you believe that your everyday washing-up liquid can be a powerful partner in your battle against oven grime?
Mix warm water with a good squirt of washing-up liquid in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture thoroughly inside your oven, making sure to cover all surfaces.
Let it sit for about 20 minutes to give it time to break down the grease, then wipe clean with a sponge or cloth.
This method is great for regular maintenance cleaning. If you use it every few weeks, you’ll prevent heavy build-up and make your deep cleans so much easier!
Use Dishwasher Tablets
Here’s a clever hack: dishwasher tablets aren’t just for dishes! They’re designed to cut through grease and food residues, which makes them perfect for cleaning ovens too.
Slightly wet a dishwasher tablet and use it like you would a sponge to scrub your oven door and interior. The abrasive texture of the tablet combined with its powerful cleaning agents make quick work of baked-on grease and grime.
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This method is particularly effective on oven doors. You know those stubborn grease splatters that seem to be baked onto the glass?
A damp dishwasher tablet will shift them with much less elbow grease than you’d expect.
Use White Vinegar
White vinegar is an extremely versatile cleaning agent. Its acidity helps to break down grease and it’s fantastic at cutting through built-up grime!
Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spritz it all over your oven’s interior. Make sure to really spritz on those stubborn areas.
Let it sit for about an hour, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. For tough stains, you might need to repeat the process.
This method is particularly good for removing any lingering odours in your oven. The vinegar smell dissipates quickly, taking any other smells with it.
Use Ammonia
Now, this method requires a bit more caution, but it can be incredibly effective, especially for really neglected ovens.
Place a bowl of ammonia in a cold oven overnight. Make sure your kitchen is well-ventilated when you do this. The fumes from the ammonia will work to loosen baked-on food, making it much easier to wipe away in the morning.
- Traditional multi purpose cleaner also used as a laundry aid
- Good degreaser and can strip wax polishes from floors before renovation
Always wear gloves and keep the area well-ventilated when using ammonia. This method is best saved for those times when your oven needs a really deep clean.
Bonus Tips For Maintaining A Clean Oven
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Here are some additional tips to help keep your oven cleaner for longer:
- Line the bottom of your oven with foil or an oven liner. This catches drips and spills, making cleanup a breeze. Just remember to replace the foil or clean the liner regularly.
- Clean spills as soon as the oven is cool enough to touch. I know it’s tempting to leave it until later, but trust me, it’s much easier to clean a fresh spill than one that’s been baked on repeatedly.
- Use a roasting bag when cooking meats. This contains the juices and prevents them from splattering all over your oven. It’s a game-changer for roast dinners!
- Place a baking tray on the shelf below when cooking potentially messy foods. Think bubbly cheese on top of a lasagne or a pie that might overflow. The tray will catch any drips before they hit the oven floor.
- If your oven has a self-cleaning cycle, use it regularly. But don’t rely on it entirely – it’s still good to give your oven a manual clean now and then!
- Consider using oven liners. These are heat-resistant mats that sit on the bottom of your oven and catch drips and spills. They’re easy to remove and clean, saving you from having to scrub the oven floor.
- After cooking, leave the oven door open for a few minutes (once it’s turned off, of course). This allows moisture to escape and prevents it from settling on surfaces, which can lead to rust over time.
- Wipe down the oven door after each use. It only takes a minute and prevents grease
- Consider covering dishes that are likely to splatter. A simple piece of foil over a bubbling casserole can save you a lot of cleaning later!
By making use of these cleaning hacks and tips, you’ll find that keeping your oven clean becomes much less of a chore. After all, a clean oven isn’t just about aesthetics – it can improve your oven’s efficiency and even enhance the taste of your food!
Just remember, the key to an easily maintained oven is regular, light cleaning. It’s much easier to spend a few minutes wiping down your oven each week than to face a daunting deep clean every few months!
So, why not give these methods a try? Your future self will thank you when it’s time for the next big family dinner and your oven is sparkling clean and ready to go.
Do you have questions? Ask away!
SEE ALSO: Can You Dry Clothes In The Oven? (read this first)
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to clean the inside of an oven is to use a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. First, make a paste with bicarbonate of soda and water, then spread it all over the inside of your oven, avoiding the heating elements. Leave it overnight, and the next day, spray white vinegar over the paste. The fizzing action will lift the dirt, making it easy to wipe away with a damp cloth.
To clean an oven with lemon, cut two lemons in half and squeeze the juice into an oven-safe bowl. Add the squeezed lemon halves and about 1/3 cup of water to the bowl. Heat your oven to 250°C and leave the bowl inside for 30 minutes. The steam created will help loosen baked-on food, and you can wipe the interior clean with a damp cloth once the oven has cooled.
You should clean your oven every few months for a deep clean, but it’s best to perform light, regular cleaning every few weeks. Wiping down spills as soon as the oven cools and using preventive measures like oven liners can make the cleaning process much easier.
Yes, you can really use dishwasher tablets in your oven. Slightly wet a dishwasher tablet and use it to scrub the oven door and interior. The abrasive texture and powerful cleaning agents in the tablet make it effective for removing baked-on grease and grime.
Yes, it is safe to clean your oven using ammonia, but you need to take precautions. Place a bowl of ammonia in a cold oven overnight, ensuring your kitchen is well-ventilated. The fumes will loosen grime, making it easier to wipe away in the morning. Always wear gloves and keep the area well-ventilated when using ammonia.
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