How to Clean an Oven - The Step By Step Guide to Cleaning Your Oven Perfectly

Cleaning your oven is an essential step to keeping your oven in top shape. A routinely cleaned oven will look better and often work better as well! 

With the right tools and tips on your side, you’ll have no problem making your oven look good as new! Keep reading for the complete step by step guide to giving your oven a thorough clean!

Not sure you'll have time to clean out your oven yourself? Don't sweat it! It's easy to find a top local oven cleaner on Bidvine.

How to Clean an Oven Step By Step

The first step to properly cleaning out your oven is to gather all your essential supplies. Read the full list below to make sure you have all the materials you need before you get started!

Essential Oven Cleaning Supplies:

• A good quality cleaner. There are several choices here:
  • Store-bought oven cleaners: These are the fastest and easiest solution to remove grime and grease from your oven. The drawback is that they can be caustic so you should consider a different method if you are worried about using chemicals or just want a natural approach. 
  • Baking soda and water: This handy little DIY method is great for getting rid of stubborn buildup. The drawback is that you need to leave the mixture overnight, so it’s not an instant solution. 
• Rubber cleaning gloves. Find heavy-duty gloves to keep your skin safe, especially when using harsh chemicals. 
• Paper towels and old newspapers. These can help protect the area around your oven and catch anything that might drip during cleaning. 
• Damp cloth rags. These are great for cleaning the grime off after applying the cleaner. 
• Scouring pumice or microfiber sponge. This will help you to tackle large amounts of buildup.

How to Clean Your Oven With Store-Bought Products

Get your oven looking great with these tips for oven cleaning that involve the use of store-bought cleaning supplies. Be sure to check that your store-bought cleaning products are safe for your oven before you begin. Different oven interiors may require different cleaning products.

1. Remove everything from the oven. It's important to make sure that any dishes you might store in the oven such as pizza stones, racks, and thermostats, have all been removed.

2. Put down the paper towels or old newspaper. Placing newspapers and paper towels on the floor beneath the oven and around it will help to protect your kitchen floor from any stains. Cleaning an oven can be a messy event and you don't want any cleaning products or any of the grease or build-up you're cleaning out to drip on the floor.

3. Put your gloves and safety glasses on. Make sure your oven is turned off and completely cool. Then, spray the cleaner around the inside of the oven, covering all nooks, crannies, and crevices you can find. Avoid spraying the heating elements for an electric oven, and don't spray it near where the gas comes through with a gas oven. 

4. Let the spray rest. Close the oven and let the spray sit for as long as needed – most sprays need around 20 – 30 minutes though some may suggest waiting several hours or even overnight. Check the instructions on the oven cleaning product for specific outlines.

5. Take the racks out. While you wait for the cleaner to set in, take the racks outside and spray them with cleaner. Then let these rest as well. Removing the racks is an easier way to clean them than scrubbing from inside the oven.

6. When time's up wipe down oven surfaces. After enough time has passed, open the oven and wipe off all the surfaces. If there are some spots that are especially sticky, use a microfiber sponge or another abrasive tool that is safe for your oven interiors to get rid of the grime. Make sure to clean as much of the oven as possible and get rid of all traces of the cleaner and dirt. 

7. Rinse off the racks. Now that the oven's all clean it's time to clean the oven racks. Rinse these off outside or in a laundry sink where you aren't worried about any stains from the build-up. Then dry them off and put them back in the oven.

How to Clean an Oven With Baking Soda and Water

If you plan to clean your oven out using baking soda and water we've outlined the steps you need below to get you started!  Be sure to check that the baking soda and water method is safe for your oven before you begin. Different oven interiors may require different cleaning products.

1. Take everything out of the oven. Start by taking everything out of the oven and putting down newspaper as with the previous method. Mix half a cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Adjust the ratio until you’re left with a paste you can easily spread around.

2. Spread the paste around the oven. While wearing your gloves, spread the paste around with your fingers. Make sure to cover the back, bottom, top, sides, door, corners, and any crevices. Don’t put any paste on the heating elements with an electric oven, and don't put it near where the gas comes through with a gas oven. Close the oven after you finish. 

3. Leave the paste for 10 – 12 hours. As this method can take a while to set it can be helpful to leave it overnight, then clean the following morning.

4. Clean the racks too! Following the same method, take out the racks and clean them as well. You will likely need to leave this overnight to rest as well. Then rinse thoroughly afterwards.

5. It's cleaning time! After 10 – 12 hours, put your gloves back on and open the oven. Use a cloth rag to wipe down the surfaces of the oven. Use a microfiber sponge, scoring pumice, or another abrasive tool to get rid of the solution. 

6. Rinse off all residue. Make sure to completely wipe out the inside of your oven to remove all the residue as a final step.

Summary 

You have a few different options when cleaning your oven. You can use store-bought cleaning products, or make your own at home. Which option is right for you depends on your oven and your own personal preferences. 

Running short on time? Easily hire a professional oven cleaner who can thoroughly clean your oven to get it back in top shape!

Interested in learning more about what factors can influence the cost of hiring a professional oven cleaner? Simply read our Oven Cleaning Price Guide to learn more!

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