HOW-TO GUIDES
How to clean an oven
Updated 01/26
By: Olivia Scammell
Reviewed: Alex Peters
Cleaning your oven requires a lot of elbow grease. However, it doesn’t have to be impossible. We'll give you the lowdown on how to clean an over below.
Tools needed for oven cleaning
Step-by-step cleaning process
Guidance from experts
Why you might consider a tradesperson for the job
Tips for cleaning racks and glass
How to find oven cleaners in your area
Ovens are one of the toughest appliances in the home to clean. Grease and dirt build up quickly and within the blink of an eye, they can become almost impossible to tackle.
Don’t fear as we have put together a simple step-by-step guide on how to clean your oven in the best way possible.
Tools required for the job:
Oven cleaning solution
Baking soda
Water
Non-scratch sponge
White wine vinegar
Spray bottle
Rubber cloves
Lemon
Old toothbrush
Microfibre cloth
Not sure if you want to tackle the oven by yourself? Look up costs for oven cleaning services or look for relevant tradespeople and oven cleaners that cover your local area.
What's the best way to clean an oven?
Step 1: Remove oven accessories
Before the hard work starts, remove any oven accessories such as oven racks, doors and knobs.
This makes it easier to get to all of the areas of the oven, even the hard-to-reach ones!
Step 2: Make or prepare your oven cleaner
Whether you want to use a pre-bought oven cleaner or make your own, it’s time to prepare it.
Pop on your rubber gloves and make your own homemade oven cleaner by mixing baking soda and water to form a hardy paste.
Step 3: Apply the cleaner
Apply your oven cleaner with a non-scratch sponge in circular motions to all areas of your oven.
Scrub to remove any obvious dirt or grease.
Step 4: Leave it for as long as possible
Ideally, you want to leave your oven cleaner to work its magic overnight, if not at least a couple of hours. Meanwhile...
Step 5: Clean glass and oven racks
This is a good opportunity to tackle your oven racks and clean your glass oven door.
We'll go on to cover the best way of cleaning both below, so stay with us.
Step 6: Use white wine vinegar
Any particularly stubborn marks that haven’t been removed by the baking soda or oven cleaner can be tackled by white wine vinegar in a spray bottle.
Step 7: Scrub!
Use your non-scratch sponge to scrub the final bits of dirt away.
Step 8: Reassemble and wipe down the oven
Put your oven racks, door and knobs back on. Do a final wipe down of your oven with a microfibre cloth and voila, your oven should be as good as new.
If you're thinking about hiring a cleaner to tackle this job for you, check out our guide: How much does a professional oven clean cost? Otherwise, read on for our DIY solutions, remembering a trained professional will be able to do a higher standard of job.
Oven cleaning tips from the experts
Start by using a vacuum to remover any loose matter
An old toothbrush is great for getting in those pesky nooks and crannies
Use a mix of lemon and baking soda to make your oven door sparkling clean
Dishwasher detergent tablets are very effective and will get rid of any stubborn dirt
Remember that you can remove your oven door to make it easier to clean!
A verified review from a Checkatrade customer had this to say about the oven cleaning service from Stubborn Ovens:
Stubborn Ovens brought back to life an otherwise very greasy and carbon stained oven. It is absolutely sparkling now. I love it! And it was all done in an extremely professional manner. Definitely recommended.
How to clean oven racks
The thought of cleaning oven racks can often be the thing that puts you off cleaning your oven yourself.
Begin by removing the racks
Get rid of any loose food or dirt
Place the racks in either a sink or a bathtub (a bath can make it a lot easier as there’s more room to submerge them completely)
Sprinkle over some baking soda then douse them with white wine vinegar
Once the foaming comes to an end, add hot water to either your sink or bath and leave to soak overnight
How to clean oven glass
Cleaning the glass on your oven door can be a stubborn job.
Begin by removing your oven door so it’s a bit easier to work with
Remove any obvious bits of dirt or debris and wipe clean
Sprinkle baking soda over the door
Squeeze a lemon on top of the baking soda so it fizzes and forms a paste
Use a non-scratch sponge to scrub away any dirt or marks
Wipe clean with warm water and use a microfibre cloth to dry
Put your sparkling clean oven door back on!
If your oven isn’t heating evenly, takes longer to cook food, or hasn’t been checked in years, booking an oven maintenance service can help prevent faults and extend its lifespan.
How to self clean an oven
If your oven has a self-cleaning mode, it’s a very handy setting that’ll save you a lot of time and effort.
Your self-cleaning oven works by using high temperatures to burn off any bits of dirt or food debris. Depending on the model of your oven, a self-cleaning cycle can take anywhere between one to several hours.
Before running your self-clean cycle, remove any loose items and wipe down the inside of your oven.
Make sure the door is closed and start your self-cleaning cycle. Every oven will require a different process, so check your oven's instruction manual beforehand.
Let the cycle fully finish and cool down before opening the oven door.
Remove any ash with a damp cloth and use a mix of baking soda and white wine vinegar to get rid of any stubborn dirt that hasn’t been tackled by the self-cleaning cycle.
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Find a dedicated cleaner for your oven
If you don't have the time to clean your own oven, or you simply want to save yourself the trouble, why not enlist the help of a skilled tradesperson?
An oven cleaner will have lots of tips and tricks up their sleeve to ensure you get the best finish possible. Approximate oven cleaning prices come to around £60 for a standard oven, so if you're short on time, it'll be well worth the money.
Checkatrade makes it quick and easy to find a professional cleaner near you that you can trust. Every tradesperson has passed up to 12 checks to be in our directory, so you know you're getting a service you can rely on.
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