How to Clean an
Oven Using Natural Ingredients

Even self-cleaning ovens can only handle so much buildup, grease, and grime. While over-the-counter oven cleaners are safer than they used to be, you can skip the harsh chemicals altogether. Here’s how to clean an oven using homemade oven cleaners using natural and eco-friendly ingredients.

Is Deep Cleaning an Oven Worth the Effort?

When buildup accumulates in an oven, every meal you cook is affected by the meal before it. A dirty oven can cause your culinary creations to lose flavor and transfer potentially harmful bacteria while cooking. Another reason to keep your oven in top shape is to avoid potential fires caused by greasy buildup. Learning how to clean your oven can keep buildup at bay and help extend the longevity and efficiency of your oven.

Can I Clean My Oven Without Using Harsh Chemicals?

All that baked-on grime can look formidable, but we promise you can get the job done with a non-toxic oven cleaner and surprisingly little effort. Cleaning an oven with baking soda, vinegar, and other natural cleaners is safer and more economical than commercial cleaners. Distilled white vinegar is a cleaner, disinfectant, and natural oven cleaner that cuts through grease. Baking soda is another eco-friendly cleaner that tackles stains and buildup with a mild abrasive.

Cleaning An Oven With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Does your self-cleaning oven struggle to remove buildup and grease? Would you like to avoid harsh chemicals and still get sparkling clean results? While you could call in professional appliance cleaners, it’s simple to make DIY oven cleaners. Here’s how you can clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar to whip your oven back into shape.

Oven Racks

1. Put newspapers underneath and around the oven.
2. Remove your oven racks and vacuum up loose debris.
3. Soak the oven racks in hot, soapy water for a few hours.
4. Scrub the racks.
5. Let the racks soak overnight if there is a lot of stubborn buildup, and then scrub again.
6. Once your racks are clean, wipe them dry and put them aside until you’ve cleaned the rest of the oven.

Oven Interior

1. Add 3/4 cup of baking soda to a bowl and about 1/4 cup water to make a paste.
2. Coat the inside of the oven generously with the paste and let it dry overnight.
3. Wipe out the dried paste, or use a plastic scraper with a damp sponge to remove stubborn buildup.
4. Spray the oven with white vinegar and wipe out the baking soda, dirt, and grease.

Oven Glass and Exterior

1. Use hot, soapy water to clean enamel finishes.
2. If your appliance is stainless steel, clean your oven with vinegar and water.
3. Mix lemon juice and enough baking soda to form a paste to clean the inside oven window.
4. Apply the paste, wait 20 minutes, then wipe the cleaner off with a damp microfiber cloth.
5. Use your vinegar and water solution to clean the outside of the oven window.
6. Buff the outside of your oven with a clean, dry microfiber cloth for a brilliant finish.

If your oven glass still looks dirty, debris could be between the glass panes. When the seal is worn or damaged, grease and food find their way in. Check out this homemade oven cleaner video to get your oven glass crystal clear.

How to Clean an Oven Fast

If your oven is dirty and you’re short on time, you can quickly clean an oven with lemon juice. The acid in lemons breaks down buildup to make scrubbing easier, plus you get the fresh aroma of citrus.

1. Heat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Fill a large oven-safe bowl with half water and half lemon juice.
3. Put the bowl on the middle oven rack and bake for 30 minutes.
4. Let the water and lemon cool and use it to scrub the oven.
5. Use a nylon scrubber to clean the racks, the inside, and the outside of your oven.

Using lemon juice as a DIY oven cleaner is one of hundreds of time-saving cleaning hacks and shortcuts from the pros. Interested in more speed cleaning strategies? Check out our handy guide on how to clean a house fast.

The Easiest Way to Clean an Oven Is to Call The Maids®!

Whether you’re a DIYer or ready to call in the cleaning cavalry, The Maids wants to make housekeeping more manageable. Discover how healthy house cleaning services can help you enjoy a clean home more often and find more free time.
Get your free personalized quote today, and we’ll send a clean team to lighten your load.