Let’s face it: We don’t exactly spend a ton of time looking at our ovens (I don’t, unless I’m aching for the pizza to cook or nervous about a new baking recipe). But they do amass major amounts of grime and grease. This means they can take eons to scrub. Boring. If you’re looking for some nifty tricks to make cleaning the oven much easier, I’ve got you.
I’ve rounded up ten hacks to get your oven looking brand-new (well, pretty much anyway). From top to bottom, inside and outside, these will help you get right into the areas that are tricky to clean and that grease just loves to cling to.
While these ideas are tough on stains, they won’t be tough on your oven appliance. Scratches? Broken pieces? No thank you.
It’s time to cook up a cleaning storm in the kitchen with these sizzling oven cleaning hacks…
These 10 oven cleaning hacks are seriously incredible
Your oven will thank you (well, it would if it could talk) for giving these ideas a go. Scroll on down for my fave hacks that I love using.
1. Take a toothbrush to the oven knobs
Oven knobs get so sticky and are especially tricky to clean around the back. A toothbrush (one from the packet, not your own obvi) is the perfect size for getting into the little gaps. Dip it in soapy water and get brushing.
2. Make an aluminum foil scrubber
If your oven is really dirty and you don’t want to use up your existing scrubbers, you can use aluminum foil instead. Tear off a strip, and scrunch it up in a ball. With this, you can scrub your oven. Once it's done, go over it with a paper towel to get any flakes off.
3. Create a dishwasher tablet cleaner
What if there was an oven cleaning tool that was no mess, no fuss? Well, there is, if you're down to be innovative. Dip a dishwasher tablet in warm water, then clean the inside of the oven as if you were cleaning with a sponge or cloth. It will eventually disintegrate, so you don’t even have to clean it up after.
4. Put your oven racks in the bath
If you have time to spare, this is a foolproof way of getting your oven racks grime free. Place big dryer sheets (these Bounce ones from Amazon are a fab size and have 240 in the box) in your bath, then place the racks in. Fill the bath with just enough water to cover them, then shake over powdered laundry detergent and leave overnight. Good morning, clean oven racks!
5. Make the most of The Pink Stuff
Yes, The Pink Stuff alone is a mega hack. We could talk all day about how many things The Pink Stuff can clean, but for this, I’ll just stick to oven cleaning. Oven doors, racks, and the oven inside can all be cleaned with this glorious paste. Apply it with a cloth, and scrub scrub scrub. Then clean it off with a damp sponge, and dry it off with paper towels.
FYI: You can buy a tub of The Pink Stuff from Amazon for just under six dollars.
6. Whip up a baking soda paste
If you don’t have oven cleaner handy, this TikTok hack is such an easy solution. Make a paste of baking soda (Arm & Hammer from Amazon is my go-to), dish soap, and water, and rub it all over your oven walls and door. After leaving it overnight, wipe off the paste with a paper towel, then clean it with a damp cloth and a solution made of part white vinegar and part water.
7. Place oven racks in bags
Don’t have time to leave your racks in the tub overnight? There’s another way to get grime off that’s a lot quicker. Get a big plastic grocery bag that will fit all your racks, and place them inside. Spray with an oven cleaner (like this one deemed Amazon's Choice), tie the bag up or seal it, and then leave it for 30 minutes. This is a great idea to do while you’re cleaning the rest of the oven.
8. Scrub away with apple cider vinegar and sugar
If you’re cooking dinner and want an easy way to clean your oven afterward, this hack works perfectly while the oven is still warm. Put a cup of apple cider vinegar (you can buy it in bulk from Amazon, FYI) and two tablespoons of sugar into a spray bottle, and spritz all over the inside of the oven. Leave for at least an hour, then wipe with a damp microfiber cloth.
9. Put a lemon in the oven
Okay, lemon in the oven def sounds like an indie rock band — but it’s actually a great oven cleaning hack. Slice up a lemon, and put the slices in a metal bowl or deep baking tray filled with warm water. Then, "cook" for 20–30 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it’s done, simply wipe the inside of the oven with a dry cloth. The condensation created should be damp enough for easy cleaning, but if not, dip the cloth in the lemon water.
10. Work a toothbrush into smaller spots
The humble toothbrush is so versatile. If you have smaller stains and corners in the oven that a scrubber alone can’t tackle, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar (Heinz from Amazon again), then clean away. You can either use a manual toothbrush married with elbow grease or pick up a cheap electric toothbrush to save working up a sweat.