With one of the best oven cleaners to hand, you'll be ready to take down whatever grimy mess you've been avoiding. Whether it's a post-celebration cleanup or simply an overdue cleanse, cleaning the oven is no one's idea of fun. However, arming yourself accordingly with either a quality spray, gel or block will make the job far easier.
No doubt you've searched online, only to find yourself scrolling aimlessly through hundreds of options. With reams of products to pick from, the hunt can become a job in itself. So, rather than burdening yourself with yet another chore, take a few pointers from us. We've curated a neat selection of the very best oven cleaners out there. All of our selections are relatively affordable, and each comes with its own unique charms. Fragrant, fast or tough on stains – it's all there. Plus, we've got you covered for cruelty-free, fume-free and vegan options, too.
So read on to get those shelves, doors and more gleaming. Or, if you think your oven is beyond help and you want to invest in a new pyrolytic model that cleans itself (yes, really) then check out our guide to the best ovens.
The best oven cleaners
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This powerful Oven Mate Oven Cleaning Gel can remove baked-on grease and grime no problem, leaving your oven looking brand new. And the best part is there's no scrubbing needed. To apply, firstly ensure your oven's cold, then pop on the gloves and use the thick side of the brush to paint the inside of your oven with the gel. Leave for 10 minutes or so and then wipe with a damp cloth and it'll be good as new. This is the best oven cleaner if you're after something effective and easy to use, we think.
The Dr Beckmann Rescue Oven Cleaner comes in a spray bottle, making it ideal for those who don't like getting messy. It's tough, too, so your oven will be free of grease and grime in no time – our home test gave us surprisingly good results. Simple to use, just spray the product into your oven and close the door; leave to work for half an hour to an hour, depending on how dirty your oven is (for those who want a deep clean, leave overnight), then wipe your oven clean with a cloth dipped in soapy water. We think this is the best oven cleaner for tough stains and deep cleaning.
Unlike our other best oven cleaners, the Astonish Original Oven & Cookware Cleaner comes in block form and can be used on everything from ovens to cooker tops, pans, cookware, sinks and tiles. We think it's a great product that's particularly good at removing stubborn grease, burnt oil and dirt from the inside of an oven. To use, simply wet a sponge, nylon scouring pad or soft cloth with clean warm water, then scoop a small amount of the product and cover the dirty surface with it. Using circular motions, rinse it clean with a wet cloth to remove the residue and ta-da! Also, because it's not a spray, it's less harmful to your environment – winning!
Made from a fume-free formula, the Ovenbrite Oven Cleaner comes complete with gloves, a sponge and a bag for your racks to be cleaned in. To use, firstly ensure you're wearing the disposable gloves, then pour half the cleaning solution into the oven rack cleaning bag and place your cold racks inside and seal at the top. Pour the rest of the solution directly into the centre of your oven, then, using the sponge supplied, spread it around. Leave for a minimum of four hours (or overnight if you can) and then wipe away the residue with the sponge and some hot water. Although the bottle only contains one application (or two if your oven is small), this is our pick of the best oven cleaner for ease of use.
Ideal for quick clean-ups, the Oven Mate Daily Oven Cleaner Spray tackles grease, removes fat and lifts food. To use, spray into your cold oven (avoiding the door seals) and leave for up to 30 minutes, then wipe clean – it's as easy as that. It's no-fuss, easy to use and it comes out as a foam. The best oven cleaner for regular cleaning, we think.
When it comes to finding an oven cleaner that isn't too harsh, this option from Dirtbusters is ideal. A safe and effective spray for cleaning ovens, it was originally designed for use by professional cleaners, so you know it's a quality product. Because it has a non-caustic formula, you needn't fret too much about its effect on your skin. Plus, without fumes or nasty odours, this choice won't leave your kitchen reeking of bleach. Its smart formula contains microbes that soften carbon, making removal of grime ever-so easy. And, as well as being ideal for ovens, including self-cleaning ones, it also works brilliantly on hobs, pots and pans. Burnt-on food? No problem. Quite the all-rounder, right?
How to buy the best oven cleaner
Finding the best oven cleaner can be a tricky task indeed. After all, the sheer quantity of solutions out there can sometimes be more confusing than helpful. So, to make things a little simpler, we've outlined some of the key questions and considerations you might have in mind.
- You can find out how to clean an oven in our smart guide.
Spray, gel or block?
A lot of people, without thinking, opt for a spray. Now, of course, there's no reason you shouldn't: sprays are usually pretty intuitive to use, fast-acting and efficient. However, there are certainly some benefits in considering a gel or block option. For example, often gels are kinder on the planet, simply in virtue of the fact that they are not sprays. And, in the case of gels, these can be very easy to use, with less intrusive smells.
Bang for your buck
Look, none of the options we've picked out are going to break the bank, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't check the solution size. For example, the gel cleaner from Ovenbrite is very cheap, but it only offers you about two applications. Alternatively, something like the Oven Mate Daily Oven Cleaner Spray should see you through more use, although, obviously, it costs a little more.
Oven type
What kind of oven do you have? It's an important question because some cleaners are not suitable for use on specific styles, materials and surfaces. For example, some sprays cannot be used on enamel-coated, aluminium or self-cleaning ovens. If you have a self-cleaning oven, the Dirtbusters Bio Oven Cleaner would be a smart choice.
What is the best oven cleaner to use?
As you might gauge from the above considerations, it is wholly dependent on the oven and the criteria you have in mind. Overall, we place the Oven Mate Oven Cleaning Gel top due to ease of use, the handy extras it comes with and its ability to cut through grime and grease. Of course, if you are after something more specific, such as a block option, you might consider the Astonish Original Oven & Cookware Cleaner, which is both vegan and kind on the earth. So, when browsing our selections, be sure to check out the specs we've listed.
What do professional oven cleaners use to clean ovens?
Good question. After all, why settle for less than the best. All our choices are of a high standard, but if we had to pick the most professional, we would point you to the Dirtbusters Bio Oven Cleaner, which was first used by the pros before getting big on the wider market.