Oven Cleaning: How to Clean Your Oven

Does oven cleaning seem like a hassle to you? Gone are the days of scrubbing in awkward positions! Read on for simple oven cleaning suggestions.

Updated 18 November 2019

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Kitchen Cleaning

How to Clean an Oven

Cleaning the oven is much easier than you think! Follow these simple oven cleaning steps to clean everything from the interior to glass doors, racks, and trays.

What you’ll need:

Rubber gloves
Dishwashing liquid
Dish sponge
Scouring pads
Lint-free cloths
Specialist oven-cleaning product, like Jif Oven & BBQ Spray

If it’s been a while, oven cleaning can be a bit of a messy job! Wear old clothes, safety glasses and gloves, and consider putting some old sheets or newspaper on the floor to protect the surrounding area.

Oven Cleaning Tips

First, take out any removable racks, shelves or trays. Fill a sink with hot, soapy water, and leave these to soak for an hour or two to loosen any baked on stains. Use a dish sponge soaked in dishwashing liquid to rub away any food remnants or grease. For really tough stains, scrub with a scouring pad in gentle circular motions to remove the stain (don’t scrub too hard, as you don’t want to scratch the metal). Once clean, rinse in cool water, then dry with a lint-free towel so shelves are streak-free.
Now it’s time to tackle the inside of your oven. The most effective way for cleaning ovens is to use a dedicated product, such as Jif Oven & BBQ Cleaner, which intensively works against tough grease stains and burnt-on food.
Spray the cleaner across the interior oven surface and oven door, but make sure to avoid the heating element. Leave the product to rest for around 30 minutes if you have the time, then wipe away with a damp sponge.
For burnt on stains, try rubbing gently using the scouring side of a dish sponge with a little extra oven cleaner (never use a metal scourer, as this can damage the oven surface). You can also try a rubber or plastic spatula to scrape away burnt on food (again, never use metal).

How to Clean Your Oven the Natural Way

If you want to go the all-natural route, try baking soda for cleaning the oven!

In a small bowl, mix a few spoons of baking soda with water until it forms a thick paste.
Spread the paste throughout the oven interior (avoiding the heating element) and leave to sit for as long as possible, ideally overnight.
Once the baking soda paste has dried, wipe away using a damp cloth. Gently use a spatula or dish sponge to remove more stubborn stains.
Once all the stains are removed, give a final wipe down with a damp sponge or cloth.

Safety Warning

As with all household cleaning products, always read the label before you start and follow the usage instructions. You also need to make sure the room is well ventilated.

Protect your clothing and the area around the oven.

Wash all removable items (such as racks and trays) separately.

Use a specialist oven cleaner, such as Jif Oven & BBQ Cleaner, to tackle tough burnt on stains.

Originally published 21 November 2018