Cleaning the oven stinks, literally! It is time consuming and commercial oven cleaners are toxic. Also, I don't like to clean stubborn stains and build up over many years with crappy cleaners. When I switched from conventional cleaners to natural ones figuring out how to clean the oven was at the top of my list.
I don't have a self-cleaning oven (which can be a good thing) so I had to find an easy, non-toxic cleaning method. Here's how to clean your oven from top to bottom with DIY cleaners. Plus cleaning tips for those who want something even faster and easier!
How to clean an oven naturally
If you're like me, your oven occasionally (or often, in my case) gets burnt food inside the oven. Then there are the splashes on the sides, the stubborn stains and the grease on the oven door glass.
My oven does not have a self-cleaning function like some. It didn't even seem appealing that I had to scrub the oven for an hour with good old-fashioned elbow grease while sticking half my body into a dirty kitchen appliance.
A self-cleaning option is one way to solve this problem, but I've read that the high-heat self-cleaning feature can cause the elements to burn out faster. The oven reaches about 900 degrees Fahrenheit during a self-cleaning cycle, and high temperatures can cause other problems. Furnaces give off deadly carbon monoxide when they clean themselves, but it's unclear how much. Enough so that experts recommend airing out the room or getting out of the house while you do it!
Another option is steam cleaning with warm water. The idea is that the hot water softens the dirt so you can wipe it away. While this can work for smaller messes, it requires a lot of scrubbing and cleaning.
So for now, my oven is self-cleaning… by me!
Natural Oven Cleaner: Methods of Attack
It's easy to ignore a dirty oven. Just close the oven door and pretend it's not there (unlike my sink dirty dishes… ah). Eventually, all baked goods lead to a smoky oven! I looked at store-bought oven cleaning products and was not impressed. They promised easy messes, but at the cost of burning lung toxins. Not something I want in my oven or around our food!
Fortunately, there are several ways to clean an oven without harsh chemicals or a lot of scrubbing. I tried several natural options before I found a great oven cleaner: baking soda!
How to clean an oven
Once you have the right cleaners, cleaning your oven is fairly easy. There are several steps if you want to do a full cleaning session, top to bottom. Here's how to do it!
Clean the oven shelves
While you're cleaning your oven, don't forget about the oven racks. If yours aren't too bad, then spray with a cleaning solution and wipe with a damp cloth (more on my favorite cleaner below!). For tougher messes, try an overnight soak in warm water and dish detergent in the tub. After soaking, use homemade cleaning powder and dish soap to clean up.
Clean the outer door
The inside of the oven door gets caked on grease and food, but the outside also gets dirty. It is important to avoid harsh cleaners, scrubbing, steel wool or other abrasives on the exterior. These can damage the surface and cause scratches and dents.
Soapy water and a damp cloth work well. If your oven is stainless steel, then a non-toxic stainless steel cleaner or diluted vinegar are good options. A homemade glass cleaner also works great on most oven exteriors.
Clean the stove
Next to the oven, this might be my least favorite surface to clean. First, make sure the stove top is cool. It also helps to wipe up any messes or spills with vinegar right after they happen. With young children and a million things to juggle though sometimes that can be difficult!
- If you have a glass electric stove with flat tops, these require special treatment. Mild options like a little dish soap in warm water can work. For stuck mess use a plastic scraper (an old credit card can work). Try soaking a cloth in diluted vinegar and placing it over the stuck-on food for a few hours. This helps soften the mess so it can be easily wiped away. Some sources also recommend making a paste of water and baking soda on a soft cloth to clean glass stove tops.
- For a gas range, start by soaking the igniters and grates in some soapy water in the sink. If you have uncoated cast iron grates then not absorb, as they will rust. If you have an older style electric stove, also remove and wet the drip pans below the burner shrouds.
- Then, thoroughly wipe the stove top with soapy water or a all purpose cleaner. If you use soap, follow this by wiping with a little vinegar to remove any soap residue. To get stuck in pieces, try the wet cloth method mentioned above.
- Clean the coated grates in the sink with a little baking soda or soapy water.
How to clean the inside of the oven
First, remove any cookware or oven rack. I have found two different cleaners that work very well for the inside of the oven.
How to clean an oven with baking soda
It seems like a simple fix, but baking soda paste is a quick and easy way to remove grime from your oven. Baking soda helps make the daunting task of cleaning the oven a little easier. Here's everything you need (really!):
Supplies
- water spray bottle
- baking soda
All I have to do to get a shiny oven is spray the oven with a bottle of water so it's wet. I will then sprinkle baking soda in a thick layer on the bottom of the oven. You can also make a paste of baking soda and water, then use a brush or soft cloth to coat the bottom and sides of the oven. Be sure to avoid getting it on any heating elements.
Here is the step-by-step process:
GUIDELINES
- Spray the inside of the oven with water, making sure it is evenly wet. Pour about a 1/4 inch layer of baking soda on the bottom of the oven. If you see any dry spots, spray them with the water bottle until they resemble a paste.
- OR mix baking soda and water in a bowl to form a loose paste. Brush the bottom and sides of the oven with this mixture.
- Leave the paste for several hours, preferably overnight. Keep the oven off unless you want to see some amateur special effects… I don't recommend it!
- Wipe the paste with a cloth or an old towel. All the dirt will come with it!
- For the really mature particle, this may take several applications.
Note: It is important to ensure that any residue is completely removed before using the oven. Any leftover baking soda can smoke if left in contact with the heating element!
Some people suggest spraying the oven with some white vinegar or lemon juice as a final step to make cleaning the oven easier. However, I usually don't find this necessary.
Option 2: Branch Basics
The baking soda method was one of my first natural cleaning discoveries, but I've since found another option that I love even more!
It is called The basics of the branch and be warned… explosion will follow as I am addicted to their products. I had heard about these cleansers for a long time before trying them (skeptic that I am). I love my thrifty homemade cleaners and doubted they could be as good as other people said they were. Branch Basics is a cleaning concentrate that you can use for almost anything.
Turns out it's not that good… it's better! I feel stupid for waiting so long to try it.
Here's the story:
The great explosion of the furnace
It all started when I had to cook for a large group and had a lot of potatoes in the oven. In my haste, I forgot to poke them with a fork and some potatoes had exploded. Of course, all the sweet potatoes dropped their sticky mess all over the racks and bottom of the oven.
It was a smoky, horrible mess. It was also bad because this happened right before Thanksgiving company came over and I needed my oven fully functional ASAP. The baking soda method would not work as it took several hours if not overnight to work.
I decided to put my new Branch Basics to the test…I figured if it could clean that oven, it could do anything!
The big reveal…
I made a concentrated mix of Branch Basics concentrate and sprayed it on the oven. I watched in amazement as the cooked debris melted from the sides and bottom. After a quick wipe down with a brush and some microfiber cloths and it looked like a brand new oven! It sure beat the baking soda method.
A DIY diva delivers…
After that, you better believe I bought a 5 gallon bucket of their concentrate that will last for years.
If like me you could use something that makes cleaning a little easier and more enjoyable, Branch Basics has a discount for Wellness Mama readers. Use code WELLNESSMAMA in this connection for 15% off a starter kit for first time customers.
I will admit that I don't break out my DIY cleansers much now that I have natural, pre-made ones that work. Who doesn't need a little shortcut every now and then? Plus, Branch Basics was started by a mom who needed natural and safe cleaning solutions. (Sounds familiar!) Hear the story on this one The Wellness Mama Podcast.
How to clean your oven without harsh chemicals? Have you found a natural oven cleaner that works for you? Share your tips below!
