Ovens can get really messy, and it can be difficult to know how to clean your oven. It’s not that difficult of a job, but it’s important to do it regularly. You don’t need to be embarrassed about the state of your oven, not everyone can keep it as clean as Grandma. With a few simple house cleaning tips and tricks, you can have a nice shiny oven, ready for all of your baking adventures!
How to Clean an Oven: 8 Easy Tips
1. Start With the Right Cleaner
There are a whole lot of options on the market for oven cleaners, but the cleaner winner is Quick Job’s True All-Purpose Cleaner. One of the greatest advantages of this cleaner compared to other brands is that you don’t need to exclusively use it on your oven! It works great for cleaning up any spills on counters, floors, sinks, pretty much anywhere in your kitchen. If you’ve been wondering how to clean your oven, this is exactly what you need. A little bit of this stuff and some elbow grease will go a long way.
2. Work From the Top Down
The biggest mistake that a lot of amateur cleaners make when scrubbing their oven is to start in the middle or bottom of the oven. If you do this, you will be fighting gravity the whole time and end up having to redo most of the work. Start by cleaning the top of the oven and work your way down, that way any grease or grime will fall to the bottom rather than onto areas that you have already cleaned. This will save you a lot of time, and make your oven much cleaner as a result.
3. Let It Sit
If you are having trouble getting burnt material or grease out of your oven, consider spraying it with the cleaning solution and allowing it to sit for a few minutes before wiping it down. This allows the cleaner to break down the mess and makes it much, much easier to wipe off the oven. While you should be able to get any of the stains or burnt food off the oven this way, you can repeat it multiple times for tougher messes. Let the cleaner sit for a minute or two, but not so long that it dries out completely.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Scrub
Just like grandma always says, the best way to clean a mess is with a little “elbow grease”. Sometimes food or other material can get burnt onto the sides of an oven, and there is no better way to get it off than by scrubbing with consistent and firm pressure. Use a thick cleaning rag for optimal results. It may seem like a lot of work, but it will pay off in the end when you have a clean oven that is ready to be put to use.
5. Removable Racks Are Fantastic
Work smarter, not harder by removing any racks from the oven before cleaning. It’s much easier to reach the back of the oven without racks in the way, so as long as your oven racks can be removed you should take them out. Once you have removed the racks, you can scrub them in the sink with some steel wool to remove any baked-on residue. You may be surprised how nice and shiny they can be with a little bit of effort! Don’t forget to dry the racks completely before putting them back into the oven.
6. Use The Cleaning Feature If You Have It
Many ovens come with a self-cleaning mode, which blasts the oven with heat to sterilize and clean the inside. This mode can often burn off any leftover food, making it easier to scrub out sticky or greasy residue. Be very careful if you choose to use this feature of your oven, as it will get very hot in a short time. Let the oven cool completely before attempting to work on scrubbing the interior. While the self-cleaning features of modern ovens are very nice, they should be used in tandem with hand-cleaning techniques for the best effect.
8. Let Your Oven Air Dry
After you have scrubbed the inside of your oven thoroughly, leave the oven door cracked and allow air to circulate until it is completely dry. This will help ensure that no scent from the cleaning solution will remain when you go to bake something next. It’ll also help to prevent water from pooling at the bottom of the oven, which can form mold or mildew if left to sit over a long period. As a bonus, leaving the oven door open lets you show off your nice, clean oven.
