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No matter how careful you are or what you’re baking and roasting, your oven is going to get dirty. Commercial oven cleaners can be toxic and smelly – and the good news is that natural homemade oven cleaners work just as well, smell better, and cost a lot less.
What you’ll need to get your entire oven sparkling clean:
Laundry detergent
An old towel
Liquid dishwashing soap
Baking soda
Lemon juice
Water
White vinegar
Spray bottle
Non-abrasive scrubbing sponge
An old toothbrush
Gloves
Paper towels
Lemon juice
Step 1: Remove the oven racks and soak
Remove the oven racks from the oven. Fill a large bucket or basin with very hot water and add a cup of laundry detergent to the water. Stir the mixture so all the laundry detergent dissolves.
Put the racks in the bucket and leave them to soak overnight.
Tip: If you do this in your bathtub or basin, place an old towel under the oven racks so they don’t scratch the surface.
Step 2: Soak up the grease
Sprinkle baking soda directly on to any greasy areas in the oven, to soak them up. Let this sit for a few minutes and then clean it up with an old towel or some paper towels.
Step 3: Give the oven a quick wipe with soapy water
Wipe down the inside of the oven with warm soapy water, to get all the surface dirt off. Make sure to clean the sponge often while you work.
Step 4: Make a scrubbing paste
Make a paste of baking soda and warm water – it needs to be fairly thick, like glue. You can add a few drops of lemon juice to give your oven a fresh scent.
Rub the paste along the inside walls and glass door of the oven. It doesn’t have to be very thick to work. You can use a glove or paper towel to apply the mixture.
If you want extra cleaning power for a very dirty oven, spray a little white vinegar over your paste.
Close the oven door and leave it to sit overnight. If you can’t wait that long, leave it for at least 4 hours to clean.
Step 5: Start scrubbing
Get out your non-abrasive scrubbing sponge and a bucket of warm water.
Start washing out the inside of your oven. Use the old toothbrush to reach areas where the sponge won’t go.
Step 6: Let a self-cleaning oven self clean
If you have a self-cleaning oven, now’s the time to let it run a self-cleaning cycle. Once done, leave it to cool down completely.
Never leave the oven on this cycle unless you are at home.
Step 7: Clean the oven racks
Those oven racks should be well-soaked by now. Give them a good scrub with your sponge and old toothbrush, to get them really clean.
Leave them out to dry.
Step 8: Wipe away any remaining cleaner
Use paper towels to wipe off any remaining cleaner inside the oven. Can you see it sparkling?
Step 9: Put the racks back in the oven
Put your shiny oven racks back into the oven and close the door, knowing it’s clean and fresh.
