How to Clean an Oven With Vinegar
- Let steam soften the oven mess.Fill a two-quart or larger oven-proof bowl or baking dish with cool water and add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Place it on an oven rack and set the oven temperature to 450°F. Let it “bake” for 30 minutes, or 60 minutes if especially greasy. Turn off the oven and leave the door closed until the oven has cooled completely.
- Remove the racks for cleaning.Place the racks in a large, heavy-duty black plastic trash bag and spray them liberally with undiluted vinegar. Sprinkle on some baking soda, and when the foaming stops, add enough hot water to fully cover the racks. Close the bag with a twist tie and let them soak for at least one hour or overnight. You can also do this in the bathtub or a large plastic container.
- Wipe down the interior of the oven.Mix a 1:1 solution of vinegar and warm water. Dip a sponge or microfiber cloth in the solution and wipe down all the surfaces in the oven’s interior. Rinse your sponge often and change the vinegar solution midway through cleaning, if needed.
- Reassemble the oven.Remove the racks from the soaking water and wipe away any remaining grime with a sponge. Rinse with warm water, dry with a soft cloth, and put them back in the oven.
How to Remove Extra Stubborn Grease From an Oven
If you haven’t cleaned your oven regularly and there is burnt-on food and heavy, greasy buildup, it’s time to bring in the baking soda to help scrub the mess away.
- Steam cleans the oven.Use the vinegar and water steaming method to loosen grease and follow the same rack cleaning steps.
- Make a baking soda paste.Combine 1 cup of baking soda and two tablespoons of water in a small bowl. The paste should be thin and spreadable.
- Spread the paste over the entire oven interior.Do not cover any exposed heating elements. The paste is safe to use on both metal surfaces and glass oven doors. Close the oven door and allow the paste to work for at least an hour or overnight.
- To remove the grease and grime, use a sponge or microfiber cloth dipped in warm water. Rinse it out often as you work. To get rid of final traces of grease, mix a solution of one part water and one part distilled white vinegar in a bucket. Use a sponge or cloth to wipe away any remaining residue.
- Reassemble the oven racks.Don’t forget to wipe down the outside of your oven door to remove any spatters.
4 Other Household Items to Bust Grease on an Oven
While vinegar is a wonderful homemade solution, there are a few other things in your kitchen you can use to bust that oven grease.
Dishwashing Liquid
You can boost the grease-cutting strength of the baking soda paste by replacing one tablespoon of water with one tablespoon of a dishwashing liquid that contains a degreaser like Dawn.
Lemons and Salt
The citric acid in lemons will break the bond between grease molecules and oven surfaces.
Cut a lemon in half and dip the cut edge in salt or baking soda to provide some abrasive action. Scrub greasy surfaces with the lemon. Finish by wiping the grime away with a damp sponge or microfiber cloth.
Dishwasher Tablet
Use a damp dishwasher tablet (not a pod) to scrub away grease from the inside of your glass oven door without scratching. Run the tablet under some warm water to dampen and soften it. Don’t wet too much because it should still hold its shape.
Wear rubber gloves because the cleaning ingredients are harsh, and scrub the inside of the oven door. Wipe away the residue with a damp microfiber cloth, rinsing it often. Use a clean, dry cloth to dry the oven glass to prevent streaks and spotting.
Citric Acid Powder
If you don’t have lemons on hand, citric acid powder works equally well, and it is shelf-stable in the pantry.
Add 1 tablespoon of citric acid powder per 1 cup of hot water to a spray bottle. Shake well to mix. Spray the greasy oven surfaces and let the solution work for at least 30 minutes. Wipe away with a cloth dipped in warm water. Add some baking soda to scrub stuck-on food.