How to clean an oven – and the ONE thing you shouldn't do, according to Lynsey Queen of Clean

Let's be honest, cleaning the oven is nobody's favourite chore. If you've been putting off cleaning yours, it's safe to say that leaving it any longer is only going to make the job even harder than it already is. Nobody wants an oven caked in dirt, grease and unrecognisable remnants of food.

And as Polya Petrova, a kitchen cleaning professional at Fantastic Services says, 'Knowing how to clean an oven properly and doing so regularly can improve its efficiency, lower your electricity bill, increase its lifespan and even make your food taste better.'

So with that in mind, we're here to share our cleaning tips and the right approach to make it an easy, and dare we say it, satisfying, task. So roll up your sleeves and get your grimy oven clean quickly and effectively with a tried and tested oven cleaner. Here’s the best way to restore your oven to its former gleaming glory.

How to clean an oven with oven cleaner

What you'll need

Step-by-step

1. Start with the racks

Before you start working on how to clean an oven, make sure the oven itself is off and the inside is completely cool. Then arm yourself with a pair of rubber gloves.

Remove the racks for cleaning and using a specialist oven-cleaning kit, carefully coat the racks in gel, put them in the sealable plastic bags provided and set them to one side while you clean the rest of the oven.

2. Work on the oven cavity

Cover the floor in front of the oven with newspaper and 'start by scraping off as much as you can using an oven scraper, this is really satisfying and will come off in sheets of grim and grease,' says Lynsey Crombie, a.k.a. Lynsey Queen of Clean.

Coat the inside of the oven with the rest of the gel with a sponge, avoiding the heating elements and working into any hard-to-reach places with an old toothbrush. Unlike when cleaning an oven quickly, for this one you'll just have to leave to work for the recommended time stated on the cleaning kit.

3. Clean the oven door

The next crucial step is cleaning the oven glass door. If the door glass is removable, take it out and leave it to soak in hot soapy water. If not, one top tip is to use a combination of The Pink Stuff, available at Amazon and this dishwasher tablet trick.

Apply The Pink Stuff with a cloth, then rub it into the glass door with the dishwasher tablet. The grease and grime will disappear right before your eyes.

4. Don't forget the hob

While the oven cleaner is doing its work, give the hob a once-over. The exact method for how to clean an oven hob will depend on whether you are cleaning a gas hob or an induction hob.

Remove any burners and rings, washing in hot soapy water, then spray the hob with multi-surface cleaner and wipe with a soft cloth. Use a scourer to tackle stubborn, burnt-on bits.

5. Remember to rinse

Once you’ve given the oven cleaner time to work its magic, use a sponge and hot, soapy water to clean it off, rinsing and repeating until the oven is completely clean. Rinse the oven glass and replace in the door. Remove the racks from the plastic bags and rinse off in the sink or a bath, dry and replace.

Alternative ways to clean an oven

If you don't fancy going down the oven cleaner route and want to know how to clean an oven without chemicals, here are a few more sustainable and effective oven cleaning methods that you can use with kitchen cupboard staples rather than chemical solutions.

1. Baking soda

Knowing how to clean an oven with baking soda is not only an eco-friendly option but it's also surprisingly effective. It acts as a gentle abrasive, helping to break down stubborn grease and food residue without scratching the oven's surface.

'Baking soda is one of the most famous and effective eco kitchen cleaning hacks,' explains Polya Petrova, a kitchen cleaning professional at Fantastic Services.

'It not only helps neutralise foul odours, but it can be used to clean ovens, microwaves, and tile grout. It’s also inexpensive and universally available.'

As an alternative to traditional chemical oven cleaner, make your own by mixing half a cup of bicarbonate of soda with a little water or washing up liquid, per Lynsey Queen of Clean's recommendation, to form a thick paste.

Apply to the oven and after letting it sit for a few hours - or overnight for tougher spots - a quick scrub and rinse will leave your oven looking fresh and clean.

Lynsey Crombie, a.k.a. Lynsey Queen of Clean also adds that you shouldn't be fooled by mixing baking soda and vinegar. 'Alkaline and acid don't go together. A lot of people think because it fizzes, it cleans but this is just the release of carbon dioxide gas that doesn't last long and doesn't offer any cleaning power.'

2. Lemon

Cleaning an oven with lemon is a fail safe natural method because lemon contains natural citric acid, which works as a powerful degreaser and stain remover. The antibacterial properties of lemon also help to disinfect surfaces.

However, Polya Petrova, a kitchen cleaning professional at Fantastic Services adds: 'if it’s been too long since you last cleaned your oven, there’ll likely be a lot of grease and gunk on the inside. That’s when it’s best first to steam clean your oven with lemon, so all the dirt can be loosened and cleaned more easily. Fill a glass bowl with boiling water. Juice two lemons and add them to the bowl.'

'Place the mixture in the oven and allow for the lemon-infused steam to melt and loosen all the built-up grease and fat. After an hour, you’ll have a much easier time cleaning it. If you’re in a hurry, you can also use the lemon rub cleaning method. Cut 3 to 4 lemons in halves.'

'After you steam clean your oven, you can use the halves to give the inside surface an additional rub with citric acid. Leave it on for a while for a greater effect. You’ll be able to clean even the toughest caked-on spots and have the easiest time cleaning your oven.'

3. Steam clean your oven with vinegar

The acidic nature of vinegar works wonders on grease and burnt-on grime, effectively breaking it down without the need for harsh scrubbing or chemicals.

'All you need is a wide pot or a casserole dish, some water, and distilled white vinegar. Remove all the racks, clean them separately, and place one in the centre of the oven. Add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to the casserole, followed by enough water to fill it,' explains Polya Petrova, a kitchen cleaning professional at Fantastic Services.

'Place the casserole inside, close the door, and turn the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit/230 degrees Celsius. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes, depending on how dirty your oven is. Use a damp cloth or a sponge to wipe the interior clean. Use a scrubber pad and baking soda where necessary for any remaining stubborn spots. After that, remove the casserole, and let your oven cool off.'

FAQs

How do you clean a really dirty oven?

We asked Sophie Lane, Product Training Manager, Miele GB.

'For how to clean an oven that's really dirty, start by removing any loose debris or large food particles.'

'If your oven has a Pyrolytic self-cleaning programme, you can use this to burn off tough grease and stains. For ovens without this feature, use warm water and washing-up liquid to wipe down surfaces.'

'For stubborn soiling, you might need to apply a stronger oven cleaner to cold surfaces. If the grime is deeply baked on, a glass scraper or stainless-steel spiral pad can help, but be careful not to damage the surfaces. After cleaning, ensure that all cleaning agent residues are thoroughly wiped away with clean water, and dry the oven with a soft cloth.'

How often should you clean your oven?

Cleaning the oven shouldn't be a yearly chore. 'Leaving long gaps between your oven cleaning will make the job much harder and tedious,' explains Ivan Ivanov from EOT cleaning London. 'The key is to clean your oven little and often. Our team recommends wiping down your oven - at the very least - once a month.'

'If you have cooked something that has caused a mess in your oven, it’s a good idea to wipe down the appliance once it has cooled,' he suggests. 'Another sign of a dirty oven is a burning smell when it is turned on and pre-heating. In this case, it’s a good idea to wipe it down (when it’s cooled) to make it spick-and-span.'

How to keep your oven clean

If you really hate cleaning the oven, the best course of action to take steps to keep your oven clean for longer.

For example, when slow-cooking food, make sure you put a lid on or cover the dish with foil. Place any dishes that could drip food on a baking tray, so they won't drip on the oven.

You can also invest in oven liners that you can pick up easily at Lakeland or Amazon. Pop them in the bottom of the oven, then simply take out and rinse to clean.

'Something to also consider that will make the task of cleaning your oven less daunting is to tackle any spills immediately after you spot them,' says Olivia Young, Product Development Scientist at Astonish.

'This will reduce the need for a deep clean as often, making it a task that hopefully shouldn’t take you as long.'

What not to use to clean an oven?  

'Avoid using cleaning agents that contain soda, ammonia, acids, or chlorides, as these can damage the oven's surfaces,' explains Miele's Product Training Manager, Sophie Lane.

'You should also stay away from descaling agents, abrasive cleaners (like powder cleaners or scouring pads), solvent-based cleaners, and sharp metal scrapers, as they can scratch or degrade the oven’s interior.'

'Additionally, do not use glass cleaners, dishwasher cleaners, or cleaners meant for ceramic hobs.'