How to Clean Your Oven
Make light(er) work of this heavyweight chore with a little help from the experts
Sarah Warwick
2 March 2018
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines and websites. A serial house revamper, I love great design, beautiful interiors and practical solutions.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines... More
Know your oven type
How you need to clean depends on the type of oven you have. If you’re not sure, check the handbook or look online for the version for your model.
“Enamel-lined ovens are the basic standard,” says Steve Corbett of CDA. “Cut down on cleaning by wiping the enamelled back and side surfaces and the inside of the glass door with a damp cloth every time you cook. You will need to use an oven cleaner for really stubborn stains.”
Alternatively, your oven may have catalytic liners. “These liners activate at higher temperatures and stains are burnt off,” says Corbett.
Pyrolytic ovens are self-cleaning, too, but tougher on food deposits than catalytic. “The cavity heats to a very high temperature (for safety reasons, the door locks) and spills are burnt off,” says Corbett. “It typically takes about an hour and a half. The oven unlocks when it’s safe and you can then just wipe away the waste.”
How you need to clean depends on the type of oven you have. If you’re not sure, check the handbook or look online for the version for your model.
“Enamel-lined ovens are the basic standard,” says Steve Corbett of CDA. “Cut down on cleaning by wiping the enamelled back and side surfaces and the inside of the glass door with a damp cloth every time you cook. You will need to use an oven cleaner for really stubborn stains.”
Alternatively, your oven may have catalytic liners. “These liners activate at higher temperatures and stains are burnt off,” says Corbett.
Pyrolytic ovens are self-cleaning, too, but tougher on food deposits than catalytic. “The cavity heats to a very high temperature (for safety reasons, the door locks) and spills are burnt off,” says Corbett. “It typically takes about an hour and a half. The oven unlocks when it’s safe and you can then just wipe away the waste.”
Prepare the ground
To keep the rest of the kitchen clean, and you safe, don’t start without taking the following precautions.
“Always put a dust sheet and plastic cover on the floor around the oven – a small tarpaulin is ideal,” says Steven Sykes, an Ovenclean specialist. “And always use rubber gloves – heavy-duty if possible.
“Never pass your hand near your face without making sure there’s no chance of any oven cleaner being on you,” he says. “If it’s a caustic product, you must ventilate the room thoroughly, and always follow the product instructions, especially timings. Exceeding the timings with caustic solution in your oven may lead to it corroding.”
11 steps to your most organised kitchen ever
To keep the rest of the kitchen clean, and you safe, don’t start without taking the following precautions.
“Always put a dust sheet and plastic cover on the floor around the oven – a small tarpaulin is ideal,” says Steven Sykes, an Ovenclean specialist. “And always use rubber gloves – heavy-duty if possible.
“Never pass your hand near your face without making sure there’s no chance of any oven cleaner being on you,” he says. “If it’s a caustic product, you must ventilate the room thoroughly, and always follow the product instructions, especially timings. Exceeding the timings with caustic solution in your oven may lead to it corroding.”
11 steps to your most organised kitchen ever
Remove the shelves, then get to work inside
Take the shelves out before you start on the cavity. This makes them easier to clean and is essential if it’s a pyrolytic oven, where the heat destroys the finish of chromed racks and shelf supports. Clean inside according to your oven type – don’t use oven cleaner on catalytic liners or the body of a self-clean oven.
For enamel-lined ovens, you may be able to use less elbow grease if you work on marks first. “Put an oven-proof bowl of water in the floor of the oven then run the oven at around 200°C for an hour to produce steam,” says Corbett.
“The steam will soften stains, making them easier to remove.”
If the oven doesn’t self-clean, work in a logical order. “If the grill element drops slightly, then clean the roof first followed by the sides and then the bottom to save any dirt falling on clean areas,” says Sykes. “Be careful if the grill element doesn’t drop – they’re very fragile.”
Take the shelves out before you start on the cavity. This makes them easier to clean and is essential if it’s a pyrolytic oven, where the heat destroys the finish of chromed racks and shelf supports. Clean inside according to your oven type – don’t use oven cleaner on catalytic liners or the body of a self-clean oven.
For enamel-lined ovens, you may be able to use less elbow grease if you work on marks first. “Put an oven-proof bowl of water in the floor of the oven then run the oven at around 200°C for an hour to produce steam,” says Corbett.
“The steam will soften stains, making them easier to remove.”
If the oven doesn’t self-clean, work in a logical order. “If the grill element drops slightly, then clean the roof first followed by the sides and then the bottom to save any dirt falling on clean areas,” says Sykes. “Be careful if the grill element doesn’t drop – they’re very fragile.”
Clean removable items separately
“The oven shelves, side racks and even extractor fan metal mesh filters can be placed in the dishwasher,” says Sykes.
Stains may still remain, so now’s the time for elbow grease. “You can carefully remove the rest with wire wool or with a shelf scrubber,” says Corbett.
How to clean your washing machine
“The oven shelves, side racks and even extractor fan metal mesh filters can be placed in the dishwasher,” says Sykes.
Stains may still remain, so now’s the time for elbow grease. “You can carefully remove the rest with wire wool or with a shelf scrubber,” says Corbett.
How to clean your washing machine
Finally, tackle the door and seals
Removable glass makes door cleaning easier – check in the handbook if you’re not sure whether this is an option for your oven.
“To remove burnt-on stains, spray the glass with oven cleaner, leave for the recommended time, then remove,” says Corbett.
“Use a scourer in a circular motion for really stubborn stains. An old toothbrush is handy for awkward corners and the door seals. Most useful and labour-saving of all is a hand-held steam cleaner, which will blast spills away from the gap between the door and the body of the oven and can also be used to clean glass and oven shelves. Look for one that comes with a good range of accessories.”
Tell us…
Do you have any household cleaning tips? Share them in the Comments section.
Removable glass makes door cleaning easier – check in the handbook if you’re not sure whether this is an option for your oven.
“To remove burnt-on stains, spray the glass with oven cleaner, leave for the recommended time, then remove,” says Corbett.
“Use a scourer in a circular motion for really stubborn stains. An old toothbrush is handy for awkward corners and the door seals. Most useful and labour-saving of all is a hand-held steam cleaner, which will blast spills away from the gap between the door and the body of the oven and can also be used to clean glass and oven shelves. Look for one that comes with a good range of accessories.”
Tell us…
Do you have any household cleaning tips? Share them in the Comments section.
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E D, it's a trade off, TBH. As tinarg does, if you don't use it too often (I try to do it every 3-6 months depending on usage) it's arguably the eco friendly choice, once you factor in the chemicals, plastics, transportation etc involved in bottles of oven cleaner. Of course, baking soda and elbow grease is even more eco friendly but, realistically, I won't do it, so I went for the lesser of two evils!
I’m not disrespecting those of you who clean your ovens, and in an ideal world I would keep mine spotless, using a combo of methods mentioned above, like clean it while warm, use bicarbonate paste, etc. However, I inherited a fine Stoves oven from the previous owners, who cooked a lot, with children, and I kept it when I redid the kitchen, for practical, economical and ecological reasons. I now reconcile myself to having a ‘slightly browned’ oven, and call it ‘workmanlike’.
This is one chore I absolutely hated doing! So, after calling in an Oven Cleaning Specialist to do it the last time (€45), I will never clean an oven ...myself ... ever ... again!