How to Clean Your Oven Without Harsh Chemicals

What you need

• Baking soda (about half a cup to a cup)
• Water, and a spray bottle filled with plain water
• A small bowl and a spoon or spatula to spread the paste
• A plastic scraper or an old plastic card
• Non-scratch sponges and microfibre cloths
• Dish soap for the racks
• Rubber gloves and old towels

Before you start

1. Make sure the oven is off and completely cool.
2. Take everything out: the racks, any thermometer, pizza stone or baking tray.
3. Check your manual. Some ovens have special coatings or a steam-clean feature with its own instructions. Follow the manufacturer's guidance where it differs from this method.
4. Brush out loose crumbs and burnt bits with a dry cloth or a small brush.

The baking soda method, step by step

1. Make the paste. Mix about half a cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water until it is like a spreadable paste. Add a little more water or baking soda to get it right.
2. Spread it inside the oven. With gloves on, coat the bottom, sides and back walls. Put more on the brown, greasy spots. Keep it away from the heating elements, the fan and any gas openings.
3. Leave it overnight. Around 12 hours gives the paste time to soften the grease. It will turn brown as it works. This waiting time does most of the job.
4. Scrape it off. The next day, use the plastic scraper to lift the dried paste and grime. Wipe it out with a damp cloth.
5. Spray and wipe again. Mist the inside with plain water to loosen any leftover paste, then wipe. Repeat until there is no white residue left.
6. Do a final rinse. Wipe everything once more with a clean, damp cloth and dry with a towel.
7. Heat it briefly before cooking. Run the empty oven at a low temperature for a few minutes to dry it fully.

Cleaning the racks

1. Lay an old towel in the bathtub so the racks do not scratch it.
2. Fill the tub with hot water to cover the racks and add a good squirt of dish soap.
3. Soak them for a few hours or overnight.
4. Scrub with a non-scratch sponge or brush, paying attention to the corners where grease builds up.
5. Rinse well and dry before sliding them back in.

For racks that are badly stained, rub some of the baking soda paste on the worst spots before soaking. Rinse the tub afterwards.

Cleaning the oven door glass

The inside of the glass door gets a brown film that hides your cooking. Spread a thin layer of the baking soda paste on the glass, leave it for 20 to 30 minutes, then wipe it off with a damp microfibre cloth. Buff with a dry cloth. Use a plastic scraper held flat for stubborn spots, never a metal blade.

The glass on most oven doors is two panes with a gap between them. Grease and crumbs can drip into that gap, and getting inside usually means taking the door apart. Check your manual before trying; for many people it is easier to clean only the surfaces you can reach.

The steam method for light messes

If the oven only has light splatter, steam can be enough. Put an oven-safe dish of water on the bottom rack (a squeeze of lemon makes it smell nicer). Heat the oven to around 230°C (450°F) for 20 to 30 minutes, then turn it off and let it cool until it is warm but safe to touch. The steam softens the grime so it wipes off with a damp cloth. It works much like the lemon steam trick for a microwave.

About the self-clean cycle

Many ovens have a self-clean setting that burns residue at a very high temperature. It uses no cleaning products, but it can produce smoke and strong smells, and it takes a few hours. If you use it, follow the manual, open windows, run the range hood and keep pets, especially birds, out of the kitchen. Remove the racks first unless the manual says they can stay in. Many people find the baking soda method gentler and quieter.

Common mistakes

• Not waiting long enough. The paste needs hours, not minutes. Overnight is best.
• Scrubbing with steel wool. It scratches enamel and glass, and scratched surfaces get dirty faster.
• Leaving white residue behind. It can smoke the next time you cook. Keep wiping until the cloth comes away clean.
• Getting the elements wet. Spread and spray carefully around them.

Keep it clean for longer

• Catch drips. Put a baking tray on the rack below pies, casseroles and roasts. Do not lay foil on the oven floor, as it can damage some ovens; check the manual.
• Wipe spills once the oven cools. A fresh spill comes off in seconds. A week-old one needs the overnight method.
• Do a quick clean every month or two if you cook a lot, and a full clean before the holidays.

For the pans that come out of the oven looking worse than the oven itself, see how to clean burnt pots and pans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you clean an oven with baking soda?

Mix baking soda with a little water into a spreadable paste and coat the inside of a cold oven, avoiding the heating elements. Leave it overnight, then scrape it off with a plastic scraper, spray with plain water and wipe until no white residue is left.

How long should baking soda sit in the oven?

About 12 hours, or overnight, works best. The paste needs time to soften baked-on grease. A shorter wait leaves you scrubbing harder.

How do you clean oven racks without chemicals?

Lay an old towel in the bathtub, cover the racks with hot water and dish soap, and soak them for a few hours or overnight. Scrub with a non-scratch sponge, rinse well and dry before putting them back.

How do you clean the inside of the oven door glass?

Spread a thin layer of baking soda paste on the glass, leave it for 20 to 30 minutes, then wipe with a damp microfibre cloth and buff dry. Use a plastic scraper held flat for stubborn spots, never metal.

Is the self-clean cycle safe to use?

It uses very high heat instead of cleaning products. Follow your oven's manual, open windows, run the range hood and keep pets, especially birds, out of the kitchen while it runs.

Need your office or clinic cleaned this well? That is what Zusashi does every day in Markham.