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Why Should You Clean Your Oven?
Thanksgiving. Christmas. Super Bowl Sunday. Easter. These days all have one thing in common: they’re reasons to cook big meals. The cooking process usually begins with preheating the oven, the workhorse of the kitchen. Minutes after you’ve turned the oven on, it begins to smoke. Then it hits you — you haven’t cleaned the oven in a while.
Cleaning an oven is one of the most overlooked chores in the home. However, we continue to cook meal after meal in the oven without realizing the consequences of cooking in a dirty oven. A build-up of food residue can leave your food with an unpleasant taste, become a fire hazard and more.
A clean oven isn’t just about looking good. Keeping the oven clean has a number of benefits, including:
- Preventing smoke
- Preventing the buildup of grease which could lead to a fire
- Making food taste better
- Retaining heat efficiently
- Improving cooking efficiency
- Extending the lifespan of the oven
- Preventing food contamination
If you’re unsure of how to deep clean an oven, keep reading below for steps of several different cleaning processes.
It’s not recommended that you remove the knobs for cleaning. The knobs are directly connected to your oven’s control system. If liquid comes in contact with the control system, you risk being shocked.
Self-Cleaning Ovens and Oven-Cleaning Tips
There are several ways to clean your oven. Self-cleaning ovens have traditionally used high temperatures to burn and release food residue, but many newer models now have a steam-clean option instead, which is often quicker and requires less power. A third option is to clean your oven manually. How you approach cleaning your oven will depend on a variety of factors, including your oven’s features, the amount of buildup, how much time want to dedicate to the process, whether you want to use a chemical cleaner and how much scrubbing you’re willing to do.
Below, you’ll find steps and tips for a variety of cleaning methods. It’s also important to check your oven’s instruction manual for product-specific advice, important safeguards and additional warnings.
How Do I Use the Self-Cleaning Function on My Oven?
Your oven’s manual will have instructions on how to operate this feature, which uses extremely high heat to burn off debris. These steps are general descriptions of how self-cleaning ovens work and include tips for getting the best results.
Instructions
How to Clean Using an Oven-Cleaning Product
Your oven-cleaning product will include specific instructions you should follow, but these are the typical steps to clean an oven using an oven cleaner.
Wear eye protection and gloves when working with oven-cleaning chemicals.
Cleaning the Oven Using an Oven-Cleaning Product
How to Clean Using the Baking Soda and Vinegar Method
Here’s a DIY oven cleaner hack that doesn’t involve harsh chemicals.
Cleaning the Oven Using the Baking Soda and Vinegar Method
Keeping Your Oven Clean Inside and Out
If you frequently use your oven or prepare messy foods, you’ll probably need to clean your appliance at least once every few months. If you don’t use your oven frequently, you may only need to do a thorough cleaning once or twice a year. Either way, it’s important to keep food debris, grease and grime to a minimum. This will improve your kitchen’s overall cleanliness and help reduce the risk of a fire.
How you clean the outside of your oven will depend on its finish. Glass cleaners or a vinegar-water mixture can work in some instances. You can also find specific cleaning products for stainless steel. Use a microfiber cloth to avoid scratches.
If you take care of spills and splatters as they occur, you can spare yourself from having to tackle tough, baked-on messes.
Oven Maintenance and Cleaning Tips
Proper maintenance and upkeep of your oven will help give it a long lifespan. One of the best tips on oven maintenance is to clean it regularly. Set a schedule to give your oven a quick once-over every week and set a reminder to deep clean the oven once every three months. Other maintenance and cleaning tips include:
- If you have the self-cleaning setting on your oven, don’t be afraid to use it. It’s a great tool in your oven cleaning arsenal.
- Clean up messes when they occur. Spills, splashes and leaks are going to happen but don’t let them become a baked-on mess. Wait until the oven cools before you try to clean up any spills.
- To help fight messes in the oven, put a large baking sheet under the cooking dish to catch any spills or leaks. This helps reduce the mess and makes it easier for you when it’s time to clean the oven.
- Use pans with high sides to prevent splatters on the walls of the oven.
- Don’t forget about spills on the racks. Clean those messes up as soon as you can.
- Show your oven some love. Don’t use harsh or abrasive cleaners on the cooktop or inside the oven.
- Regularly inspect the gas line and coils. Look for signs that any parts need to be replaced by a professional.
- Clean the areas behind and underneath the oven. Food debris may restrict the air flow or invite rodents.
- If you have a range hood, keep the filter clean. Trapped food and other debris makes it difficult for the filter to do its job.
- Inspect the door seals and ensure that they’re tight. Look for any damage, wear or gaps. An Improper or loose-fitting seal will allow heat loss.
- Calibrate the accuracy of your oven’s thermostat with an oven thermometer. For more on calibrating, read the oven manufacturer’s instructions or contact a professional.
Signs That It’s Time to Deep Clean an Oven
Whether you use your oven a little or a lot, there are signs that tell you it’s time for a cleaning.
- It begins to smoke when you turn it on.
- Your food tastes off.
- There are lingering odors in the kitchen.
- It’s difficult for you to see your food through the oven door.
- You see food particles on the walls or floor of the oven.
- It takes longer for the oven to preheat.
- The oven is losing heat.
- You can’t remember the last time you cleaned it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning an Oven
What’s the Best Way to Clean the Inside of an Oven?
The best way to clean an oven is to first see if your oven has a self-cleaning feature. If it doesn’t, clean it with a store-bought oven cleaner, or make a baking soda and vinegar mixture and use it.
Before using a store-bought cleaner, make sure it can be used with your oven. Check the manufacturer’s instruction manual for more information on how to clean an oven interior without damaging the surfaces.
How Often Should the Oven Be Cleaned?
Many oven manufacturers recommend that your oven should be cleaned at least once every three to six months. However, if you use the oven frequently or if you tend to cook food uncovered, you may want to clean it more regularly than that. Cleaning means addressing the racks, as well.
There are three different ways to clean an oven: self-cleaning, steam cleaning and manually cleaning. With an oven that self-cleans or steam cleans, the bulk of the work is done for you, so calendaring a deep cleaning for every three months will remind you to clean it at regular intervals.
What’s the Easiest Way to Clean a Really Dirty Oven?
The easiest way is to clean a really dirty oven is to take advantage of the self-cleaning feature, if your oven has it. It’s a real time-saver. If your oven doesn’t have a self-cleaning feature, use a store-bought cleaner. Before using a store-bought cleaner, make sure it can be used with your oven. Check the manufacturer’s instruction manual for more information.
What’s the Best Way to Clean an Oven Safely?
It’s important to stay safe during an oven cleaning. Always wear gloves. When using a store-bought cleaner, make sure the space is well ventilated. Open windows and doors to allow the fumes to drift outside. If possible, use a fan to help with blowing the fumes outside.
Will Vinegar and Dishwashing Liquid Clean an Oven?
While using a few drops of dishwashing liquid and warm water works for easier cleans, cleaning the oven with vinegar, using the vinegar and baking soda method of cleaning (outlined above) is the best use of both the dishwashing liquid and the vinegar.
How Do You Clean an Oven with Lemons?
Follow these steps to clean an oven using lemons and water:
- Cut several lemons into pieces and place them in an oven-safe dish. Cover the lemons with water but leave enough space so the dish doesn’t boil over when heated.
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees and place the dish in the center of the oven. Once the lemon water is heated, allow it to steam inside the oven for approximately 20 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the interior cool down.
- Once the oven interior is safe to touch, use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe down the interior. You should also do the same to any oven racks or components.
- Use another clean damp cloth to wipe away any lemon residue from inside the oven and allow it to dry completely.
Do Self-Cleaning Ovens Really Work?
Self-cleaning ovens can loosen baked-on food debris stuck to their interior surfaces, and they’re the best option if you’re wondering how to clean an oven without scrubbing. These types of ovens can also greatly reduce or eliminate the need for chemical cleaners.
Is It Safe to Be Around a Self-Cleaning Oven?
It’s important to follow any safety guidelines in your oven’s manual. The high heat during the cleaning process can release fumes, so it’s best to provide adequate ventilation and to keep pets and anyone with respiratory difficulties away. Also, the oven’s exterior will get hot, so keep children and pets at a distance.
How Long Does the Self-Clean Option on an Oven Take?
Many oven models allow you to adjust the length of time for the self-clean function. Typically, the cycle will run for a few hours.