Info Hub: Kitchen

GUIDE TO EASILY CLEANING YOUR OVEN

Deep cleaning your oven is a must to remove all the grime and residue that builds up after each use. 

People often clean their kitchens by loading their dishwasher and scrubbing the sink, cooktop and countertops. These are all important tasks but you don’t want to neglect your oven—one of your most relied upon appliances.

Cleaning your oven is usually considered to be a chore and is often set aside for a later date. Over time, a dirty oven may result in the appliance not looking its best and also cause food to char or smoke in your kitchen or the food you’re cooking in the oven to smell or taste bad. 

This article explores how to clean the inside and outside of an oven in a relatively easy way that won’t take too much time.

Someone cleans the door of a Maytag Oven next to the window with a blue dish cloth.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR OVEN: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

This comprehensive guide is designed to introduce you to the steps most take to effectively clean every part of an oven, including the exterior, interior, racks and glass door. These simple steps can help you achieve a clean appliance in relatively little time.

It’s important to note that cleaning experts warn against using chemical oven cleaners. These products may contain harsh chemicals and release fumes that may linger inside your oven.

STEP 1: CLEAN THE OVEN RACKS

The first step to cleaning your oven is to remove the racks and set them aside for the time being. During this time, let the racks soak in soapy water to remove burned-on grime and grease.

Someone rinses an oven rack under running water in a sink. Next to the faucet is soap on a soap dish.

You’ll need these tools and supplies:

TOOLS

  • Old towels 
  • A rag or dishcloth
  • A cleaning brush with stiff bristles

SUPPLIES

  • Water 
  • Dish soap or laundry detergent

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO CLEAN YOUR OVEN RACKS

  1. Slide out the oven racks to remove them.
  2. Place the oven racks in a large tub like a large basin, utility sink or bathtub. If using your bathtub, line it with old towels so it doesn’t get scratched.
  3. Wherever you soak the racks, fill it with enough hot water to submerge them.
  4. Add ½ cup of mild dish soap or ¾ to 1 cup of laundry detergent.
  5. Leave the racks soaking for a minimum of two hours. If the racks are especially dirty, consider soaking them overnight.
  6. Once you’ve soaked the racks, take a cleaning brush and rag and scrub and wipe them until they are clean.
  7. Rinse your oven racks to remove all soap or detergent and any remaining grease and grime.
  8. Thoroughly dry the racks with soft cloth towels. Make sure the racks are completely dry or otherwise they could experience rust or corrosion. 
  9. Return the racks to the oven once they are dry and the inside of the oven is clean.

STEP 2: CLEAN THE INSIDE OF YOUR OVEN

With the oven racks removed, start cleaning the oven’s interior with supplies that most have on hand. How long this takes depends on the state of your oven. If your oven is fairly clean, this step should be relatively quick.

Someone wipes down the bottom of a Maytag Oven's interior with a blue microfiber cloth. The racks have been removed from the oven.

You’ll need these tools and supplies:

TOOLS

  • A spray bottle
  • Cleaning gloves 
  • A dishcloth or rag
  • A plastic scraper
  • A flexible spatula or brush

SUPPLIES

  • Water
  • Baking soda 
  • Lemon juice or white vinegar

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF YOUR OVEN

  1. Before starting, you must ensure that your oven is empty and cool. You need to remove every pot, baking sheet and any accessory in addition to the oven racks.
  2. Lay down a plastic trash bag or towels under your oven door. This will help ensure that nothing drips onto your floor.
  3. Add baking soda to a bowl along with enough water to form a paste that’s spreadable but not too thin.
  4. Use a flexible silicone spatula or brush to evenly spread the paste to coat the sides, the bottom and the door. Avoid spreading the baking soda on a glass door for now. 
  5. Let the paste rest for at least 20 minutes. If you consider your oven to be more dirty, you can let the paste rest overnight.
  6. Once you’re ready to remove the paste, spray it with white vinegar or lemon juice and immediately wipe off the paste with a damp dishcloth or rag. If you encounter any stubborn spots, try removing them with a plastic scraper.
  7. Once again, spray each surface with lemon juice or white vinegar and then wipe down the cavity with a damp cloth. Repeat this step until all the baking soda is gone.

If your range is equipped with self-cleaning capabilities, cleaning its inside should be quicker and only involve minimal labour. 

STEP 3: CLEAN THE GLASS OVEN DOOR

Cleaning the inside of a glass oven door is a similar process to cleaning an oven’s interior with a few exceptions.

The top corner of a door on a Maytag Oven.

You’ll need these tools and supplies:

TOOLS

  • A spray bottle
  • Cleaning gloves 
  • A plastic scraper
  • A flexible spatula or brush
  • A dishcloth or rag

SUPPLIES

  • Water
  • Baking soda 
  • Lemon juice or white vinegar

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO CLEAN A GLASS OVEN DOOR

  1. Lay towels or a plastic trash bag under your oven door to avoid anything dripping onto the floor.
  2. Combine water and baking soda to create a spreadable paste. 
  3. Using a flexible silicone spatula or brush, evenly spread the paste onto the glass. 
  4. Allow the paste to rest on the glass for at least 20 minutes. If you feel that the glass is especially grimy, you can let the paste sit for longer. 
  5. Once the paste is ready to be removed, scrub it in a circular motion with a damp cloth. The goal is to wipe away all the grime. If some stubborn spots persist, use a plastic scraper to remove them. Once complete, wipe up the paste and rinse your cloth. 
  6. Spray the remaining baking soda on top of the glass surface with lemon juice or white vinegar and then wipe with a damp cloth. Repeat this step until all the baking soda has been removed. If you want a more thorough cleaning, including between the door glass, review this guide to cleaning an oven window.
  7. Spray one more time with lemon juice or vinegar. Then, use a soft cloth to dry the area. 
  8. Shut the oven door and then spray the outside of the window with glass cleaner or vinegar. Wipe the area clean with a soft cloth. 
  9. If your oven door’s exterior is stainless steel, it’s recommended to only use a specialized stainless steel cleaner on these areas.

Cleaning an oven's glass door is key to ensuring your appliance looks its best inside and out. Remember, this task may need to be done before using a self-cleaning cycle.

STEP 4: CLEAN THE STOVETOP

Follow these steps to effectively and efficiently clean a glass stovetop. If you have a stainless steel stovetop, review this guide to cleaning stainless steel cooktops before starting.

Someone wipes down a Maytag Induction Cooktop with a blue microfiber cloth. The time on the oven's display reads, '12:07'. On the counter next to the oven ae oil bottles, cleaner, two sponges and a mortar and pestle.

You’ll need these tools and supplies:

TOOLS

  • Dishcloth or rag
  • Spray bottle
  • Plastic scraper
  • Soft plastic scrubber

SUPPLIES

  • White vinegar

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO CLEAN A STOVETOP

  1. Remove any food residue using a plastic scraper. 
  2. Spray the cooktop with an affresh® cooktop cleaner1 or white vinegar. 
  3. Loosen stubborn messes, stains or spots with a soft plastic scrubber. 
  4. Use a damp cloth to remove the cleaner. 
  5. Thoroughly rinse until all of the cleaner has been removed.

Understanding the steps to cleaning your oven is an important aspect of maintaining your appliance. Doing it correctly will help ensure your oven is always ready to use.

Using a rag, someone pulls out a rack from a Maytag Oven. On the rack is a muffin tray.

HOW TO REMOVE BURNT MESSES FROM THE BOTTOM OF AN OVEN

To remove burnt messes from the bottom of an oven, scrub the area with a soft plastic scrubber. If the mess remains, create and apply a paste made of baking soda and water and let it sit for between 12 and 24 hours. Once it has sat for long enough, wet the area and scrub it off. 

You can also use the self-cleaning option to help remove burnt stuff from the bottom of the oven. If your oven isn’t equipped with this feature or you don’t want to use it, the baking soda method can be a safe and effective alternative.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR OVEN WITHOUT OVEN CLEANER

It is possible to clean your oven without using an oven cleaner. A strong alternative is to create a paste made of water and baking soda. This works as the water softens baked-on messes while baking soda acts as the abrasive element to scrub it away.

To make this paste, which should have a thin consistency, combine 3 tablespoons of water and ½ cup of baking soda. Make sure the oven cavity is cool and empty and then spread it throughout the area. Gauge the level of soil before deciding how long to let it rest. For lightly soiled ovens, you may only need 20 minutes whereas for heavily soiled ovens, you may need to leave it overnight. Remove the paste by spraying lemon juice or white vinegar and then wipe with a damp cloth. Lastly, you can use a plastic scraper to attack stubborn spots.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD AN OVEN BE CLEANED?

It’s recommended to clean your oven every three to six months or more frequently if spills and messes happen. Keeping your appliances clean is important to their overall maintenance and the cleanliness and safety of your kitchen. 

Read this article for more information on how often to clean your oven.

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