How to clean your oven

With the right tools and tips, cleaning your oven can be effortless
Matt KnightResearcher/writer
Cleaning an oven

Cleaning your oven may be one of those jobs that you put off for weeks, months, or even years, but, a clean oven will ensure your cooking environment is hygienic and you don’t get funny smells from burnt-on grease.

Here we answer some of the most commonly asked questions around oven cleaning and offer up tips and advice to help you keep yours gleaming.

Considering a brand new oven? See our guide to the best built-in ovens.

What products should I use to clean my oven?

Cleaning products

Because oven grease can be stubborn, a lot of commercial oven cleaning products contain powerful chemicals. These include ethylene glycol, ethers, methylene chloride, lye (sodium and potassium hydroxide), petroleum distillates and pine oil.

Oven cleaners can be corrosive to skin and eyes, so it’s vital that you follow the instructions on these cleaners to the letter, including wearing the correct protective gloves, eyewear and clothing, and ventilating your room while the oven cleaner is taking effect.

Take a look at our reviews of the best oven cleaners where we've pitted cleaners you can buy against home-made oven cleaners such as bicarbonate of soda.

Can I clean my oven with bicarbonate of soda?

If you’d rather go down the natural route, many people swear by everyday products such as bicarbonate of soda for oven cleaning.

You can make up a cleaning paste of equal parts bicarbonate of soda and water. Rub it onto any stubborn areas of grease or burnt-on food, then leave for a few hours before scrubbing off.

No matter what you use, you’ll need decent scrubbing brushes or sponges with scourers. An old toothbrush can help you get grease out of any nooks and crannies.

Don't use scourers on a glass oven door, though. These can introduce tiny scratches on the surface of the glass, which could leave it vulnerable to shattering in the future.

How do I clean the inside of my oven?

Cleaning equipment

The internal cavity of your oven is the area most likely to get greasy through continued use. Follow these steps to remove the worst of the grime:

  1. Switch off your oven at the mains and lay out newspaper on the floor to catch any debris.
  2. Use a dry brush to get rid of caked-on food and sweep them onto the newspaper.
  3. Spray the interior of the oven with your chosen cleaning product. Avoid spraying the fan or the gas supply elements and pilot light if it’s a gas oven. Leave the product on for the specified time.
  4. If you’re using a bicarbonate of soda paste, leave it on overnight, as it will need longer to work.
  5. Finally, wipe or sweep away the cleaning product and debris. Make sure you wear rubber gloves and don't let the products touch your skin.

If you have a double oven, or your main oven includes a grill, look out for the option of a folding grill. This means you can move the grill heating element aside and clean behind it.

Self cleaning ovens

Some ovens come with catalytic linings or a high-temperature pyrolytic function, and it’s definitely worth taking advantage of these to keep your oven clean.

  • Pyrolytic programs burn off dirt and grease at very high temperatures – around 500°C. All you need to do is sweep out the ash afterwards. These programs take between one and three hours, and for safety, the oven door will lock while the cycle is running. You will still need to clean the oven door and shelves by hand. Remember toremove the shelves before starting the pyrolytic cycle. If you leave them in, they will eventually discolour. If your oven has a pyrolytic function, you should use this about once a month.
  • Catalytic oven liners (rough surfaces inside the oven) catch, absorb and break down greasy spills, which are then burnt away when cooking at temperatures of more than 200°C. Ovens often only have liners on the sides, but you sometimes get them on the ceiling and back, too. This makes the oven easier to keep clean, but you will still need to wipe down the base, door and shelves in the traditional way.

To find a self-cleaning oven, visit our oven reviews and use the self-cleaning filters.

How do I clean a glass oven door?

A grimy glass oven door will stop you getting a clear view of your cooking. 

  1. Use a sponge or microfibre cleaning cloth to remove baked on foods. Don't use harsh scourers such as wire wool, which may introduce miniscule scratches onto the glass, and weaken it.
  2. You may be able to remove the glass part of the door for soaking, which will allow you to reach the area between the inner and outer pieces of glass that make up the door, where grease can also accumulate. Check your instruction manual for guidance on how to do this.
  3. Some chemical oven cleaners are suitable for use on glass, but don't use caustic-based oven cleaner, which will damage it. For a gentler approach, use warm, soapy water followed by a vinegar-based glass cleaner, which should leave it streak-free.
  4. After replacing the glass, wipe down the outside of the door and the control panels. This can be done with standard kitchen cleaner or warm, soapy water.

How do I clean oven racks?

Cleaning the interior of an oven

Oven racks are usually relatively straightforward to clean as you can easily remove and soak them.

You can buy special oven rack soaking kits. You place the racks inside large, re-sealable plastic bags, and then add specialist cleaning fluid. 

The fluid is extremely harsh and corrosive, so make sure you wear protective gloves and clothing when rinsing the racks.

Alternatively, you could soak the racks in a large washing up bowl, a bin bag or even the bath. Be aware that some cleaning products could be corrosive on enamel baths, so if you go down this route, choose natural ones.

Tips to keep your oven clean

Cleaning a glass oven door
  • Clean little and often Wipe down your oven at least once a month. If you’ve cooked something that you know has splattered everywhere (such as a roast or a bubbling casserole), you should wipe your oven down once it has cooled. If you notice a burning smell when your oven is preheating, it’s usually a sign that a previous cooking spill is gradually burning off, so it’s best to wipe it down (when cool) to reduce the risk of anything getting ‘cooked on’.
  • Cover messy foods If you’re slow-cooking food, cover it with a lid or foil to stop it bubbling and splattering into your oven.
  • Be ready for spills Place dishes on a baking tray rather than straight onto the oven racks so that if your lasagne does bubble over, it will drip onto the tray.
  • Consider a professional deep clean It's possible to hire a company to visit your home and clean your oven for you. Prices vary, but expect to pay from £40 upwards depending on whether you have a single or double oven, and whether the service also includes cleaning the hob and cooker hood. A good place to find a reputable professional service is at Which? Trusted Traders.

Find an oven that lasts with our guide to the most reliable built-in oven brands.