Literally, cleaning the oven stinks. It’s time consuming and commercial oven cleaners are toxic. You also don’t want to scrub stubborn stains and years of buildup with weak cleaners. When I switched from conventional cleaners to natural detergents, finding a way to clean my oven was at the top of my list.
Since I don’t have a self-cleaning oven (which may be a good thing), I had to find an easy, non-toxic way to clean it. Learn how to clean your oven from top to bottom using a DIY cleaner. We’ll also add cleaning tips for those who want to make it even faster and easier.
How to clean the oven the natural way
If you’re like me, you sometimes (and in my case often) find your food burnt in the oven. Additionally, there are splatters on the sides, stubborn stains, and oil stains on the oven door glass.
My oven doesn’t have a self-cleaning feature like some ovens. Having to spend an hour wiping the oven with old-fashioned elbow grease while sticking half my body into dirty kitchen appliances didn’t seem appealing either.
Self-cleaning options are one way to solve this problem, but I’ve read that high heat self-cleaning can burn out the element faster. Ovens reach around 900 degrees Fahrenheit during the self-cleaning cycle, and the high temperatures can cause other problems. Ovens remove toxic carbon monoxide when they self-clean, but the amount is unknown. Enough for experts to recommend ventilating the room or leaving the house during that time.
Another option is to steam clean with warm water. The idea is that using hot water will soften the dirt and allow it to be wiped off. This works well for small stains, but requires a lot of scrubbing and cleaning.
So, for now, my oven is self-cleaning itself!
Natural Oven Cleaner: How to Attack
It’s easy to ignore a dirty oven. Just close the oven door and pretend there’s no oven there (unlike the sink with dirty dishes…well). Eventually, all baked food will lead to a smoky oven. I looked at the store’s heavy duty oven cleaning products and was not impressed. They promised an easy mess, but at the cost of lung-burning toxins. You don’t want it around your oven or food.
Thankfully, there are several ways to clean your oven without using harsh chemicals or scrubbing. I tried several natural options before finding a great oven cleaner, baking soda.
How to clean the oven
Cleaning your oven is fairly easy if you have the right cleaner on hand. There are a few steps you can take to perform a thorough cleaning session from top to bottom. Here’s how:
clean oven rack
When cleaning your oven, don’t forget about your oven racks. If it’s not too bad, spray it with a cleaning solution and wipe with a damp cloth (more on my favorite cleaners below). If it’s really dirty, soak it in a bathtub of hot water with dish detergent overnight. After soaking, wash using homemade polish and dish detergent.
clean the outside door
Burnt oil and food builds up on the inside of the oven door, but it also gets dirty on the outside. It is important not to use harsh cleaners, scrubs, steel wool or other abrasives on the outside. These can damage the surface and cause scuffs and scratches.
Soapy water and a damp cloth work well. If your oven is stainless steel, a non-toxic stainless steel cleaner or diluted vinegar is a good choice. Homemade glass cleaner is also effective on the outside of most ovens.
cleaning the stove
Next to the oven, this might be the place I like to clean the least. First, make sure the stovetop surface is cool. It also helps to wipe up stains and spills with vinegar immediately after they occur. Sometimes it’s difficult because you have young children and a million things to juggle.
If you have a flat-top glass electric stove, special treatment is required. Gentle methods, such as dissolving a small amount of dish soap in warm water, are effective. For stubborn stains, use a plastic scraper (an old credit card will also work). Try soaking a cloth in diluted vinegar and letting it sit on the stuck-on food for a few hours. This will soften the stain and make it easier to wipe away. Some sources recommend making a paste of water and baking soda on a soft cloth to clean glass stovetops. If you have a gas range, first soak the burners and grates in soapy water in the sink. If you have uncoated cast iron grates, don’t soak them as they can rust. If you have an older style electric stove, also remove and soak the drip pan underneath the burner coil. Next, thoroughly wipe down the stovetop with soapy water or an all-purpose cleaner. If you are using soap, follow with vinegar to remove any soap residue. For stuck areas, try the wet cloth method above. Scrub the coated grates in the sink with baking soda or soapy water.
How to clean inside the oven
First, remove all cookware and racks from the oven. I’ve found two different cleaners for the inside of the oven that are very effective.
How to clean your oven with baking soda
Although it seems like a simple solution, baking soda paste is a quick and easy way to remove oven stains. Baking soda makes the arduous task of cleaning your oven a little easier. That’s all you need (really!):
supplies
Spray bottle with baking soda water
To get a sparkling clean oven, simply dampen the oven with a spray bottle of water. Next, sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda on the bottom of the oven. You can also make a paste with baking soda and water and use a soft brush or cloth to apply it to the bottom and sides of your oven. Be careful not to come into contact with heating elements.
We’ll walk you through the process step by step.
Directions: Spray the inside of the oven with water and make sure it is evenly moistened. Pour about a 1/4-inch layer of baking soda into the bottom of the oven. If you find any dry patches, mist them with a water bottle until it becomes a paste. Alternatively, mix baking soda and water in a bowl to create a loose paste. Spread this mixture on the bottom and sides of the oven. Leave the paste for several hours, preferably overnight. Keep the oven turned off unless you want to see some amateur special effects. This is not recommended. Wipe the paste off with a cloth or old towel. All dirt will come with it! For truly baked-in stains, several applications may be required.
Note: It is important to ensure that any residue is completely removed before using the oven. If leftover baking soda comes into contact with a heating element, it may emit smoke.
Some people suggest spraying your oven with white vinegar or lemon juice as a final step to make cleaning your oven easier. However, I usually don’t think this is necessary.
Option 2: Branch basics
The baking soda method was one of my first discoveries as a natural cleaning method, but I’ve since found other methods that I like even more.
It’s called “Branch Basics” and beware…I’m going to gush a ton of stuff as I get hooked on their products. I had heard about these cleaners for a long time before trying them (I was skeptical if they were). I like frugal homemade cleaners, but I didn’t find them to be as good as others said they were. Branch Basics is a concentrated cleaning product that can be used for almost any purpose.
As it turns out, it’s not that good…it’s actually better! I think it’s stupid to wait so long to try it.
The story is as follows.
big oven explosion
It all started when I had to cook for a large group and there were a bunch of potatoes in the oven. Because I was in a hurry, I forgot to prick them with a fork and some of the potatoes ended up exploding. Of course, all the sweet potatoes shed sticky mess onto the racks and bottom of the oven.
It was a smoky, terrible mess. It also sucked because this was right before company was coming for Thanksgiving and I needed a fully functioning oven as soon as possible. The baking soda method doesn’t work because it takes several hours, if not overnight, to be effective.
I decided to put the new Branch Basics to the test…I figured if I could clean the oven, I could do anything!
Big reveal…
I made a concentrated mixture of Brunch Basics Concentrate and sprayed it in the oven. I watched in amazement as the cooked junk melted from the sides and bottom. A quick wipe down with a brush and microfiber cloth and it looked like a new oven. It definitely beats the baking soda method.
The DIY diva gives up…
Then you better believe I bought a 5-gallon bucket of concentrate that will last for years.
If, like me, you use things that make cleaning a little easier and more fun, Branch Basics is offering a discount to Wellness Mama readers. Get 15% off your starter kit for first-time customers when you use the code WELLNESSMAMA at this link.
To be honest, I don’t pull out my DIY cleaners as much anymore because I have access to natural, ready-made products. Who doesn’t need a little shortcut every now and then? Additionally, Branch Basics was started by a mother who needed a natural and safe cleaning solution. (Sound familiar!) Listen to the story on this Wellness Mama Podcast.
How can you clean your oven without harsh chemicals? Have you found a natural oven cleaner that works for you? Share your tips below.
