If you just typed “how to clean my oven” in your Google search bar, you’re not the only one. Cleaning the oven can seem like a daunting task, especially if it’s not a common or regular chore. Despite how grueling it may seem, this particular oven cleaning tutorial is simple, effective, and guaranteed to get the job done.
Full disclosure, we hadn’t cleaned our oven in well over a year and half, meaning that we had quite the mess on our hands. Left over food and gunk had built up, and I had my work cut out for me. Fortunately this method made the job easier, and I achieved a clean oven without the use of harmful chemicals from cleaning solutions.
To clean your oven, you will need the following supplies:
- Lemons (two or three)
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Abrasive sponge
- Tool to scrape with (I used a spatula)
- Spray bottle with water
- Pot of boiling water
Here’s how to clean your kitchen oven in a few easy steps:
First, slice up your lemons and place them in a pot full of water. Place it on your stove, set to “high” and let it come to a full rolling boil. This will serve as a source for steam inside the oven to loosen gunk and grease.
While you’re waiting for the water to boil, open the oven (cold) and take out the racks. Place them in your kitchen sink, where you will clean them later.
Next, wipe out any debris from the bottom of the oven. If you need to loosen crumbs, take a spray bottle full of water and spray the oven before wiping away with sponge.
Optional step: if you want to prolong the amount of time the oven has to steam, go ahead preheat the oven to about 250 degrees so that the water will continue to boil after taking it off the eye.
After the water has come to a full rolling boil, carefully take the pot off the eye, place it in the bottom of the oven, and close the oven door. Use oven mitts for safety! Let the boiling water sit in the oven so that steam and condensation builds up.
While you’re waiting for the steam to build up, go ahead and clean your oven racks. To do this, place them in your sink and heat up the water coming out of the faucet. Rinse the racks with hot water to help loosen gunk. Using a little dish soap and a brush or abrasive sponge, scrub away any gunk or trash. As you rinse with the hot water, this should help remove trash. After you’re done, set aside to dry.
When you’re satisfied with how long the steam has sat in the oven, open the oven and remove the pot. If you preheated the oven, turn the oven off and allow to cool before you remove the pot.
Next, mix about 1/2 a cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of vinegar. This mixture will form a bit of a paste. Dip your sponge into the paste, and smear it onto the oven. Let this sit for about 10-15 minutes. As it dries, it will turn into a white powdery film.
Finally, taking your sponge, scrub away the remaining gunk and particles. If you have trouble with some spots, use a spatula to scrape away trash.
And there you have it! Your oven will be clean and ready to go.
How often should I clean my oven?
Don’t be like me and wait forever to clean your oven. The best amount of time to go between cleanings is no more than three months. The less time you go between cleanings, the easier it will be and less time it will take!
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