Cleaning an oven is one of those household chores we all tend to avoid. The self-cleaner feature stinks up your kitchen with fumes, while harsh chemicals can be toxic for your health.

The holiday season is in full swing. From the Thanksgiving turkey to pumpkin pies, crisps, cookies, and casseroles, it’s also the season for using your kitchen’s oven more than ever. With so much going on, it’s easy to skip the long and grimy process of oven cleaning in favor of other more pressing tasks. But with the right supplies, it may be easier than you think. In this article, we take a look at steps for how to deep clean an oven using all-natural DIY oven cleaner recipes. The ingredients are simple, safe, and work as powerful cleaning agents without the skin and lung irritation of chemical cleaners.

Tips Before You Get Started

There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to cleaning an oven. While a quick wipe-down with some diluted vinegar of the interior surfaces works in a pinch, it’s important to do a more detailed scrub every few months. This helps to get rid of odors, bacteria, and stubborn food residue buildup. And while a little elbow grease helps cleaning, don’t use products or abrasives (like steel wool) that can scratch and damage your oven’s interior. As for safety precautions, never clean your oven while it’s on or if it’s still warm from use. Avoid applying cleaning products or water directly to the heating element and any electrical components that could be damaged by liquids.

How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?

How often you clean your oven depends on how frequently you use it. On average, it’s a good idea to do a basic clean every three to four months, whether you use a DIY oven cleaner or any other method. For more frequent bakers, as often as once every one to two months. If you notice a smell of burning food when the oven’s in use, that’s also a good sign it’s time to break out your cleaners and gloves. Once or twice a year, give your oven the love it deserves with a thorough deep clean. This will take a little more time but helps remove layers of grease and grime, making your oven sparkle like new. This is also a good time to sweep up and sanitize behind the appliance. (And don’t forget to clean your stovetop!)

Cleaning an Oven With Baking Soda

This is a great starting place if you need a quick and dirty DIY oven cleaner with only a half-hour to spare. Looking for how to deep clean an oven? This recipe will work well too. Simply let the mixture sit longer on the oven’s interior surfaces!

Supplies:

• 3-4 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon table salt (pink salt works, so long as it's not too coarse)
• Protective gloves
• A small bowl
• An applicator such as a spatula or sponge
• Paper towels
• Non-abrasive towel or microfiber cloth

Directions:

Cleaning an oven with baking soda is surprisingly rewarding. Start by removing the racks from your oven. (You can clean those separately in the sink with a scrub brush and soap.)

1. Make your DIY oven cleaner by mixing together the water, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl. Add more water as needed until you have a consistent paste, similar to coarse frosting. The lightly abrasive, alkaline baking soda helps scrub away and break down stains and crusted food.
2. Once you have your mixture, apply the paste evenly to the interior of the oven, using a spatula or other smooth applicator like a sponge. You may want to wear gloves. Prioritize the dirty spots and make sure to avoid the heating element and any electrical components.
3. Close the oven and let the baking soda paste sit for about 20 minutes. Let it sit overnight if you’re looking to deep clean. 
4. Use a damp paper towel to wipe away the paste. You can also spray a little diluted white vinegar as you go for added cleaning power and help in lifting grime. Finish by using your microfiber cloth or towel to polish the clean surfaces. This is also a good time to wipe down the exterior of the oven door and handle. (Our multi-purpose cleaner is an excellent choice here!)

Cleaning an Oven With Vinegar & Baking Soda

Baking soda and vinegar are a natural cleaning dynamic duo, great for removing heavy grease stains and caked-on food. Has it been what seems like centuries since your oven was cleaned? Deep clean your oven with this vinegar, baking soda, and liquid dish soap mixture. Note that this will take more time (but will be well worth the effort).

Supplies:

• 1½ cups baking soda
• ¼ cup white vinegar
• ¼-½ cup liquid dish soap
• Sponge
• Non-abrasive towel or microfiber cloth
• Paper towels
• Small bowl
• Protective gloves

Directions:

1. Start by removing the racks from your oven. Again, you can clean these separately, or at least wipe them down with a damp paper towel for a quick spot-clean.
2. Mix together the baking soda, white vinegar, and dish soap to make a sudsy paste. As some liquid dish soaps are runnier than others, add it gradually to prevent your DIY oven cleaner from getting too soupy.
3. Apply your mixture to the interior of the oven in an even layer with a sponge, wearing gloves if needed. Avoid electrical components and the heating element. 
4. Close the oven and let it sit overnight for around 10 to 12 hours.
5. Use a damp paper towel to wipe away the baking soda and vinegar mixture. You may need to do this a few times until the cleaner’s residues are gone. End by giving a little polish to the oven’s surfaces, exterior door, and handles with a soft cloth! And voilà, your oven should be sparkly clean and odor-free like new.

Sustainable Household Cleaning With Public Goods

At Public Goods, we make having a healthy and eco-friendly home simple and affordable. We use plant-based ingredients and prioritize ethical, vegan-friendly processes in everything we do. Explore our household cleaners to tackle life’s spills and messes, and check out our blog for more kitchen tips and guides for peace of mind year-round.