How to Clean an Oven? And What You Need to Know

Table of contents

1. How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?
2. What You'll Need to Clean an Oven
3. How to Clean an Oven with Baking Soda and Vinegar
4. How to Steam Clean an Oven
5. How to Use a Commercial Oven Cleaner
6. How to Clean Oven Racks
7. How to Clean Oven Glass
8. How to Clean a Hob
9. What About Self-Cleaning Ovens?
10. When to Call a Professional Oven Cleaner
11. Find Oven Cleaners Near You
12. FAQs: Oven Cleaning

If you know what you need, jump straight to the relevant section. If you're not sure which method suits your oven or how dirty it is, the first two sections will help you decide before you start.

How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?

The honest answer is: more often than most people manage. Grease and food residue build up with every use, and the longer they're left, the harder they become to remove.

As a rough guide:

• After spills: Wipe out any obvious spillage once the oven is cool - it takes two minutes and stops residue baking on further
• Light clean: Once a month for a household that cooks regularly
• Deep clean: Every three to six months, depending on usage

Letting grease accumulate doesn't just make cleaning harder. Carbon deposits from burning food affect heat distribution, which means your oven runs less efficiently and food cooks unevenly. If your oven smokes when preheating, it's overdue a clean.

What You'll Need to Clean an Oven

Before you start, it's worth getting everything together. The specific products vary depending on whether you're using the baking soda method, a commercial cleaner, or steam - but the basic kit is the same across all three, and having it to hand before you begin makes the job considerably less frustrating.

Tools and materials:

• Rubber gloves: the interior of a dirty oven is genuinely unpleasant to touch bare-handed, and essential if you're using commercial cleaner
• Damp cloths or microfibre cloths: several, for wiping out paste and residue
• A plastic or silicone spatula: useful for scraping stubborn patches without scratching the enamel
• A spray bottle: for the vinegar stage (baking soda method) or rinsing
• Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and white vinegar: for the natural method
• Commercial oven cleaner: if you're going the chemical route
• Washing-up liquid: for cleaning racks and door separately

Avoid steel wool or highly abrasive scourers on oven interiors - they strip the enamel coating and cause rusting over time. A non-scratch scrubbing pad is fine for stubborn patches.

How to Clean an Oven with Baking Soda and Vinegar

This is the most popular natural cleaning method and is genuinely effective, but it requires planning ahead, as the baking soda paste needs to sit for at least 8-12 hours. The method works across all standard oven types: electric, gas, and fan-assisted.

The only exception is pyrolytic self-cleaning ovens, check your manual before using any paste or spray, as some manufacturers advise against it on the specialist interior coating.

For gas ovens, take extra care around the gas burner openings at the base — avoid getting paste into them. For fan-assisted ovens, avoid coating the fan itself; wipe around it with a damp cloth rather than applying paste directly.

Step 1: Remove everything from the oven.

Take out the racks, any thermometers, pizza stones, or baking trays. Set them aside to clean separately.

Step 2: Make the baking soda paste.

Mix approximately half a cup of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) with a few tablespoons of water. Stir to a spreadable paste, roughly the consistency of toothpaste. Adjust the water until it coats a spatula without being runny.

Step 3: Coat the oven interior.

Put on your rubber gloves and spread the paste across the entire interior surface, sides, base, and inside of the door. Press it into any dark, baked-on patches. Avoid the heating elements and any gas openings.

The paste will start to turn brown as it absorbs grease. This is exactly what it's supposed to do.

Step 4: Leave overnight (minimum 8 hours).

Leave the paste in the oven for at least 8-12 hours, or overnight for best results. This is the key step, the longer the baking soda sits, the more effectively it lifts burnt-on residue.

Step 5: Wipe out the paste.

Use a damp cloth to wipe out as much of the dried paste as possible. Rinse the cloth frequently. For patches that resist the cloth, use a plastic spatula to scrape gently, not metal tools, which will scratch the enamel.

Step 6: Spray with vinegar.

Put white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray over any areas where you can still see baking soda residue. The vinegar reacts with the remaining baking soda and fizzes, this helps lift the last traces of residue.

Step 7: Final wipe-down.

Wipe out the foamy mixture with a clean damp cloth. Repeat the vinegar spray and wipe if needed. It's important to remove all baking soda residue thoroughly, any left behind will create smoke and unpleasant smells the first time you use the oven.

Note: This method works well for regular maintenance and moderate grease build-up. For ovens that haven't been cleaned in years, a commercial cleaner may be more effective at cutting through heavy, carbonised deposits.

Find an oven cleaner near you

How to Steam Clean an Oven

Steam cleaning is the lowest-effort method and works well as a regular maintenance clean or to loosen grime before a more thorough scrub.

It won't shift years of carbonised build-up on its own, but for moderately dirty ovens it's a good first pass, and it leaves no chemical residue to rinse out.

The water and vinegar method:

Pour equal parts water and white vinegar into an oven-safe bowl or baking dish. Place it on the middle shelf, heat the oven to 200°C, and leave for 20–30 minutes. Switch the oven off, allow it to cool until it's comfortable to work in, then wipe down the interior with a damp cloth. The steam loosens grease and the vinegar helps cut through it.

The lemon method:

Fill an oven-safe bowl with water and squeeze in the juice of two lemons, then drop in the squeezed halves. Heat to 200°C and leave for around 30 minutes. The citric acid in the lemon does the same job as vinegar, loosening residue, and leaves the oven smelling noticeably fresher than other methods. Wipe down once cool.

Note: Steam cleaning works best when the oven hasn't been left too long between cleans. If there's significant carbonised grease on the base or sides, follow up with the baking soda method or a commercial cleaner after steaming.

How to Use a Commercial Oven Cleaner

Commercial oven cleaners are faster and more effective on heavy grease than the baking soda method, but they contain strong alkalis (sodium hydroxide and similar chemicals) that require careful handling.

Step 1: Ventilate the kitchen.

Open windows and doors before you start. Commercial cleaners produce fumes that are unpleasant at best and irritating to the respiratory system at worst.

Step 2: Protect yourself and the surroundings.

Wear rubber gloves and avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing. Lay newspaper or old towels around the base of the oven, drips of oven cleaner can damage flooring and worktops.

Step 3: Apply the cleaner.

Follow the product instructions carefully. Most spray-on cleaners are applied to a cold oven; some are designed for a warm oven (pre-heated to around 50°C).

Coat the interior surfaces, avoiding heating elements and gas burners, then close the oven door.

Step 4: Allow to work.

Dwell times vary by product, typically 20 minutes to several hours. For heavily soiled ovens, leaving it for the full stated time makes a significant difference.

Step 5: Wipe out thoroughly.

Using a damp cloth, wipe out the loosened residue. You may need several passes with fresh cloths to remove all traces of the cleaokner. Any residue left in the oven will burn and smoke on first use.

Step 6: Rinse.

Wipe down the interior with clean water several times to remove all chemical residue. Some products are easier to rinse than others, check the product instructions.

If you're doing a wider kitchen or whole-house clean at the same time, see our guide to cleaning walls for how to tackle painted surfaces, wallpaper, and stubborn stains without damaging the finish.

How to Clean Oven Racks

Of all the parts of an oven that need cleaning, the racks are the ones most people put off, and the longer they're left, the worse the job gets. Grease bakes onto them in layers with every use, and by the time they're really dirty, no amount of quick scrubbing at the sink is going to shift it.

The methods below are worth trying before you give up and consider calling in a cleaner near you, though for heavily soiled racks the bathtub soak makes the difference between a manageable job and an unpleasant one.

Method 1 - Bathtub soak (most effective):

Line your bath with old towels (to protect the enamel), place the racks in, and cover with very hot water. Add a generous squirt of washing-up liquid and leave to soak for at least several hours, or overnight. The grease softens significantly and can be scrubbed off with a non-scratch pad without excessive effort.

Method 2 - Baking soda paste:

Apply the same baking soda paste used for the oven interior to the racks, leave for a few hours, then scrub with a non-scratch pad and rinse.

Method 3 - Commercial cleaner:

Spray the racks outside or in a well-ventilated space, leave to work, then scrub and rinse thoroughly.

Avoid putting racks in a dishwasher if they're chrome-plated - repeated dishwasher cycles will strip the coating.

How to Clean Oven Glass

The oven door glass is often the most visible part of an oven and can be cleaned effectively without removing the door.

Apply baking soda paste directly to the glass, leave for 30-60 minutes, then spray with vinegar and wipe clean. For stubborn patches, a plastic scraper held at a shallow angle works well without scratching.

For the gap between the inner and outer panes, where grease can accumulate over time, some oven models allow the door to be disassembled.

Check your oven manual: many have two screws along the top edge of the inner door panel that allow the panes to be separated and cleaned individually.

How to Clean a Hob

The hob usually gets dirtier than the oven, spills happen every time you cook, and grease splashes are harder to avoid on an open surface. The right approach depends on the hob type.

Cleaning Ceramic and Induction Hobs

These are the easiest to clean. Wipe down with a damp microfibre cloth after each use while still slightly warm (not hot). For baked-on residue, apply a small amount of baking soda paste, leave for 15-20 minutes, then wipe off. A ceramic hob scraper held at a very shallow angle removes stubborn burnt-on patches without scratching. Avoid abrasive pads, they leave fine scratches that collect grease over time.

Cleaning Gas Hobs

This requires more disassembly. Remove the pan supports and burner caps and soak them in hot soapy water for 20–30 minutes, then scrub with a non-scratch pad. Wipe down the hob surface with a damp cloth and a small amount of washing-up liquid. Use a cocktail stick or toothpick to clear any blocked burner ports - blocked ports cause uneven flames. Dry all parts thoroughly before reassembling, as moisture in the burner ports causes ignition problems.

Electric solid plate hobs accumulate burnt-on residue quickly. Let the plates cool completely, then apply a specialist hob cleaner or a thick baking soda paste. Leave for 15 minutes, then scrub with a non-scratch pad. Avoid getting liquid into the element connections underneath.

What About Self-Cleaning Ovens?

Some ovens include a pyrolytic self-clean cycle, which heats the oven to approximately 500°C, well above normal cooking temperatures. At this temperature, any food residue is incinerated to a fine ash that can simply be wiped away once the oven cools.

Pyrolytic cleaning is effective, but it comes with some practical considerations:

• The cycle takes 2-4 hours and the oven reaches extreme temperatures, all packaging, baking paper, and removable accessories must be removed first
• The oven exterior gets very hot during the cycle
• The process produces smoke and some odour, ventilate the kitchen
• Don't leave the oven unattended during a pyrolytic cycle

Check your oven manual before using a commercial spray cleaner on a self-cleaning oven, some manufacturers advise against abrasive or chemical cleaners on pyrolytic interiors, as they can damage the special coating.

When to Call a Professional Oven Cleaner

Professional oven cleaning is worth considering when the oven is very heavily soiled, when you don't have the time or inclination for a several-hour DIY job, or when you want a thorough clean before letting a property.

Many professional oven cleaners also clean the hob, extractor hood, and microwave as part of the same visit - worth asking about when you post your job, as bundling saves time and often reduces the per-item cost.

A professional oven cleaner typically takes 2-3 hours and leaves the oven in near-new condition. They use non-caustic cleaning products and specialist dip tanks for racks and shelves. The cost typically ranges from £50 to £120 depending on the oven type and size, see the MyBuilder oven cleaning cost guide for current pricing.

Find Oven Cleaners Near You

You can find and compare available oven cleaners in your area on MyBuilder. Post your job with details of the oven type and its current condition, cleaners will respond and you can review profiles and check customer reviews before deciding who to contact.

All tradespeople on MyBuilder undergo checks at registration - such as ID documents, company details, certifications for regulated jobs and skill assessments - allowing you to hire with confidence.

Find an oven cleaner near you

FAQs: Oven Cleaning

Is It Safe to Use a Self-Clean Cycle on My Oven?

Yes, if you follow the manufacturer's instructions. Remove all accessories (racks, thermometers, foil lining) first and ensure the kitchen is well-ventilated. The process produces smoke and a strong smell, this is normal as residue burns off.

Never leave the oven completely unattended during a pyrolytic clean, and keep children and pets away from the oven exterior, which gets very hot. If your oven is very old or has a damaged door seal, check with the manufacturer before using the self-clean function.

How Do You Remove Really Stubborn Baked-On Grease?

For heavy build-up that the baking soda method doesn't shift, try applying the paste more thickly and leaving it longer, up to 24 hours. Alternatively, a warm oven (cooled to around 50°C after briefly heating) makes commercial cleaners more effective. A plastic scraper held at a shallow angle can help lift carbonised patches without scratching the enamel.

For really extreme build-up, a professional clean with specialist products and dip tanks is often the most effective route. You can browse photos of oven cleaning results on MyBuilder to see what professional cleaning can achieve.

Can Baking Soda Damage My Oven?

No. Baking soda is mildly abrasive at most and safe to use on oven enamel. The key thing is to remove it thoroughly before using the oven again, as any residue left inside will produce smoke and a burning smell when heated. The vinegar step followed by thorough wiping with a damp cloth is usually sufficient.

How Do You Clean the Area Around the Heating Elements?

Work around rather than over the heating elements. For fan-assisted and electric ovens, avoid getting paste or liquid directly on the elements themselves. Use a damp cloth to carefully wipe the areas immediately adjacent to the elements, rather than spraying directly. If the elements themselves need cleaning, and they often accumulate drips over time, turn the oven on briefly after cleaning to burn off any residue from the elements, then ventilate the kitchen.

Should I Clean My Oven Before or After Moving?

Before. A heavily soiled oven is one of the most common reasons landlords deduct from tenancy deposits, and end-of-tenancy cleans are the single most disputed item in deposit disputes. If you're leaving a rental, cleaning the oven to the standard it was in at the start of the tenancy is part of your obligation.

A professional end-of-tenancy oven clean is often worth it, it's quicker and the result is easier to document than a DIY clean. See our house cleaning cost guide for what to expect on full end-of-tenancy cleaning costs.