Here’s a safe and effective way to make homemade oven cleaner using common household ingredients:
Ingredients
- ½ cup baking soda
- 2–3 tbsp water (enough to make a spreadable paste)
- Optional: 1–2 tbsp white vinegar (for extra degreasing power)
- Rubber gloves and a sponge or cloth
Instructions
- Remove oven racks: Take out any trays or racks and set aside.
- Make paste: Mix baking soda with water to form a thick, spreadable paste.
- Apply paste: Spread evenly inside the oven, avoiding heating elements. Focus on greasy or baked-on spots.
- Let sit: Leave the paste for 8–12 hours or overnight for tough grime.
- Wipe clean: Use a damp sponge or cloth to remove the paste and loosened grime.
- Optional vinegar step: For extra shine, spray white vinegar over the areas after wiping; it will fizz with any remaining baking soda and help lift residue. Wipe again.
- Replace racks: Clean racks separately (soak in warm, soapy water for 30–60 minutes) and return them to the oven.
Tips
- Use gloves to protect your hands from grime and the mildly abrasive paste.
- Avoid abrasive scrubbers directly on self-cleaning ovens—they can damage the coating.
- Repeat as needed for very dirty ovens.
If you want, I can also give a quick 30-minute version using baking soda and vinegar for moderately dirty ovens that works faster than overnight.
Do you want me to do that?
