From sauces that bubbled over to drips of burnt-on gooey cheese, your oven is a canvas for spills and splatters of all kinds. But tackling this appliance doesn’t have to be a heavy lift, and you don’t need to spend extra money on harsh cleaning products. In fact, all you need to make your oven sparkle again is simple—two pantry staples you probably already have on hand: baking soda and vinegar.
We spoke to a cleaning expert to learn how to clean an oven effectively and safely with these household ingredients. Read on, and you’ll have a sparkling oven again in no time.
The Benefits of Pantry Ingredients
“These ingredients are great, all-natural cleaning agents, especially in place of many conventional oven cleaners, which can often leave harmful residual vapors in your oven,” says Melissa Poepping, a natural cleaning expert and the author of the Chemical Free Home series. Both non-toxic and safe to use around food surfaces, baking soda (a natural alkali) and vinegar (a natural acid) work together to help lift off stubborn stains and grease for easy wiping.
And if the smell of vinegar turns you off, Poepping says you can easily enhance your homemade oven cleaners with two to three drops of essential oil, particularly tea tree oil, which acts as a natural degreaser. “For cleaning the oven glass, I also like to make a spray of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar with a few drops of added lemon oil for scent,” she says.
The magic of baking soda and vinegar lies in their chemical reaction. When combined, they create a fizzy action that helps break down grease and grime, making it easier to scrub away. I’ve found that this combo works wonders not just in ovens but also on stubborn sink stains. According to a study from the American Cleaning Institute, about 70% of households have baking soda and vinegar on hand, making this a cost-effective solution—typically under $2 for enough to clean your oven. To boost the degreasing power, I sometimes add a drop of dish soap to the mix, which helps emulsify oils. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid any soapy residue.
Gather Supplies
To get started, you will need the following supplies:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Dishwashing liquid
- Paint brush
- Plastic scraper
- Soft cloths
- Scouring pads
- Gloves and protective eyewear
- Aluminum foil (to protect oven interior openings, lights, and heating elements)
Optional Supplies
- Essential oil to add scent to vinegar solution
- Towels for soaking racks
- Old toothbrush to scrub nooks and crannies
Most of these items are likely already in your kitchen or cleaning closet, which keeps costs low. A paintbrush might seem like an odd choice, but I’ve found it’s perfect for spreading the paste evenly without scratching surfaces. If you don’t have one, a clean sponge works in a pinch. For safety, gloves are a must—baking soda can be mildly abrasive on skin after prolonged contact. If you’re wondering about quantities, a standard box of baking soda (about 16 ounces) and a 32-ounce bottle of vinegar are more than enough for multiple cleanings. I always keep an old toothbrush handy; it’s a lifesaver for getting into the corners where grease loves to hide.
Make a Baking Soda Paste
Stir together 3/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup warm water. If you add any essential oils, you can do so here (two to three drops should suffice, but you may add more if desired). A large oven may require more paste. Use a 3:1 ratio of baking soda to warm water if you need more.
The paste should have a spreadable consistency, like thick frosting. I’ve learned from trial and error that too much water makes it runny and less effective. For a large oven, I’d estimate needing about 1 cup of baking soda to cover all surfaces adequately. The essential oils aren’t just for scent—tea tree oil, for instance, has natural antibacterial properties, which is a bonus when cleaning surfaces that come into contact with food. If you’re out of warm water, room-temperature works fine, but warm water helps the baking soda dissolve more evenly.
Clean Oven Racks
Always take your racks out even if you use your oven’s self-cleaning function; the heat during the cycle can warp them. Once removed, let them sit in warm water with dishwashing liquid for a few hours in a sink or bathtub lined with towels to prevent any surfaces from getting scratched. Scrub racks with a scouring pad, and then rinse well and dry.
If racks need heavy-duty cleaning, you can apply baking soda paste—but only on stainless-steel racks. Baking soda can discolor aluminum.
Soaking the racks for at least two hours makes a huge difference—grease practically slides off after. I usually add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to a full sink of warm water. If your racks are extra grimy, try sprinkling a bit of dry baking soda directly onto the scouring pad for added abrasion. Be patient with this step; rushing can leave behind residue that smokes up during your next bake. For aluminum racks, stick to dish soap and water to avoid any discoloration, which I learned the hard way after ruining a set years ago.
Apply the Baking Soda Paste
Whether you have an electric or gas oven, avoid getting paste on light and heating elements, thermostat, wiring, and any openings in the oven with foil. Using a paintbrush, spread the paste throughout the oven’s interior, avoiding bare metal surfaces and the oven door. To get into tight corners and tough spots, you can use an old toothbrush. For a deep clean, leave for 12 to 24 hours.
Covering sensitive areas with foil is a game-changer—it saves you from accidentally damaging your oven’s components. I usually let the paste sit overnight (about 12 hours) for tough stains, but for lighter cleaning, 6-8 hours can work. The longer the paste sits, the more it breaks down grease, thanks to the slow release of carbon dioxide from the baking soda-vinegar reaction. An old toothbrush is my go-to for those pesky corners near the oven door hinges. If you’re worried about mess, lay down some newspaper under the oven to catch any drips.
Remove the Baking Soda Paste
Remove the paste with a plastic scraper, wetting as needed. Wipe with a damp cloth, repeating to remove streaks.
The plastic scraper is key to avoiding scratches on your oven’s interior. I find that spraying a bit of vinegar over the paste before scraping creates that fizzy reaction, loosening stubborn spots. Don’t rush this step—streaks can be annoying, so keep wiping with a damp cloth until the surface feels smooth. If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn spot, a second round of paste for a few hours can do the trick without resorting to harsh chemicals.
Wipe the Door
Using a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar, clean the oven door and glass with a soft cloth. Avoid getting the gasket wet.
This step is quick but makes a huge visual impact—nothing says “clean oven” like a sparkling glass door. I’ve found that a microfiber cloth works better than a regular one for avoiding lint and streaks. If your door has baked-on grease, let the vinegar solution sit for a minute before wiping. Be extra careful around the gasket; water can degrade it over time, which could lead to costly repairs. Adding a drop of lemon oil to the mix, as Poepping suggests, leaves a fresh scent that makes the whole kitchen feel cleaner.
How Often to Clean Your Oven
As for how often you should really be cleaning your oven? Poepping recommends every few weeks, though this will vary depending on how often you use it. And while the self-cleaning function can be a great “quick-fix” cleaning alternative, it’s not the only maintenance you should give this kitchen workhorse. “You should still aim to deep clean your oven regularly,” says Poepping. “Think of it as less of a chore and more of a preservation of your appliance. You likely spent a lot of money on your oven; why shouldn’t it be well taken care of?”
I’ve noticed that heavy bakers—like those roasting meats or baking casseroles weekly—might need to clean every two weeks to prevent buildup. For lighter use, once a month is usually enough. Regular cleaning not only keeps your oven looking good but also improves its efficiency; a dirty oven can take longer to heat up, potentially increasing energy costs. The self-cleaning function is handy, but it can produce a strong odor and isn’t great for delicate components like racks. Sticking to this natural method is gentler and, in my experience, leaves the oven smelling fresher without the chemical aftertaste.
