Cleaning your oven (and oven glass) doesn’t have to involve a lot of time or effort. We tested 8 of the most popular natural oven cleaners to find the best oven cleaner. Learn the easy, healthy way to clean your oven and oven glass today!
The oven is a kitchen spaces that always seems to be forgotten… until it is so grimy and dirty that you’re shamed into completing the task.
Those mystery splatters and blackened bits seem to build up overnight!
When we moved into our current house we purchased a beautiful new gas oven that I vowed to keep sparkling clean… then life happened!
What can I use to clean my oven?
If you own a self-cleaning oven, you can run the auto-clean setting occasionally to keep your oven clean. This setting uses an extremely high temperature to burn the oven clean (you wipe the remaining ashes out when the oven cools). Auto-clean works fine, but it makes my oven glass look even dirtier, takes hours to complete, and makes the kitchen HOT and smelly.
There had to be a better solution!
I began to search for a homemade oven cleaner that would get the oven (and oven glass) sparking clean with no scrubbing and no harsh chemicals. (The fumes from commercial oven cleaners give me a terrible headache and make the house smell for days!)
But there were so many oven cleaning tutorials and such conflicting advice on Pinterest and Google that I was overwhelmed!
The Best Oven Cleaner Experiment
I decided to test the 8 most popular no scrub oven cleaners online to find the best oven cleaner. The oven cleaner had to be made with safe, all-natural ingredients and require no scrubbing.
Methodology
Each oven cleaner was tested on the same surface (a grimy oven door) and using same process to test each cleaner:
- The oven door was divided into 8 sections using painters tape. Each section was numbered with a post it note. (Yes, I’m a nerd.)
- Each diy oven cleaner was prepared in a separate, clean bowl then applied to one section of the oven door.
- Each homemade oven cleaner was given 20 minutes of “dwell time” to work then wiped off the oven door with a clean paper towel. (I did not scrub!)
- Finally, I recorded and photographed the results.
The differences between the natural oven cleaners were mind blowing! Some of the cleaners made absolutely no difference, some worked okay, and two left the door spotless.
The Natural Oven Cleaners Tested
Oven Cleaner #1
Ingredients: White vinegar (1 cup), cornstarch (1 tablespoon)
Directions: Stir together vinegar and cornstarch, heat until thickened, cool to room temperature. Apply to oven, let sit for 20 minutes, wipe clean.
Oven Cleaner #2
Ingredients: Lemon juice (1 cup), cornstarch (1 tablespoon), dish soap (1 teaspoon)
Directions: Stir together lemon juice and cornstarch, heat until thickened, cool to room temperature, stir in dish soap. Apply to oven, let sit for 20 minutes, wipe clean.
Oven Cleaner #3
Ingredients: Baking soda (1/4 cup), white vinegar (1/4 cup)
Directions: Sprinkle baking soda over surface until covered, spray baking soda with white vinegar until wet and bubbly. Let sit for 20 minutes, wipe clean.
Oven Cleaner #4
Ingredients: Baking soda (3 tablespoons), white vinegar (1 tablespoon), dishwashing soap (1 tablespoon)
Directions: Stir together baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap. Apply to oven, let sit for 20 minutes, wipe clean.
Oven Cleaner #5 (Winner!)
Ingredients: Baking soda (3 tablespoons), water (1.5 tablespoons)
Directions: Stir together baking soda and water. Apply to oven, let sit for 20 minutes, wipe clean.
Oven Cleaner #6
Ingredients: Rubbing alcohol (1/4 cup), water (1/4 cup), dishwashing soap (8 drops)
Directions: Stir together, spray oven, let sit for 20 minutes, wipe clean.
Oven Cleaner #7 (Runner up! My favorite all-purpose cleaner.)
Ingredients: Baking soda (3 tablespoons), hydrogen peroxide (1 tablespoon), dishwashing soap (1 tablespoon)
Directions: Stir together baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. Apply to oven, let sit for 20 minutes, wipe clean.
Oven Cleaner #8
Ingredients: Baking soda (1/8 cup), salt (1/8 cup), dishwashing soap (1 tablespoon)
Directions: Stir together baking soda, salt, and dish soap. Apply to oven, let sit for 20 minutes, wipe clean.
The Oven Cleaner Results
The Winners
The best oven cleaner is the most simple: baking soda and water. Oven Cleaner # 5 and #7 both use this combo and had great results.
Why this combo works:
- Baking soda is a mildly abrasive cleaner that absorbs grease and is good for scrubbing. It helps to break up and remove the dirt that is stuck to the oven surface without causing damage.
- Water softens the grime and baked on food particles so they can be easily wiped away.
Baking soda is one of my favorite green cleaning ingredients. It’s in my DIY Natural All-Purpose Cleaner that works great household cleaning and is perfect for stain removal. You can learn more about cleaning with baking soda here.
The Losers
The most disappointing oven cleaners mixed the reactive ingredients of vinegar and baking soda.
- This combo creates a reactions that cancel out the cleaning power of both ingredients. (Read more in Green Cleaning Ingredients That You Should Never Mix.)
- If you want to use vinegar for oven cleaning save it for the final step: after the baking soda has been wiped away, spray the oven with a little white vinegar to neutralize any that remains, then wipe dry with a paper towel.
I was also let down by cleaners that took a lot of time to make (such as heating and cooling vinegar or lemon juice) and didn’t do much cleaning. I’d rather stick with simple cleaners that are easy to mix and apply!
How to Clean an Oven with Baking Soda
Baking soda makes a great oven cleaner. It’s cheap, won’t damage the oven surface, and has great scouring power without harmful chemicals. Here’s how to clean an oven and glass oven door with baking soda:
- Combine water and baking soda to form a thick paste.
- Spread the paste across the glass and other dirty areas of the oven (avoid the heating element).
- Let the baking soda paste work (dwell) for at least 20 minutes (or overnight) then wipe away with a clean rag or paper towel.
You may also love: how to clean your oven rack naturally
… and easy tips for cleaning with baking soda
How to Clean an Oven Quickly
Getting ready to clean? These oven cleaning tips will help you get fast results:
- Remove the loose debris. Vacuum or wipe out the bottom of the oven before applying the baking soda cleaner. This will remove some of the black ashes and stuck on grime. It will also loosen the dirt making it easier to clean.
- Give the oven cleaner some dwell time. You’ll get the best results if you allow the wet baking soda some time to work (also called dwell time) before you start wiping. Let the cleaner sit on the surface for at least 20 minutes then wipe out the dirt.
- Use a circular motion. Oven grime can be baked on, caked on grease. Remove most of the baking soda cleaner then wipe any hard-to-clean spots firmly with a rag using a circular motion.
- Make chemical reactions work for you. Baking soda can leave a bit of grit in your oven. Spray the oven with white vinegar after wiping out all of the baking soda cleaner, the vinegar will react with any leftover baking soda so you can easily wipe out the bubbling remains.
- Clean first then shine. Finish by buffing the oven surface with a damp microfiber rag. Your oven will look as good as new!
Oven Cleaning FAQ
How do you clean the glass on the oven door?
- Combine 3 tablespoons baking soda and 1.5 tablespoons of water. Open the oven door. Spread the mix across the glass on the oven door. Wait 20 minutes then wipe clean.
What is the fastest way to clean the inside of an oven?
- Remove as much loose dirt as possible from the inside of the oven with a wet paper towel. Mix together water and baking soda. Spread the paste over the dirty areas of the oven. Wait 20 minutes then wipe clean.
What is the best natural oven cleaner?
- A paste of baking soda and water.
Can you clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar?
- There are a lot of online cleaning tips that recommend mixing baking soda and vinegar to clean your oven. This fun bubbling reaction is actually the baking soda neutralizing the vinegar. The resulting mix cleans about as well as plain water. Save the vinegar for the final rinse.
Do you have oven cleaning experience? I’d love to hear your favorite method. Comment below with your favorite cleaner or stop by my Facebook page.
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Lis
Hi, I will try option #5. How do I apply this baking soda paste? Someone else asked this question in June 2020 but no reply back:
Darya June 01, 2020 at 9:18 pm
I’m currently attempting method #5 but having a little trouble with the application process – applying the paste with my hands seemed very messy but a cloth or brush seem to collect more than they apply. Any advice?
Bren
I use a spoon or my hands. It gives your hands a nice exfoliation, though it can be a bit messy! 😉
Bel
Your tips and research are amazing! Thank you! May I know if this can be used for the interior frame that are aluminium too as there are some hard to remove stains?
Bren
I would test on an inconspicuous place because baking soda can cause aluminum to oxidize. It should be okay if they are not in contact for a long time and the baking soda is rinsed well.
Liz C.
I just wanted to add my thanks to you for this thoroughly researched and well-presented advice. I’m 70 years old and never knew that just baking soda and water would save me so much time, trouble, and would be so much safer than purchased oven cleaners. Thanks so much!
Bren
Thanks, Liz! I’m so happy that you enjoyed the post! -Bren
EmmaTator
This did not work for me at all. I will put more on before bed and see what happens in the morning. Bummer!
Holly
Can this be left on overnight then wipe next morning?
Bren
Yes.
gayle campbell
Thank you for the time and effort you have put in to this. I just tried No. 5 and wow it worked. I was wondering if you know whether it is ok to use the baking sod’a and water inside a non-stick toaster oven?
Bren
I would not use it on a non-stick surface. Check what the manufacturer recommends for cleaning, it’s usually just dish detergent and water.
Anna
There are so many ideas out there. I really appreciate the comparison of how they actually work. Thanks for sharing your experiment! Now, there’s one more that I’m curious about: have you ever tried a version with borax?
Bren
I have not tried a Borax version!
Dini
Number 7 worked a treat! Thank you
Kaitlyn
Can the baking soda and water combination be used to clean the outside of the oven? Like the stovetop and grates and such?
Bren
You can use baking soda and water but I think plain water with just a bit of hand washing dish detergent (the detergent you use to wash dishes in the sink, not the dishwasher) would work better and leave less of a white residue.
Constance Haft
I am trying to clean a grill pan that goes on the stove. I tried baking soda & water, left it on overnight, nothing happened. Might you have some other non-toxic solutions? Thank you!
Bren
What is the grill pan made from, Constance? If it is aluminum you have to be a bit more careful. I love to use a copper scrubber when cleaning pans.
Ellie
It didn’t work very well for me and the residue is nearly impossible to remove. I wiped and rinsed over and over but when I turned on my oven there was a white film on all surfaces.
Bren
Ellie, use a bit of vinegar to help rinse away the white film. It reacts/breaks down baking soda making it easier to remove.
lisa
What I want to know is how to clean the area between the outside glass and the inside glass on the oven door? I can never get in there and it looks terrible. Please help!
Bren
I know some people take apart the door… but that scares me! I would check with your oven’s manufacturer and see what they recommend.
Linda
You are right. Option 5 did the trick. My oven has never looked so good. It did take some elbow grease in terms of scrubbing but that was only because I was determined to get it as clean as humanly possible.
Thanks so much for your hard work.
Bren
Thanks, Linda!
Evelyn
Doesn’t seem like enough to do the whole oven??
Bren
Evelyn, I recommend mixing several batches if you are doing the entire oven interior. The ration about will do the door and window.
Darya
I’m currently attempting method #5 but having a little trouble with the application process – applying the paste with my hands seemed very messy but a cloth or brush seem to collect more than they apply. Any advice?
Sharon
Baking Soda and water mixed to your ratio is fabulous! So clean with no scrubbing (even really baked on gunk). I always thought Baking Soda and vinegar was the wonder cleaner so very glad to hear what happens when those two are mixed. Thank you a 1000 times over.
Bren
Thanks, Sharon!
Debra
Totally agree with #5. Worked great! Thanks for the tip . Wish I could post my results 😊
Carol
Although this did a pretty good job of cleaning my oven I will not use this method again. It was a horrible chore to clean up. I had dirty baking soda paste every in my oven and going into and through every crack it could find. I will continue my search for a non-toxic oven cleaner.
Bren
Sorry you had a problem, Carol. I would definitely apply sparingly and make sure to vacuum or sweep out the excess after you scrub but before wiping cleaning. A little spritz of vinegar can help get the excess baking soda out of the oven after the cleaning is done.
Yuki
This worked great. . . .I haven’t cleaned my oven in years because of the smell from the oven cleaner. . . .this worked great
1
Marilyn
#7, your favorite…what kind of dishwashing soap? Liquid or powder?
Bren
The liquid kind used for hand washing dishes in the sink.
Felicia Nicholson
I’m gonna try this right now! I work from home and I’m on my meal break. I’m going to cover a section of the oven door to see if this works. I’ll go back and check in an hour. However, I’m afraid I’ve let it get so dirty thinking about what it task it is and kept putting if off. I think that I may have to result to a harsh chemical cleaner. Wish me luck!
Bren
Good luck!
June lewis
Oh my gosh!! I was cooking bacon in my oven last week, and the pan tilted and grease went everywhere. I have been putting off cleaning it, but read the “winning cleaner(just water and baking soda) I cleaned it a little over and hour ago and can’t believe the difference. I left it on over the 20 minutes but only because the grease was so heavy I will clean my oven no other way now! Now I can bake again!!
Bren
Thanks June! I am glad it worked so well for you!
Cathy
Trying your “winner” recipe right now. I did add some original Dawn to the mix for extra grease cutting.
Bren
Hope you like the results!
Jody
Didn’t work for me either 😕 Is it possible there are different types of baking soda?
Bren
There is generally only one type of baking soda sold – not baking powder, but baking soda Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) – though you can buy food grade or cleaning grade . You may need to use a stainless steel sponge (affiliate link) if the oven has lots of build up.
Lo Cast
I must have a very different oven from you and those that had excellent results. I also did a door experiment with the winner and the runner up. The runner up made only the smallest difference and the winner made no difference. I decided to try the runner up all over my oven and let it set overnight. My oven was still very grimy. It did clean some of the mess, but not enough that I was wowed. I have had better results using half a lemon and salt.
Bren
Sorry it wasn’t a success for you! You may need to use a scrubbing sponge if the oven has lots of build up. I love stainless steel sponges (affiliate link).
Vicki
I tried the baking soda and water paste, and while it might have worked a little better if I had left it on overnight, after 20 minutes, it hadn’t worked at all!
Monique Marcotte
Thank you!! Love your scientific approach. Baking soda it is with a vinegar wipe for the grit. And glad you answered about stainless steel cleaner!
Bren
Thanks Monique! Hope it works well for you.
Denise
The baking soda and water method was an absolute fail for me. Not only did it not clean my oven, the baking soda made a huge mess everywhere and it was difficult to clean up.
Bren
Sorry it didn’t work for you. What surface were you using it on? Glass or the interior?
Melissa
Have you tried cleaning the burner grates on top? If so, what did you use?
Bren
Mine are cast iron so I generally use salt.
K
Also found your site while searching for the best DIY method. I found one that said to mix dish soap, baking soda and salt into a frosting like paste. Already did that, but my oven is really dirty so I plan to just touch it up again to be on the safe side. Will use the plan baking soda and water and save my dish soap next time. Thanks a bunch!
Bren
Thanks, K! Hope it works well for you!
Robin
Just found your site today while searching for the best DIY oven cleaning method. My oven is currently slathered in the baking soda/water paste-like mixture where it will sit until the morning (my oven is VERY dirty). I’m planning to use the white vinegar spritz at the very end, as instructed. I’ll be back tomorrow to let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!
Bren
Hope it works great!
Deanna
This was awesome! I have tried and tried to get the gunk off my oven, and have not been able to – why? -because I used a mix of vinegar and baking soda together. Thanks so much for the information. It really helped. Next, I am going to try the laundry suggestions. I love your site 🙂
Bren
Woo hoo! I am so glad it worked, Deanna!
Stephanie
Thank you so much for doing all this work! I used the winning solution today on a really dirty oven and was amazed at the results. Again, thank you!
Bren
I’m so glad it worked for you, Stephanie!
Sethu
Excellent experiment and thanks for the detailed steps. One question: How do you clean the metal (exterior silver like metal parts) parts?
Bren
I use a mixture of 50% vinegar and 50% water with a microfiber rag to clean the outside of my stainless steel appliances.