15 Oven Cleaning Hacks That Don't Use Harsh Chemicals

Clean With Baking Soda and Vinegar

If your oven is dirty and you don't have a bottle of oven cleaner on hand—or you simply prefer a natural cleaning solution—try using a combination of vinegar and baking soda. Parry suggests the following for cleaning with this method.

1. Make the cleaning paste. Mix ½ cup of baking soda with water to create a paste.
2. Apply the paste. "Spread the paste all over the bottom of the oven, the side walls, and the inside of the glass oven door, avoiding the heating elements," Parry says.
3. Let the mixture sit. Leave the paste on for a minimum of two hours or overnight.
4. Spray with diluted vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with half water and half white vinegar and spray it over the baking soda. "The acid in the vinegar will react with the baking soda, causing it to foam," Parry explains. "This action helps to remove the burnt-on food stains from the oven."
5. Wipe clean. After 30 minutes, use a rubber spatula (if necessary) and a rag to remove the baking soda mixture. Then, finish by wiping everything down with a damp cloth.

Use Salt as a Quick Fix

According to Ripley, using salt is a quick, cheap, and easy way to clean an oven. This method is especially great for cleaning up quick spills.

Loosen Grime With Steam

One of the top ways to clean an oven is by using the power of steam. Try either of these pro methods for getting rid of grime and steam-cleaning your oven.

Vinegar

Linden likes to steam clean using hot water and vinegar: "They absorb into the grime and soften it, making it much easier to clean away with a cloth." Here are the necessary steps.

1. Boil water. Start by boiling 1/3 of a pot of water on the stove. "Once it starts boiling, add an equal amount of white vinegar. Allow it to boil for another 30 seconds or so," Linden says.
2. Place in the oven. Remove the pot from the stove, place it inside the oven on the rack, and close the oven door. Allow the pot to sit for 45 to 60 minutes. 
3. Wipe clean. "Once you open the door, you can start cleaning. Wipe the surface down with a soapy cloth," Linden suggests. "The grime comes off much more easily than it would if you simply tried to scrub it."

Lemon

According to Bedwyr, a little water and two lemons are all you need to get your oven clean. Similarly to the steps taken for steaming with vinegar, here's what you'll need to do.

1. Fill a pan with water. "Grab a pan, fill it with water, and add the juice of two lemons. You can also add the lemon halves to the pan," Bedwyr says.
2. Place in the oven. Put the pan in the oven and turn it on to 250 degrees. "Let the water boil and take the pan out. The steam will loosen the grime and grease inside your oven and will help you remove it more easily."
3. Wipe clean. Let the oven cool before wiping it down with a damp cloth.

Scrub With a Lemon

Another way to use lemons to clean an oven is to scrub the surface with the lemon itself. Use half of a cut lemon, add baking soda to the fleshy part, then scrub stains and spots (holding the lemon like a sponge). The lemon's acid will mix with the baking soda to naturally clean stuck-on grease and dirt.

Grab an Old Toothbrush for Nooks and Crannies

Many of us use an old toothbrush to clean the bathroom, but it's also useful for kitchens. "All those hard-to-reach areas and corners in your oven are difficult to clean," Bedwyr says. "Just dip a toothbrush in any cleaning solution, and you will be amazed at how easy cleaning those corners will be."

Clean Oven Racks in the Bathtub

Because of the awkward size and shape of oven racks, they aren't usually cleaned as often as they should be. Parry finds that the best approach is to soak racks in the bathtub. Try this:

1. Line the bathtub. Before you start the process, Parry suggests lining the tub with old towels so it doesn't get scratched.
2. Make a cleaning solution. Fill the tub with water and add a dishwasher tablet. "Dishwasher tablets do a great job cleaning your dishes, so there's no reason they shouldn't do an equally good job with your oven racks," Parry says.
3. Submerge the racks. Add the oven racks to the bathtub and let them soak for a few hours (ideally overnight).
4. Scrub the racks. "After soaking, use the old toothbrush (or a heavy-duty scrubber) to remove any stuck-on food," Parry adds.
5. Rinse and dry. "Remove the racks from the bath. Rinse them under warm water and dry them with a clean kitchen cloth, and you're good to go," says Parry.

Vacuum First

No matter what oven-cleaning method you choose, start by vacuuming out the dirt, dust, crumbs, and debris. (You should also vacuum after running the self-cleaning cycle.) You can use the vacuum hose, or if that feels too powerful, try the crevice attachment.

The Bissell CleanView Vacuum ($100, target.com) is useful because it's compact and lightweight. Plus, it has built-in storage for cleaning tools, making it easy to swap between the crevice tool and hose. If an upright vacuum feels too cumbersome, or you have a narrow kitchen, a handheld vacuum, like the Shark Wandvac ($90, amazon.com), might be easier.

Try a Dishwasher Tablet for the Door

For a quick way to clean an oven door, a dishwasher tablet can do the trick. All you need to do is place one end of the tablet in water before scrubbing the door with it (like a sponge or eraser). Let the soapy mixture sit for about five minutes, then wipe down clean with a damp cloth.

Spray With Dish Soap and Vinegar

Another easy and natural cleaning solution for your oven is to spray it down with vinegar and dish soap. In a spray bottle, mix equal parts of white vinegar, dish soap, and water (to dilute it). After spraying the inside of the oven, let the mixture sit for a few hours. Then, wipe clean with a cloth or scrub tough spots with a brush.

Make a Baking Soda and Dish Soap Paste

For variety, you can also clean your oven with a baking soda and dish soap mixture. To use this cleaning method, try the following:

1. Make the cleaning paste. Mix 1/2 cup dish soap and 1 1/2 cups baking soda and combine to form a paste.
2. Apply the paste. Spread the mixture inside your oven using an old toothbrush or sponge. Let it sit overnight or at least a few hours.
3. Wipe clean. With a damp cloth or sponge, wipe down all the surfaces to reveal a spotless oven.

Use the Self-Cleaning Function

If your oven has a self-cleaning feature, use it periodically to clean the oven without much effort. You'll need a few hours and will want to ventilate your space due to the smell, but the oven's self-cleaning function works well. After running the cycle (check your manufacturer's manual for details), simply vacuum up the debris and wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

Soak the Knobs

For ranges or ovens with knobs (not digital buttons), it can be a challenge to wipe them clean with a cloth due to their bulky nature. Instead, try these steps to get them clean.

1. Remove the knobs. Most oven knobs can easily be removed by simply pulling on them.
2. Soak the knobs. Add the knobs to warm, soapy water (in a large bowl or sink) and let them soak for at least one hour. This should get rid of grease and dirt without the need to scrub.
3. Rinse and air-dry. After soaking, rinse the knobs with clean water. Then, set them on a paper towel or kitchen towel to completely air-dry before replacing them.

Sweep With a Brush

Though vacuuming works great, perhaps you prefer not to use it or don't have a convenient one. No worries: Use a small brush. Grab a small scrubbing brush or paintbrush to sweep away dirt, crumbs, and other debris. This helps you clean corners the vacuum may not be able to reach.

Use a Magic Eraser for the Door

Cleaning with a Magic Eraser has become a go-to hack for many people. And guess what? It works for quickly cleaning the oven door, too. Simply follow the product instructions and wipe your oven door clean. This is so easy that even the kids can take over the task after dinner.

Drill the Dirt Away

For a truly innovative hack, use a power drill to clean your oven. You'll need a cleaning attachment set ($35, amazon.com), but luckily, it can be used to clean various areas of your home. After attaching a brush or sponge, scrub on a cleaning solution of your choice to save yourself some elbow grease.