How to Clean Grease Off an Oven

Ah, baking. There is nothing like the smell of fresh pie in the oven or the aroma of a baked good. But we all know what comes with any cooking adventure that involves using an oven – sticky, nasty, smelly GREASE! Luckily, we answer the age-old question of how to clean grease off an oven in our handy article!

So, if you happen to be someone who:

Has a busy schedule and hasn’t cleaned their oven in a while;
Found a very dirty oven in their newly rented property;
Has tenants that don’t like cleaning their ovens.

Why you need to clean grease off your oven

Besides looking disgusting, grease spots can actually become a significant issue for your cooking appliance and anything you cook in it. If your oven begins to form any grease or food bits that build up, over time, they will release carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide. The accumulated gases will start to leave a funny smell on the food you are cooking. Any leftover residue can be a fire hazard.

A dirty oven can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. These can contaminate your food and make you sick if ingested. When grease builds up in your oven, it can affect it’s performance. The grease can block the heat source, reducing the oven’s ability to cook food evenly.

Clean the grease using vinegar and baking soda

If you happen to be someone who doesn’t fancy the idea of using commercial cleaners, then you can make your own homemade natural oven cleaner with three simple ingredients. You’ll need baking soda, white vinegar and water. Mix half a cup of water with 5-6 tablespoons of baking soda and stir it until it turns into a paste. Then, add half a cup of white vinegar and stir again until you get a frothy mixture. Now, here is how to use it to clean a greasy oven:

Remove everything – the oven racks, thermometers, pizza stone, etc. – the cooking appliance must be completely empty. You can wash them separately. Read on to find out how.
Put on some protective gloves. Evenly spread the paste on the interior without getting any of the cleaning solutions on the heating elements. Rub the mixture until it turns brown, concentrating on the extra greasy parts. Let the paste sit and do its magic for at least 12 hours.
Remove the baking soda mixture with a damp towel. If you find some parts a bit harder to wipe than others, get a plastic spatula and carefully scrape them off.
If you spot any greasy residue, pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the areas. Once the liquid makes contact with the baking soda, everything will start to bubble, but don’t worry – that’s a good thing.
Remove all leftover foam with a damp cloth to make your oven shiny again. Replace everything you have taken out from the oven back inside.

Steam clean grease off the oven

Steam cleaning is an effective way to clean grease from your oven without using harsh chemicals.

Remove the oven racks and other removable parts from your oven.
Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil on your stove. Place the pot of boiling water in the bottom of your oven. Close the oven door and let the steam do its work for about 30 minutes. This will loosen the grease and make it easier to clean.
After 30 minutes, turn off the oven and let it cool down for a few minutes.
Use a damp cloth to remove the grease and any debris the steam has loosened. For tougher stains, you can use a non-abrasive scrubber or a soft-bristled brush to scrub the areas with the grease stains gently.
Once you’ve removed all the grease, use a clean, damp cloth to wipe the inside of the oven. Finally, rinse the cloth and wipe the inside of the oven again to remove any remaining residue.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using steam to clean your oven.

Clean the oven with a commercial oven cleaner

Sometimes, it takes more than 12 hours for the baking soda to dissolve the grease stains in your oven. In situations where you are in a hurry, buying a commercial cleaner specially created for oven cleaning is best.

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). This will help to activate the cleaner when you apply it. Turn the oven off and let it cool down enough to touch. Preheating will help loosen any tough grease.
Remove any large pieces of debris or food from the oven. This will make it easier for the cleaner to penetrate the grease and grime.
Put on protective gear such as gloves and an apron to protect your skin and clothes from the chemical cleaner.
Spray the cleaner evenly over the interior surfaces of the oven. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label, as some cleaners may require you to apply the cleaner to a cool oven.
Close the oven door and leave the cleaner to work for the recommended time. Typically, this will be around 20 minutes.
Use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe away the cleaner and the dissolved grease and grime. Be sure to rinse the cloth or sponge frequently in warm water to remove any buildup.
Once you have removed all of the cleaner and grime, rinse the oven thoroughly with warm water to remove any residue.
Finally, allow the oven to dry completely before using it again.
Dispose of the can and any used cloths or sponges in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and local regulations.

How to clean a self-cleaning oven

While an oven might be self-cleaning, it doesn’t mean it won’t acquire some dirt over time. This is especially true when you’ve had them for ages! Generally, the normal self-cleaning process eliminates most dirt, but you may notice some leftover residue on the glass.

Use a mixture of water and baking soda for the glass. It should be enough to get rid of most grease stains. Be careful not to get any water near the barriers of the glass, however! It causes drips which are difficult to get rid of!
Remove any leftover food residue with a wet cloth or sponge. If you regularly wipe down the oven, it actually improves the self-cleaning function.
Some of the best tips are on the pages of your oven’s manual. Plus, they often give you the manufacturer’s recommendations, which can be helpful in maintaining your oven!

Using Enzyme spray to clean an oven

Enzyme sprays are great for those who want to clean their ovens without a tonne of chemicals. Not only are they toxic-free, but they are also fume-free and generally safe for your skin. However, you can still wear gloves if you want to be on the safe side.

Spray onto the grease and leave it for around 10 minutes. Then, wipe it away with a wet cloth, leaving your surfaces sparkling. Keep a bowl of water handy, and keep that cloth moist. Enzyme sprays are great for handling the toughest grease stains, as they are designed to clean organic stains. So, you should get results regardless of the oven’s state!

Help from household items

Can dishwasher tablets help clean an oven?

While it might sound strange, they’re brilliant for cleaning grime! We trust them for our dishes, cutlery and glasses. So, why wouldn’t we trust them for cleaning grease from an oven?

Take the more abrasive side of the tablet and gently rub the grease. Like the scraper, you shouldn’t need to add too much pressure for the grease to fall. Tablets won’t usually remove the more stubborn stains, but you can use a toothbrush or sponge to remove these.

Use a window scraper to clean grease from your oven

You might think, ‘hold on, that’ll damage the glass on the door’, but we promise it works! For thicker layers of grease, add a little bit of pressure, scrape, and presto! It’s off.

Splash some water down on the gunk that’s a bit more resilient. Scrape through the grease with the scraper, and it should slide right off. Quick, easy and effective. Be careful when adding too much pressure, as you may damage the glass.

Scrub your oven using a toothbrush

How is a toothbrush going to remove grease from your oven? Well, they’re actually great for getting into all the nooks and crannies you can’t scrub with normal utensils. Plus, they work much better than sponges at removing grease, as their bristles are much tougher on it.

Toothbrushes are especially useful for cleaning grease off oven racks. Any harder bits of grease will be removed like plaque on a tooth. You can also use a toothbrush on any small gaps around the oven too!

Need help cleaning your oven?

Why not leave the nasty chore to the professional hands of Shining Services?

We offer expert oven cleaning services, suitable for every type of cooker out there. With us, you get a mess-free service, don’t have to wait to use the appliance after we are done, and prolong its life span. Also, the detergents we use do not contain any caustic chemicals, making them extra safe. How awesome is that?

So, what are you waiting for? Stop worrying about how to clean grease off inside the oven door and make your cleaning appointment with Shining Services today!