How to Clean an Electric Oven

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

An electric oven has slightly different cleaning requirements than a gas oven. However, the methods of cleaning both types of ovens are similar. Choose the self-cleaning option if your oven has this setting, or use a commercial oven cleaner for a clean oven in less than an hour, or opt for an overnight baking soda treatment to avoid harsh chemicals. No matter what method you choose, you can turn a greasy, dirty electric oven into a sparkling clean one!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using a Store-Bought Oven Cleaner

PDF download Download Article
  1. Remove the racks and any pans or baking dishes from the oven and set these aside for now. Your oven needs to be completely empty before you begin.
    • You may also want to unplug your oven to reduce the risk of shock. [1]
  2. Get a pair of thick rubber gloves, not thin vinyl or latex ones. Also, put on a pair of protective eyewear. Oven cleaner is caustic and it may burn you or cause serious damage if it gets onto your skin or in your eyes.
    • You might also want to wear an old long sleeve shirt to protect the skin on your arms.
    Advertisement
  3. Oven cleaner may damage your floors if it drips onto them. Place a few pieces of newspaper onto the floor directly in front of your oven before you get started.
    • An old towel will also work!
  4. Lift the heating elements up slightly and spray the oven cleaner behind them. Make sure that the cleaner is coating the sides, top, bottom , and back of the oven. Spray the inside of the door last, and then shut the oven.
    • Set a timer for 30 minutes after you finish spraying the oven.

    Choosing Oven Cleaner

    Opt for a product that is specifically meant for cleaning your oven . You can find these products in the cleaning section of most stores.

    Go with a non-drip formula to make sure the product will not run down the sides of your oven or drip from the top of your oven.

    To avoid harsh chemicals, try a natural product that contains citrus oil, which helps to break down tough grease and grime.

  5. Take the oven racks outside and place them on the ground, such as in your driveway. Then, spray the oven racks with the oven cleaner. Place the racks into the garbage bag and close it up.
    • Leave the racks outside for 30 minutes so that the spray cleaner can work.
  6. Once the time is up, wet a rag with water and use it to wipe down the inside of the oven. Rinse the rag and wring out the excess water as needed, then keep wiping.
    • Make sure that you keep the gloves and eye protection on for the entire process.
    • Keep going until you have removed all of the oven cleaner from the oven.
  7. There may be some tough, stuck on grease in some of the areas of your oven. Wet a scouring pad and use it to scrub at these areas until the grease comes loose.
    • You may need to repeat this a few times for extra greasy spots.
  8. Once the racks have been sitting for 30 minutes, remove them from the trash bag. Then, use a hose to rinse away the oven cleaner and pat them dry with a clean towel. Return the clean oven racks to your oven after you are finished.
    • Enjoy your clean oven!
    9. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Trying Baking Soda and Vinegar

PDF download Download Article
  1. Unplugging your oven before you clean it will help to reduce the risk of shock. Then, take out all of the pans, baking dishes, and oven racks. [2]
  2. Make a paste out of ½ cup (152 g) of baking soda and 3 TBS (45 mL) of water. Mix the ingredients in a bowl until they are well combined. [3]
  3. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and use your fingertips to spread the paste over the inside of the oven. Spread it onto every surface, except for the heating elements.
    • Make more paste if needed to coat the sides, top, bottom, back, and inside of the oven door.
    • Close the oven door when you are done.
  4. If you have small racks, they should fit in your kitchen sink. If the racks are medium to large, then you may need to place them in your bathtub. Use your fingertips to spread the paste over every surface of the wire racks.
  5. Let the baking soda sit on the surfaces of the oven and wire racks for the next 10 to 12 hours. Do not try to remove it sooner or it will not have time to work!
  6. After the time is up, put on your gloves and wet a rag or dishcloth with water and wring out the excess. Then, wipe the inside of your oven clean with the rag to remove the baking soda. Scrape the baking soda out of the oven and into a dustbin or plastic bag. [4]
    • You may also use a spatula to loosen any stuck on baking soda paste.
  7. If there are still spots in your oven that are coated with baking soda that won’t come up, spray these areas with vinegar. The vinegar and baking soda will react and foam. This will help to loosen the grease and make it easier to wipe up the remaining baking soda.
    • Repeat this all over the inside of the oven as needed.
  8. The oven racks will be much easier to clean than the inside of the oven. Hold them under warm, running water and rinse away the baking soda. Make sure to do this over your sink or bathtub. Then, dry off the racks and put them back into your oven.

    Want a gleaming stovetop to match your clean oven? Tackle your electric stovetop next!

    9. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using the Self-Cleaning Feature

PDF download Download Article
  1. Place the racks into your sink or in a bathtub until you are ready to clean them and for the duration of the self-cleaning cycle. Take any pans, foil, or other items out of your oven as well.
    • If you have large racks, you will likely need to clean them in a bathtub, but you can clean small racks in your kitchen sink.
  2. Shut the oven door after you have removed everything. Then, locate the self-clean button and switch it on. Your oven’s self-clean cycle should start immediately. Leave the oven closed for the duration of the cycle.
    • Most self-cleaning oven cycles last about 2 hours.
  3. The oven may smoke slightly during the self-clean cycle. Open a couple of windows in or near the kitchen and run a fan to keep the smoke moving out of the kitchen. If the smoke becomes excessive, shut off your oven.
    • It is best to stay home while the oven self-cleans to ensure that you are there in case a problem arises, such as a fire or excessive smoke.
    EXPERT TIP

    Marcus Shields

    House Cleaning Professional
    Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60’s through the 70’s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his family’s tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area.
    Marcus Shields
    House Cleaning Professional

    Our Expert Agrees: It's essential that you stay home while your oven is in self-cleaning mode. When your oven is self-cleaning it is heating the inside of the oven to a higher temperature than the manufacturer says it should be heated. This melts the oil and grease for easy cleaning but, as any fire safety expert will tell you, it also poses a fire and damage risk.

  4. While the oven is cleaning, scrub the oven racks with warm, soapy water. Use a damp washcloth or a scouring pad to remove the grease and grime from the racks. Then, rinse off the racks to remove the soap. [8]
    • If the racks are very dirty, then you might need to apply baking soda to them and let it sit overnight before wiping them clean.
  5. After the clean cycle ends and your oven is cool, open it up. There will be a pile of ash on the bottom of the oven. Wet a rag or dishcloth with water to make it damp. Then, use the cloth to wipe the ash out of the bottom of the oven.
    • Do not leave the ash in the oven! This may taint your food and it will smell bad when you use your oven.

    Tip : To keep your oven clean, place aluminum foil on the rack before you place a pan in your oven. This will help to catch any food that overflows out of the dish.

    6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    What can you use to clean an oven?
    Ashley Matuska
    Professional Cleaner
    Ashley Matuska is a Professional Cleaner at the Founder and Owner of Dashing Maids in Denver, Colorado. Ashley has over seven years of experience in the cleaning industry. She and her team specialize in offering sustainable deep cleaning and maintenance cleaning services. She received a BS in Biology and Sociology from Indiana University.
    Ashley Matuska
    Professional Cleaner
    Expert Answer
    You can use a pumice stick to clean the oven. It is helpful for deep cleaning ovens. It does not scratch anything and is less time-consuming. You can also use an all-purpose cleaner to help add moisture to the process.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5
  • Question
    How do you make a grease cleaner with baking soda?
    Ashley Matuska
    Professional Cleaner
    Ashley Matuska is a Professional Cleaner at the Founder and Owner of Dashing Maids in Denver, Colorado. Ashley has over seven years of experience in the cleaning industry. She and her team specialize in offering sustainable deep cleaning and maintenance cleaning services. She received a BS in Biology and Sociology from Indiana University.
    Ashley Matuska
    Professional Cleaner
    Expert Answer
    To make a grease cleaner, mix two cups of water with a tablespoon of baking soda. Then add about 20 drops of lemon or orange essential oil.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Things You’ll Need

      Using a Store-Bought Oven Cleaner

      • Newspapers
      • Rubber gloves
      • Safety glasses
      • Oven cleaner
      • Trash bags
      • Rag

      Trying Baking Soda and Vinegar

      • Rubber gloves
      • Baking soda
      • Vinegar
      • Washcloth
      • Dustbin or plastic bag

      Using the Self-Cleaning Feature

      • Rag
      • Dustbin

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Clean a Burnt Oven Bottom
      How to
      Clean Melted Plastic Out of an Oven
      How to
      Clean an Oven with Baking Soda
      How to
      Remove the Smell of Oven Cleaner
      How to
      Deodorize an Oven
      How to
      Clean an Oven with Vinegar
      How to
      Steam Clean an Oven
      How to
      Clean the Bottom of an Oven
      The Fastest and Easiest Ways to Clean Your Gas Oven
      How to
      Clean a Convection Oven
      How to
      Clean a Non‐Self‐Cleaning Oven
      The Best Way to Remove Burnt Odors from Your Microwave
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J87Tpe22EFU&feature=youtu.be&t=42
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J87Tpe22EFU&feature=youtu.be&t=42
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-an-oven-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-201191
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-an-oven-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-201191
      5. ↑ Ashley Matuska. Professional Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.
      6. ↑ Ashley Matuska. Professional Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.
      7. ↑ Ashley Matuska. Professional Cleaner. Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.
      8. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-an-oven-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-201191

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To clean your electric oven, first unplug it and remove the racks and pans from inside it to reduce the chance of getting shocked. Once you've prepared your oven, make a paste out of baking soda and water, put on some rubber gloves, and spread this evenly over the inside of your oven. After you’ve covered all the surfaces, wait 10 to 12 hours so the mixture can do its work. When time is up, use a damp rag to wipe the inside of your oven clean. Alternatively, if your oven has a self-cleaning feature, you can remove everything from inside the oven, close the door, and push the self-clean button. Remember to keep the oven closed during the whole cleaning cycle, which should take around 2 hours. Once the self-clean is complete, you can wipe out any ash from the bottom of the oven with a wet rag. For more tips, including how to clean your electric oven with a store-bought oven cleaner, scroll down!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 83,348 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement