Cleaning your oven is one of those chores that is easy to put off. You only briefly look inside it a couple of times a day at the most, so it’s easy to let the problem remain out of sight and out of mind. But I’m here to tell you that cleaning your oven is actually way easier than you might think!
Today, I’ll be showing you a super-easy way to clean your oven that doesn’t require expensive store-bought cleaners or massive amounts of elbow grease.
What are the keys to this method? Simple household ammonia and time. (This method actually has a lot in common with the way I clean my nasty stove burners!)
Related: This Is the Easiest Way to Clean Your Stove Burners
Inexpensive ammonia helps to loosen and dissolve those tough baked-on messes inside your oven. Instead of scrubbing for hours, you’ll be able to wipe your oven clean in just a few minutes. Although this homemade oven cleaner doesn’t do all the work for you, it does make a difficult job much, much easier!
But before I show you how it’s done, let’s get a couple of important warnings out of the way:
- If you have a gas oven, make sure the pilot light is out and the gas has been turned off before you start cleaning.
- Never mix ammonia with other strong cleaning agents, such as bleach or commercial oven cleaners.
- Work in a well-ventilated area. At the very least, open up the windows while you work.
Okay, now let’s get started! :-)
Related: This Clever Oven Cleaning Hack Makes It Easy to Do the Impossible
How to Easily Clean Your Oven
You’ll need:
- Ammonia
- Baking dish
- Pot of water
- Dish soap
- Scrubbing pad or sponge
- Cleaning gloves
Directions:
Step 1 – Prep
Start by preheating your oven to 150°F. While the oven is heating, put your pot of water on your stovetop and bring it to a boil.
When the oven has reached 150°F, turn it off. Pour 1 cup of ammonia into a baking dish, then place the dish on the top rack of your oven.
Finally, place the pot of boiling water on the bottom rack of your oven, and close the oven door.
Step 2 – Wait
You’ll want to give the ammonia and hot water several hours to work their magic inside your oven. The most convenient way to do it is to do the prep right before you go to bed, and let it sit overnight.
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Step 3 – Empty the Oven
In the morning, open your oven and remove both the bowl of ammonia and the pot of water. (But don’t dispose of the ammonia; you’ll want to use it later!)
Remove the oven racks as well, and leave the oven door open to air out for about 15 minutes.
Step 4 – Scrub
Now that the ammonia has had time to work its magic, it’s time to scrub all that nastiness away.
Add 1-2 teaspoons of dish soap to the dish of ammonia, along with a quart of warm water. Then pull on your cleaning gloves and grab a scrubbing pad.
Dip the scrubbing pad into the ammonia mixture, and use it to wipe away the softened grease and grime along the sides and bottom of the oven. (It should be a fairly easy job at this point!)
If you’re willing to give it a try, I promise this will be the easiest way to clean your oven you’ve ever tried! (And if your oven racks look like they could use some love too, check out the link below!)
Related: An (Almost) Effortless Way to Clean Your Oven Racks
Bonus Tip: Remove Your Oven Door
If you’re having a hard time reaching the back of your oven, you can make it much easier by removing the oven door. I know, it sounds complicated – but it really isn’t! To remove the door from the oven at our studio, we simply pulled it all the way open, then used a grilling fork to pry open a latch on each side. It came right off, and was very easy to put back on.
If your oven door doesn’t have latches like ours, just Google “remove oven door on [your oven make and model]” and I’m sure you’ll find the right instructions!
How often do you clean your oven?
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Some ovens have slots on the bottom of the door through which you can manipulate a wire with a cloth on the end of it. Other oven models require that you disassemble the door (not as difficult as it sounds). A search on the internet will give you some good instructional videos.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’d like to use oven mats, as you suggest. Where do you purchase them? We live in a small town so only have a Walmart, and they keep cutting back on their inventory besides. We’ll be going to Colorado Springs next week, though. Perhaps I can find them there.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just click on the underlined words “oven mats” in the post :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great tips!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, a great web site, love it! However I have used the following recipe for years after being informed by an elderly lady who swore by it! And it does work, as it is very similar to this one listed.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.One bowl containing Amonia and ordinary Laundry powder, pour boiling water over same, stir. Keep nose and eyes well away from the bowl. Put bowl into warm oven overnight. Preferably after having baked/ cooked tea. Next day simply wipe the oven clean After airing oven for a few minutes first! Your eyes will thank you. Wear gloves, and be prepared to be amazed at the ease of cleaning. Using clean cloths/ wipes and clean warm / hot water rinse the walls etc of the oven to cleanse the amonia and soap residue from them. Turn oven on to dry.