It’s pretty amazing how quickly baking sheets can lose their brand-new shine and develop that infamous patina of brown, crusty, baked-on grease. And while there’s an argument to be made in favor of having that “well-used” look on your cookware and kitchen tools, baking sheets can easily get to the point where they just look… dirty.
But as most people (including myself) have discovered the hard way, that stubborn layer of grease isn’t easy to remove! It’s impervious to dish soap and water and most other standard cleaning methods, and many people have chosen to simply throw in the towel and say that it’s impossible to truly clean baking sheets.
But I always love a good challenge, especially one that involves solving a tricky cleaning problem! And after hours and hours of research, testing, and scrubbing, I’ve zeroed in on the three best methods for cleaning baking sheets, and I’ll be sharing those here with you today! :-)
A Note About Baking Sheet Materials
This post is written with aluminum baking sheets in mind, and more specifically, raw or bare aluminum baking sheets. If your baking sheets have a non-stick coating (which many aluminized steel baking sheets do), it’s best to stick to gentler cleaners and avoid heavy duty tools like steel wool, which can easily ruin their delicate finish.
And if you’re not really sure which material your pans are made of, make sure to test any method or cleaner on a little patch of the pan first to make sure it won’t damage it.
How to Clean Baking Sheets: The 3 Best Methods
1. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Sprinkle the pan with baking soda to form an even layer. Pour some hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle (or screw a spray top directly onto the peroxide bottle) and use it to spray enough hydrogen peroxide to wet the baking soda.
Let the ingredients sit on the baking sheet for about two hours. After letting it sit, use a gloved hand or a sponge to scrub the baking sheet, and the baking soda mixture should quickly darken from all the loosened grease.
Rinse the baking soda mixture off of the baking sheet and check your progress on the stains. If it’s not quite clean yet, repeat the cleaning process again to remove the remaining grime.
Why It Works
Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is one of my all-time favorite cleaning duos. (You can read all about this “miracle cleaner” and the various ways I’ve put it to good use in this post!)
It works equally well for cleaning grimy baking sheets, but I’ve found the most success when I’ve included a third ingredient: time. That baked-on gunk and grime may be stubborn, but giving the combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide time to do their thing really minimizes the amount of elbow grease you need to use to remove it!
2. Cream of Tartar and White Vinegar
Sprinkle cream of tartar evenly across the surface of the baking sheet. Pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle, then add it to the cream of tartar by spraying it with enough vinegar to wet it.
Allow the tartar mixture to dry on the baking sheet for at least eight hours (overnight is perfect.) After the wait, use a bit of hot water and a sponge or scrub brush to scrub the baking sheet thoroughly.
After giving it some elbow grease, rinse the baking sheet with warm water and check your progress, then repeat the process if necessary.
Why It Works
While it may seem strange to sprinkle on cream of tartar as a cleaning ingredient, it’s not so surprising when you consider where it comes from! Cream of tartar is a powdery byproduct of the winemaking process, derived from the tartaric acid present in grapes.
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By pairing cream of tartar with an acidic liquid like white vinegar (which contains acetic acid), you form a cleaning paste that can remove tarnish and grease from metals like aluminum, brass, and copper and restore their shine!
(Note: Some people make the mistake of using baking soda instead of cream of tartar in this method. Although mixing baking soda and vinegar will produce a reaction, the reaction is short lived and ultimately won’t be any more effective than soap and water.)
3. Bar Keepers Friend
And finally, there’s good old Bar Keepers Friend. Available as both a scouring powder and a cleaning paste, Bar Keepers Friend often succeeds at removing messes from metal where other cleaners fall short!
After donning a pair of cleaning gloves, simply apply a bit of Bar Keepers Friend to a grimy sheet pan and scrub with a sponge or brush. According to the directions on the container, you’re not supposed to leave this cleaner on a surface for more than a few minutes. The best way I’ve found is to clean smaller sections of the baking sheet one at a time, rinsing each section thoroughly with warm water after scrubbing.
Continue scrubbing your way around the baking sheet until the food stains are gone. Easy!
Why It Works
Bar Keepers Friend is another one of my top cleaners for tough tasks, because very few things work more effectively when it comes to cleaning aluminum, steel, ceramic, copper, and more. The secret to its success (which should come as no surprise at this point) is acid—oxalic acid, in this case.
Oxalic acid, which occurs naturally in plants like rhubarb, spinach, and sorrel, packs more of a punch than tartaric and acetic acids. It breaks down the molecular bonds that make tarnish, rust, and other tough stains so hard to remove, and it leaves behind an impressive shine too!
Because the oxalic acid and other ingredients are so strong, it’s especially important to be careful when using Bar Keepers Friend. Always wear gloves when cleaning with it, keep it away from your face, and be sure to rinse any surfaces it comes in contact with.
Bonus Tips For Keeping Baking Sheets Clean
- Once you’ve cleaned up your baking sheets and restored their shine, ensure that your hard work doesn’t go to waste by using these tips to keep them clean:
- When you know whatever you’re going to cook or bake will leave behind a mess, line your sheet pans with aluminum foil before using them. The mess will stay contained to the tin foil, and you can throw it out afterward!
- Whenever possible, try to hand wash your baking sheets soon after using them. The less time a mess has to sit, the easier it will be to clean.
- After washing them with soap and water, dry your clean cookie sheets thoroughly to keep bacteria at bay and to avoid rusting.
How do you use your baking sheets at home?
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How to Clean Baking Sheets (Step by Step)
Equipment
- Dirty Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- Baking Soda
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Cream of Tartar
- White Vinegar
- Bar Keeper's Friend
Instructions
Using Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide
- Sprinkle the pan with baking soda to form an even layer. Pour some hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle (or screw a spray top directly onto the peroxide bottle) and use it to spray enough hydrogen peroxide to wet the baking soda.Let the ingredients sit on the baking sheet for about two hours. After letting it sit, use a gloved hand or a sponge to scrub the baking sheet, and the baking soda mixture should quickly darken from all the loosened grease.Rinse the baking soda mixture off of the baking sheet and check your progress on the stains. If it’s not quite clean yet, repeat the cleaning process again to remove the remaining grime.
Using Cream Of Tartar And White Vinegar
- Sprinkle cream of tartar evenly across the surface of the baking sheet. Pour some white vinegar into a spray bottle, then add it to the cream of tartar by spraying it with enough vinegar to wet it.Allow the tartar mixture to dry on the baking sheet for at least eight hours (overnight is perfect.) After the wait, use a bit of hot water and a sponge or scrub brush to scrub the baking sheet thoroughly.After giving it some elbow grease, rinse the baking sheet with warm water and check your progress, then repeat the process if necessary.
Using Bar Keeper's Friend
- And finally, there’s good old Bar Keepers Friend. Available as both a scouring powder and a cleaning paste, Bar Keepers Friend often succeeds at removing messes from metal where other cleaners fall short!After donning a pair of cleaning gloves, simply apply a bit of Bar Keepers Friend to a grimy sheet pan and scrub with a sponge or brush. According to the directions on the container, you’re not supposed to leave this cleaner on a surface for more than a few minutes. The best way I’ve found is to clean smaller sections of the baking sheet one at a time, rinsing each section thoroughly with warm water after scrubbing.Continue scrubbing your way around the baking sheet until the food stains are gone. Easy!
What ratio of peroxide to soda should you use?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Curious would this work in an oven(not self clean one). I tried many products and got no wheres to be able to clean it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Would this work on the baked on crud on stove tops?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.i use this method on my flat top, sprinkle baking soda, a spray of vinegar and and spray of peroxcide and then place a damp dish rag and leave for a while so it can pentrate then wipe up
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just tried it yesterday, it worked beautifully. I let it sit for about 4 hrs. Most of it came right off. Only one burner didn’t come off as easy but with a little scrubbing it cleaned out pretty good. I’m definitely cleaning them again this way.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was disappointed with the results, but I used old baking soda. I am going to retry with a fresh box and put the old one in the fridge. I still have hope>
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Does your miracle cleaner work on non stick baking pans too?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It didn’t work on my sheet pans :(
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wonder if this works on silicone pans. I’ve a muffin pan that is dreadfully hard to clean and it is all black and stained. I am going to try it. Certainly can’t hurt it!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m not sure if I did something wrong, but I like Debby J let them soak all night and nothing came off. I poured on the peroxide and put on a lot of baking soda… Any suggestions on what will help would be greatly appreciated!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I tried the baking soda-peroxide too, helped but not perfect. Maybe I’ll just buy new cookie sheets? Or not look at them too closely?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Unfortunately SOME cookies sheets are just too far gone. I have some like that. I just cover them with foil when I use them and they look shiny new! ;-)
When I use foil, it retards the baking process and leaves stuff underbaked on the bottom. Anyway, the peroxide and baking soda didnt work for me either. :(
If the baking soda and peroxide method isn’t working for you, you could try ammonia. I use it on my gas range grates and it works beautifully. Just put them in a large trash back with a few table spoons worth of ammonia and let them sit (outside to avoid fumes) over night. The fumes actually soften the gunk so that it wipes right off with minimal scrubbing. :)
Ammonia was my mom’s secret for cleaning anything greasy & cooked on. She even throws the oven shelves & outdoor grill stuff in a sealed trash bag with the ammonia and it works beautifully!
There’s an all natural liquid soap that I use for the toughest baked on grease. It works on old and baked on grease. I use it to clean ovens, too. It has to be diluted with water as it is very concentrated.
It is so natural that some people take it internally to use it as a cleanse to rid their body of parasites.
It may seem expensive but, for example, it costs less than a cannister of oven cleaner. It costs less than $1 an ounce. I use 2 ounces in a spray bottle with about 8 ounces of water. I warm up my oven to just a bit warmer than warm but not real hot. I shut it off and I spray the soap solution inside the oven and on the racks. I shut the door and leave it overnight. The next day, I just wipe everything with a wet cloth.
This soap is great for bubbles in baths too. It draws toxins out of the body. You never will have to clean the tub again. It leaves everything shining. You only use 1 or 2 ounces in the bath so the cost can be under $1 if you use 1 ounce per bath.
Here’s the website if you want to check it out….
http://www.myrezealiant.com/SlimEnergyFoods
If you want to know other uses for this soap and how much to use for various jobs, send me an email and I’ll try to find them for you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.By the way, my email address is L9info@yahoo.com
I tried your method for cleaning baking sheets. Perhaps mine were too far gone, but it did not work. I left them “soak” overnight and still nothing. Guess I will just have to leave them for the drip pans and use new ones.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m hooked. My granddaughter introduced me to Pintrist and I love it! I keyed into this one to see if someone could tell me how to restore my Calphalon cookie – I clean them thoroughly, but used parchment paper to bake bread & wound up with a sticky, greasy film in the middle of the pans. Don’t know what happened – love the bread, hate the messed-up cookie sheet. I’ll try the baking soda-ammonia idea, and maybe the ketchup one, too! Thanks to all of you for brightening my day! And Sara, if you see this, thanks again! Love you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank u so much! Im hoping u just saved me many $$$ by not having to replace my pans!! Granted i have had them for like 7 years, but as someone that wud rather spend money on crafts… Love this!! Thanks again!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Ketchup works too. Just smear on a good thickness, let it sit and then wipe away.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Ehhhh….. No. I tried this tonight on my parent’s pans and it didn’t work.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Had the bottle of peroxide been opened for too long before you used it, maybe?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It didn’t work for me either! Rats
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My kitchen counter tops are white tile with what used to be white grout. I put the baking soda and peroxide paste on the grout and waited a few hours. Well this worked, the grout is now white with just a small amount of scrubbing on my part. Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I will have to try this on my stainless cooktop. Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have for years used hydrogen peroxide and ammonia (equal amounts in a spray bottle) it is an amazing stain remover and I have never had a problem with fading my fabrics or anything. It is amazing on grease spots and food stains. I also put baking soda in my wash and use baking soda all over my kitchen but for some reason have never thought to mix baking soda and peroxide. Thanks for the tip and I LOVE the pics.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have several half-jelly roll pans that have multiple uses; my husband snags them occasionally and uses them as drips pans under the grill (don’t get me started) when he does ribs or smokes butts. They are nearly impossible to clean-up – I learned that you can put them in the oven and run them through a self-clean cycle and they come out looking nearly brand new. This WILL NOT work on non-stick pans and they never cook as good as they did when new; so I keep them separate from my “good” ones and always make sure to put parchment or silicone on them if I need to use them!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Not long after I read this, someone left a grimy toaster oven on the “giveaway” table in my office. It looked disgusting. I took it home and tried the “miracle cleaning” formula. I didn’t even have to wait an hour to see how well this stuff just lifted the grease and grime right off the oven door. I plastered this stuff all over the oven – inside and out. It doesn’t even look like the same junk toaster no one wanted. Now I have a “like new” 6 slice Bella Kitchen convection toaster oven for free!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Every year I replace fishing lures because they dull, stain etc. I just tried your miracle cleaner and saved a ton of money with newly refreshed lures. It makes the spinners shine, and removed the unknown gunk that seems to build up mysteriously. I had one white hair jig that was headed for the trash because the hair and threads were so stained with rust. I used the +time method and the jig is back to white as new. Thanks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a bunch of non-stick pots that need this. I don’t have to scrub the inside, since they’re non-stick, but now the outsides have gotten bad because I don’t spend time cleaning them. I’ll definitely do a test spot first, though.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wonder…glass stove top…hmmm. Also, do your cookies stick more if you get the gunk off?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Andrea –
I use baking soda and vinegar to do my glass stove top! :)
Same theory, just different products!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Amazing!! Thanks for the tip.
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