How To Clean An Oven The Easy Way

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A miracle has occurred in my kitchen.  No, I didn't see a holy image in my breakfast toast.  I'm talking about a different kind of miracle.  My oven is clean!  Normally, as long as my oven works and cooks things properly, I don't mind of it's clean or not.  I'd resigned myself to having a dirty oven and I like to think of the baked on crud as evidence that I actually use the thing to cook once in a while.

Since I'm always looking for new things to try on Pinterest, I tried several different methods to clean my oven, and none of them worked as well as this one.   Several pins on Pinterest suggested scrubbing with baking soda and water which didn't work at all.  Other pins suggested using baking soda and vinegar.  The reaction between the baking soda and vinegar is supposed to help remove the crud, but again it didn't work.  Another pin suggested setting a pan of ammonia in the oven but I couldn't stand the fumes.  Another pin suggested placing a large pot of hot, steaming water in the oven.  The steam is supposed to loosen the baked on crud in the oven, but the pan of water cools off quickly and the steam doesn't last long enough to do anything.  This method didn't work, but it was on the right track. 

Then I found this idea.  Use a steamer to clean your oven.  Well that makes sense!  My Conair GS60 Deluxe Compact Fabric Steamer produces lots of hot steam for 45 minutes, much longer than a pan of hot water.  It did a great job removing wallpaper during my bathroom makeover, so why not use it to clean the oven!

Here's what you'll need:

a steamer

a sponge

a bucket or sink nearby to rinse out the sponge

gloves to project your hands from the steam

Make sure you wear gloves to protect your hands from the steam.  The steam is hot and it will burn you!  I set the nozzle of the steamer in one section of the oven for about 30 - 60 seconds, then scrubbed with the sponge.  I had to rinse out the sponge frequently.  Just keep repeating steam, scrub, and rinse over and over until the oven is clean.  Not a lot of fun, but look on the bright side.  There are a few bonuses that come from all your hard work and scrubbing.  Not only will your oven be clean, but you get a nice little mini facial from the steam!  And be sure to tell your family that you're going out for dinner tonight because you don't want to cook and get your beautiful clean oven dirty again! 

This is what my oven looked like before.

After using the steamer it looks so much better!

The sides of the oven were a little more stubborn.  They didn't get completely clean, but they're much cleaner than they were.

 The steam didn't work at all on the glass.  I gave it a good try, but got tired of scrubbing after a while and decided to try something different.

A razor cleaned that stuff right off.  Here's the part where I tell you to be extremely careful!  Please don't accidentally cut yourself or scratch the class.  I didn't use the razor while using the steamer.  I scrapped the glass with the razor while everything was dry.  I though it best to make sure everything was dry to prevent slipping.  Scrape slowly and carefully and with light pressure to prevent scratching the glass. 

It worked!  That glass is spotless!

Now my oven is clean and I didn't have to use any toxic chemicals!

Find more great cleaning tips here!

Inspired by this pin for how to clean an oven.