How to Clean All the Parts of Your Oven Door

The oven door is a portal to a magical place. Peek through the glass to see the cheese burbling on pizza, the quiche setting, or the cupcakes rising. It’s where some of the best things in life emerge from. So when you can’t see what’s creating that amazing smell behind a smeary, crusty glass, well, that ruins an awful lot of the fun of it. 

I know cleaning the oven door is up there with cleaning baseboards on the enjoyment scale, but it comes with much greater rewards when that glass is shiny and — most importantly — clear! Of course the best thing to do is to keep it clean, rather than have to put extra work into getting it clean, but life happens, and even the best plans to spritz and wipe it regularly can fall to the wayside when dinner is waiting.

So if you find your oven door needing a refresher, we’ve got everything you need to know — from the easiest job (cleaning the outside) to the hardest (cleaning between the panes).

• Glass cleaner
• 2 microfiber cleaning cloths

1. Spritz the glass: Grab your favorite glass cleaner and spray the outside. Be generous!
2. Wipe the glass: Use a clean, dry cloth to wipe the glass. Work in a circular motion and use elbow grease to remove any grime.
3. Buff the glass: Use a second clean, dry cloth to buff the glass.

Note: You might not need all of these items. The list goes on, depending on how grimy your door happens to be.

• Microfiber cleaning cloths
• Dawn dish soap, water, and a bowl
• A degreasing cleaner (like Easy Off or distilled white vinegar)
• Baking soda, water, and a bowl  
• A plastic scraper or razor blade

1. Try soapy water: Squirt some Dawn dish soap into a bowl and dip a cleaning cloth into that, then clean the glass. Buff it dry with a second clean, dry cloth.
2. And a degreasing cleaner: If that doesn’t work, spritz the glass liberally with the degreasing cleaner (to quote my dad when he’s using electrical tape: Do it like it’s free!) and wipe it with a microfiber cloth. 
3. Make a paste with baking soda: If the glass still needs work, add baking soda to a clean bowl of water to make a paste. Spread the paste around the window and let it sit for a few minutes. Get a clean cloth damp, and wipe everything away.
4. Grab a scraper: If the gunk still persists, add more of that baking soda paste and use the flat edge of the blade to oh-so-gently scrape away whatever’s remaining.

• Remember: It’s easier to KEEP your oven door clean than it is to GET it clean, so try to get in the habit of wiping it down regularly (after every oven session, if possible). Taking advantage of the oven glass being warm is a great shortcut.

Yes, grease and oil and other cruddy stuff can drip through those vent openings. Not ideal! I recently had to call in reinforcements (in the form an authorized appliance repair company) to help me clean mine, although you really CAN do it yourself. Just consult your oven’s manual (it should be available online on the manufacturer’s website if you don’t have it), as the best way to remove it will vary from model to model. Once you have the door off the oven and apart, clean the inside glass with warm, soapy water or a degreaser, if you need something stronger.

Note: You may see some posts online that tell you to use a small bottle brush or a wire hanger (with cotton or small pieces of rags), but we strongly advise AGAINST THAT! It’s too easy to get something stuck in there or make the streaks worse. So, the best way to clean between your door’s glass panels is to take the door apart.