The 5 Best Oven-Cleaning Tips and Tricks We Learned in 2021
The editors and writers here at Kitchn spend a lot of time cleaning ovens. Partly because we make a lot of casseroles and saucy, splatter-y dishes, and partly because we’re always on the hunt to find little tricks and hacks that can make it easier for you to clean your own oven when it’s time. The hope is that, for every few things we try that don’t really work, we find one thing that does. And this year, we found five very smart tips — tips we wish we had known much earlier, and tips that can help us all in 2022 and beyond. Ready? Let’s take a look.
1. Trim a microfiber cleaning brush to fit between the door’s glass panels.
We had actually tried, last year, to use a microfiber cleaning brush to clean between the glass panels on an oven door. It didn’t quite fit and we gave up. But then Texas-based cleaning pro Vanesa Amaro posted a video featuring the idea to trim the the fibers so that the brush fits into the narrow space. In a pinch, Amaro says you can also use a wire clothes hanger carefully draped with a microfiber cloth.
2. Use oven cleaner to clean stove grates.
After cleaning four different grimy stove grates using four different methods, one clear winner emerged. All four methods were successful, yes, but the Easy Off method did the work without any extra effort from our tester. If you’re looking for a less harsh method, use baking soda (just know that the oven cleaner was ridiculously effective).
Read more: We Tried 4 Methods for Cleaning Stove Grates — And We’re Still Blown Away by the Winner
3. Use a British cleaner to polish up oven doors.
If you spent any time on TikTok this year, you likely came across some videos featuring The Pink Stuff. It was seriously everywhere. Of course, we had to try it out. (It’s pink! It’s British! It’s well-reviewed!) We used it for a bunch of cleaning tasks, and we loved it the most when it came to cleaning the inside glass on our oven doors. Check out these before-and-after pics.
Read more: I Cleaned My Oven Door with the British Cleaning Paste That’s All Over TikTok
4. Scrub oven racks with Bar Keepers Friend.
During yet another Showdown, we learned that Bar Keepers Friend is the best when it comes to cleaning crusty oven racks. Simply make a paste using Bar Keepers Friend and water and use a basting brush to paint the paste all over the racks. Let the paste sit for 45 minutes, then rinse clean using a scrubby sponge and warm soapy water.
Read more: We Tried 4 Methods for Cleaning Dirty Oven Racks and Found a Clear Winner
5. Clean your stovetop with a vacuum.
If you’re not using a vacuum to clean your stove, you should start. You can use it to clean underneath the appliance, inside the appliance, and on top of the appliance. That’s right — on top! Instead of brushing up all the crumbs that have accumulated, just vacuum them up in one fell swoop!
Read more: The Unconventional and Surprising Tool I Use to Clean My Stovetop