Few things are as frustrating (well, at least to me, an avid cook) as a stained, greasy and clouded oven door. Not only does it take away from its functionality, but it turns what should be the perfect centrepiece appliance in your kitchen, the oven, into an eyesore that you’d do anything to hide away.
Before reaching for harsh chemicals, abrasives and even the screwdriver (to attempt to take apart the door), use our step-by-step guide: How to clean oven glass properly and get rid of stubborn stains.
How to clean oven glass properly
While there are a few tips to incorporate into your daily routine – like wiping down any spills or baked-on foods as they happen – grease and grime still tend to build up. The best way to keep the oven and its door spotless is to give it a regular, semi-deep clean. Here’s how:
What you’ll need
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Warm water
- Liquid mild dish soap
- A container/bowl
- Spray bottle
- Distilled white vinegar
- Soft-bristled brush
- Microfibre cloth
- Hot water
Cleaning steps
- Turn on the oven and preheat to 50º to 100ºC (for 10 minutes or so). This helps loosen baked-on foods and grease.
- Once at temperature, switch the oven off. Be careful – if it’s gotten too hot to handle, leave it to cool down for a few minutes before starting.
- Meanwhile, in a container or bowl, mix equal parts of bicarb and warm water to form a paste. Start with 2 tablespoons each.
- Spread this paste inside the oven door and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes, keeping the door closed.
- While that paste sits, use hot soapy water and a microfibre cloth to scrub and wash the exterior of the oven door. Wiping dry with a kitchen paper towel or another dry microfibre cloth.
- Using the soft-bristled brush, gently scrub the paste in circular motions, adding more water as necessary.
- Wipe down with hot, soapy water and a microfibre cloth. Buffing dry with a kitchen paper towel or another dry microfibre cloth.
Cleaning steps for stubborn stains
For those very dark, greasy stains, we recommend first repeating the above steps, this time adding vinegar to the mix, before reaching for a commercial bottle of oven cleaner (like the types where breathing is out of the question).
- Repeat steps 1 to 4 from above.
- After 10 or 15 minutes have passed, lightly spray the paste with a spray bottle filled with distilled vinegar. Concentrating on spots that have seriously stubborn stains. Keep the oven door open to avoid the runny mixture from clogging the door frame.
- The mixture should start to fizz – leave it for another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Use a wooden spoon, soft-bristled brush or plastic scraper (never metal) to remove loosened buildup and scrub gently with a soft sponge.
- Use hot, soapy water and a microfibre cloth to rinse and wipe down the oven door.
- Buff dry with a kitchen paper towel or a dry microfibre cloth.
Alternatively, if all else fails, consider a steam clean. Hand-held steam cleaners are available online and are suitable for removing mild to moderate oven glass stains. Direct the steam onto the oven door to loosen the baked-on foods and grease buildup. Then, using hot, soapy water and a microfibre cloth, rinse and wipe the oven door clean. Buff dry to avoid watermarks.
Safety tips
- Be careful when heating the oven. Ensure it is at a level that you can handle, i.e. won’t cause burns.
- Always use warm or hot water, never cold. Because we’ve heated the glass door, it might crack when cold water is used on it.
- Use rubber gloves when handling any cleaners and dealing with grease and grime. Even natural cleaners, in combination with food buildups, might cause skin irritations and rashes.
- Never use metal scrapers or steel wool to clean the glass – it will cause scratches and lead to even more buildup of food.
