Key Takeaways
- Baking soda and vinegar are all you need to cut through baked-on grease and food residue.
- Overnight paste method works best — apply before bed, wipe clean in the morning.
- No toxic fumes means you can clean without opening every window in the house.
- Clean your oven every 3 months (or monthly if you cook frequently) to prevent heavy buildup.
- The self-clean cycle is not always ideal — it can produce smoke, odors, and even damage heating elements over time.
Commercial oven cleaners work, but they come with trade-offs: harsh fumes, chemical residue near where you cook food, and warning labels that read like a hazmat manual. The good news is that you do not need any of it. A box of baking soda, some white vinegar, and a little patience will get your oven just as clean.
This guide walks you through the entire process step by step, from removing the racks to tackling the glass door. Whether your oven has a light layer of splatter or months of baked-on grime, these methods will handle it.
What You Will Need
- Baking soda (about half a cup)
- White vinegar in a spray bottle
- Dish soap
- Water
- Rubber gloves
- Damp cloths or sponges
- A plastic or silicone spatula for scraping
- Old towels (this gets messy)
That is it. No special products, no trip to the store for a specific brand. You probably have everything in your kitchen right now.
Step-by-Step: Clean Your Oven Naturally
Step 1: Remove the Oven Racks
Pull out the racks and set them aside. You will clean these separately. Remove any large, loose pieces of food from the oven floor — a quick pass with a dry cloth or paper towel works fine.
Step 2: Make the Baking Soda Paste
Mix half a cup of baking soda with 2-3 tablespoons of water until you get a spreadable paste. It should have the consistency of toothpaste. If it is too dry, add a bit more water. If too runny, add more baking soda.
Step 3: Coat the Interior
Wearing rubber gloves, spread the paste all over the inside of your oven. Focus on the floor, back wall, and sides. Avoid the heating elements. The paste will turn brown as it absorbs grease — that is normal and means it is working.
Pay extra attention to areas with heavy buildup. Apply a thicker layer there.
Step 4: Let It Sit Overnight
Close the oven door and leave the paste for at least 12 hours. Overnight is ideal. The baking soda needs time to break down the baked-on grease and food residue. This is the step that does the heavy lifting — do not skip or shorten it.
Step 5: Clean the Oven Racks
While the paste works overnight, soak the racks in your bathtub or a large bin. Fill with hot water, add a few tablespoons of dish soap, and let them soak for the same amount of time. In the morning, scrub with a brush or sponge. Most grime will come right off.
Step 6: Wipe Out the Paste
The next day, take a damp cloth and wipe out as much of the baking soda paste as you can. Use a plastic spatula to scrape off stubborn spots. You will see the brown, grimy paste lifting away and taking the baked-on mess with it.
Step 7: Spray With Vinegar
Spray white vinegar over any remaining baking soda residue. It will fizz — that reaction helps lift the last bits of grime. Wipe everything down with a clean, damp cloth. Repeat until the interior is free of residue.
Step 8: Replace the Racks
Dry the racks completely and slide them back in. Your oven is clean, chemical-free, and ready to use immediately. No need to run a burn-off cycle or wait for fumes to clear.
How to Clean the Oven Door Glass
The glass panel on your oven door collects splatter on both sides. For the inside surface:
- Make a thin baking soda paste and spread it on the glass.
- Let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
- Spray with vinegar and wipe again for a streak-free finish.
For the space between the glass panels, check your oven manual. Many oven doors can be partially disassembled for cleaning. If yours cannot, a long, thin brush wrapped in a damp cloth can reach through the bottom vent slot.
Quick Tips for Keeping Your Oven Clean
- Line the bottom with foil or a silicone mat to catch drips (check your manual first — some manufacturers advise against foil).
- Wipe up spills as soon as the oven cools. Fresh spills take 30 seconds to clean. Baked-on spills take 30 minutes.
- Do a light wipe-down monthly so you never need a deep clean again.
- Use a covered baking dish for foods that tend to splatter.
What About the Self-Clean Cycle?
Most modern ovens have a self-clean feature that heats the oven to extreme temperatures (around 900°F) to burn off residue. While it works, there are downsides:
- It produces smoke and strong odors, especially if there is heavy buildup.
- The extreme heat can damage door seals and heating elements over time.
- It takes 3-5 hours and heats up your entire kitchen.
- You cannot use the oven during the cycle or for a while afterward.
The baking soda method is gentler on your oven, produces zero fumes, and gives you just as good a result. If you would rather leave the deep cleaning to someone else, Otesse's cleaning professionals include oven cleaning as part of our deep clean packages.
A Clean Oven Without the Chemical Headache
Cleaning your oven without chemicals is not harder — it just requires a bit of planning. Apply the paste before bed, wipe it out in the morning, and you are done. No fumes, no gloves rated for industrial use, no anxiety about chemical residue near your food.
If your oven (or your entire kitchen) needs more help than a DIY session can handle, reach out to Otesse for a professional deep clean. We use eco-friendly products throughout our service and cover homes across Oregon.
