Oven Cleaning Products That Work (and When to Call a Pro)

The oven cleaning products that work fall into a few types: bicarbonate of soda paste for light grease, oven gel kits for heavy build-up, caustic sprays for the worst carbon, and scraper blades for glass. Use one product at a time, never mix them, and call a professional when the build-up is thick, the racks will not come clean or you would rather avoid the fumes.

How to choose the right type

The best product depends on how dirty the oven is, not on the brand. A quick guide:

• Light grease and a few splashes: bicarbonate of soda paste or white vinegar
• A few months of use: a cream cleanser for the glass and a gel kit for the inside
• A year or more of baked-on carbon: a gel kit or caustic spray, with proper protection
• Glass door with carbon stuck on: a scraper blade
• An oven with a self-clean function: use it, as the manual describes

The brand names below are examples of a type of product, not recommendations. We have not tested them, and we are not ranking them. Always read the label and your oven's manual.

8 oven cleaning methods and products

1. 1

   Bicarbonate of soda paste

   The classic home method. Mix three or four tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with a little water to make a spreadable paste. Remove the racks, spread the paste over the cool interior while avoiding the heating elements and any fan openings, and leave it for at least 12 hours. Wipe it away with a damp cloth, using a plastic scraper for stubborn patches.

   Best for light to moderate grease, and for households that want to avoid harsher products.

   Watch out: It is gentle, so it needs time and patience, and thick carbon will often need a second go.

2. 2

   White vinegar in a spray bottle

   White vinegar is a mild acid that loosens light grease and cuts through smears on the door glass. Spray a little onto a cool surface, leave for a few minutes, then wipe with a damp cloth. Use it on its own, not on top of another product.

   Best for quick wipe-downs and glass.

   Watch out: It will not shift baked-on carbon, and the smell lingers for a while, so open a window.

3. 3

   Cream cleansers

   A cream cleanser, such as Cif Cream, has a mild abrasive in it that helps lift marks from enamel, glass and the hob top. Apply with a damp sponge, rub gently and rinse well.

   Best for the outside of the oven, door glass and hob surrounds.

   Watch out: Rinse thoroughly so no residue is left to bake on the next time you use the oven.

4. 4

   Oven gel kits with soaking bags

   Gel kits, such as Oven Pride, include a gel you brush onto the interior and a large bag for soaking the racks. You leave the gel for the time on the label, usually several hours or overnight, then wipe it out. Racks go in the bag with the gel, and the carbon loosens without scrubbing.

   Best for heavily used ovens and sooty racks.

   Watch out: Gels of this kind are strong. Wear gloves and eye protection, follow the label exactly and ventilate the room.

5. 5

   Caustic aerosol sprays

   Spray oven cleaners are powerful and fast. They work well on thick, baked-on grease, but they are the most hazardous option for a home kitchen. Wear rubber gloves and eye protection, open windows and keep children and pets out of the room while you work and until all the residue is rinsed away.

   Best for heavy build-up that nothing gentler has shifted.

   Watch out: Keep them off rubber door seals, aluminium parts and any surface the manufacturer says to avoid. Check your oven manual first, because many coated or catalytic liners should not have an oven cleaner applied.

6. 6

   Scraper blades for glass

   A scraper with a replaceable blade is the quickest way to take carbon off the inside of the oven door glass. Wet the glass with water or washing-up liquid, hold the blade flat against it at a shallow angle and push in short strokes.

   Best for the door glass and clear glass hob tops, if the manufacturer allows it.

   Watch out: Never use a blade on enamel, painted or coated surfaces, because it will scratch them. Keep fingers behind the blade and store it with the guard on.

7. 7

   Pyrolytic self-clean settings

   If your oven has a pyrolytic or self-clean function, it heats to a very high temperature and burns food residue to ash, which you wipe away once the oven has cooled. Remove the racks first unless your manual says otherwise, and wipe out any loose spills so they do not smoke.

   Best for ovens that already have the function and are cleaned every few months.

   Watch out: Ventilate the kitchen and keep pets, particularly birds, out of the room. The cycle takes a couple of hours and uses a lot of electricity.

8. 8

   Soaking racks in hot water with washing powder

   Oven racks are often the dirtiest part and the hardest to fit in a sink. Lay them in the bath on an old towel, cover with hot water, add a few tablespoons of washing powder or a dishwasher tablet, and leave for several hours. Scrub with a non-scratch pad and rinse.

   Best for racks and trays.

   Watch out: Rinse the bath well afterwards, and do not use this method on racks with a non-stick finish.

Safety when cleaning an oven

• Never mix cleaning products, including bicarbonate of soda with vinegar or bleach with anything else. Use one product at a time and rinse between them
• Clean the oven only when it is cool and switched off at the wall
• Wear rubber gloves, and eye protection for gels and sprays
• Open windows and keep the extractor on
• Keep children and pets out of the kitchen until the oven has been rinsed and wiped
• Rinse every surface that touches food until no residue remains, then run the oven empty on a warm setting for a few minutes
• Check the manual before using anything on coated, catalytic or enamel liners
• Store products out of reach, in their original bottles

If you would rather use gentler products around the home, our guide to eco-friendly cleaning products explains what the labels mean.

How often to clean your oven

A simple routine keeps the job small:

Between proper cleans, wipe spills with a damp cloth once the oven has cooled. Fresh spills come off in seconds, and that is what stops them becoming carbon. A baking tray on the lower shelf catches drips. For hob and extractor care, see our oven and hob cleaning help page.

When to call a professional

It is worth paying someone when:

• The carbon is thick and has not shifted after one or two goes
• The racks are black and will not come clean
• Grease has got between the panes of the oven door
• You have a double oven or range cooker, which takes a long time to do yourself
• Someone in the house has asthma, or you have small children or pets and would rather avoid the products
• You are moving out and the oven is on the inventory

What a professional oven clean costs

We use non-caustic products, so the kitchen is ready to use as soon as the oven is back together. For more detail, see oven cleaning prices and professional oven cleaning versus doing it yourself. An oven clean can also be added to a deep clean.