10 Unexpected Things You Can Get Sparkling Clean With Oven Cleaner

There’s something magical about oven cleaner. Just spray it, close the oven, wait for the product to do its work—and voila, see you later, burned-on grime and food stains. Other cleaning products might not be as efficient as oven cleaner, but the good news is, you can use it to clean lots of other things in your home. It’s not just for cleaning ovens and toaster ovens. Here are ten suggestions. 

First, a note: Always use gloves when you’re working with oven cleaner, and ensure proper ventilation to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

To completely strip a cast iron pan of its seasoning, spray the entire cooking surface with oven spray and put the pan in a sealed plastic bag overnight. The next day, scrub the oven cleaner with a brush, then rinse with soap and water, making sure to dry it immediately. Now it’s ready for a re-seasoning—a great tip for anyone buying their cast-iron secondhand.

If there’s grimy buildup in your kitchen or bathroom tile lines, grab a pair of rubber gloves, pop open a window, and spray oven cleaner on the lines. Wipe off after a few seconds, then rinse the grout with water.

For 10 minutes, allow oven cleaner to sit on your smoke-stained glass fireplace doors, and then wipe clean with a damp rag or sponge. Clean the glass afterward with a vinegar and water mixture after making sure there’s no oven cleaner left on the glass. 

You thought you’d never get those yellow stains off your Pyrex? Try oven cleaner for a sparkling clean. After putting on rubber gloves, cover the stained glassware with oven cleaner, then seal it in a heavy-duty trash bag overnight. Go outside the next morning to open the bag (just make sure to avoid the fumes), then wash the cookware. 

Removing black marks from your pots and pans is as simple as using a bit of oven cleaner. First, heat the pot or pan on the stovetop. Once it’s warm, spray with cleaner, allowing it to sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

Read more: The Clever Reddit Tip for Getting a Le Creuset Dutch Oven Looking Good as New

If you have a stain-ridden stainless steel or metal sink, spray the stained areas with oven cleaner, wait a few minutes, and scrub away with a Magic Eraser. 

As with Pyrex, pots, and pans, oven cleaner does a great job removing old, burned-on food residue from stove top surfaces. Spray the stuck-on food, allow the cleaner to sit for 15 or 20 minutes, and then rub it clean with a sponge or Magic Eraser. 

Stubborn soap-scum rings in a porcelain bathtub are no match for oven cleaner. Just spray the affected area with oven cleaner and allow it to sit and do its work for two or more hours. Then, wipe and rinse! Just be careful not to get any oven cleaner on your shower curtain—the chemicals can ruin plastic and fabric

Oven cleaner is also an effective method for cleaning burnt-on clothes or other gunk of an iron. To protect the non-metal portion, cover it with wax paper, then spray the (cool!) metal surface with oven cleaner, allowing it to sit for ten minutes. Next, rinse the cleaner off, and clean out the holes with damp cotton swabs. Make sure all the oven cleaner is cleaned off the iron plate by ironing an old t-shirt or towel first.

If your straightener or curling iron has product build-up (or you just want to give it a good clean), try a bit of oven cleaner when the iron is turned off and unplugged. Allow the cleaner to sit for an hour, wipe it with a wet rag, and then dry with a cloth. Don’t use the iron until you’re sure it’s totally dry.