This DIY Oven Cleaner Works Every Time (I Swear By It!)
Apartment Therapy’s Spring Cleaning Cure is a free 10-day program that’ll help you achieve a tidier home. Get all assignments delivered to your inbox by signing up here and download our calendar page to follow along.
When gunk and grease build up in your oven, it can contribute to a potential fire risk over time. That’s why the oven needs to be deep-cleaned regularly — here’s how you’re going to do it.
Day 9: Deep-clean your oven.
You should be cleaning your oven at least every three months or so, depending on how often you are using it. A DIY mixture of baking soda and water (plus a vinegar spritz) is great for common messes, but for anything stubborn, you can go with a store-bought cleaner. Don’t forget to clean the oven racks, too (The Pink Stuff does wonders on these!).
Want to skip cleaning your oven altogether? That’s OK too. You can choose to clean a different most-used appliance instead. Here are some options to consider:
- Cooktop: You can follow these guides to get the following types of cooktops clean: how to clean glass stovetops (be mindful to remove debris first to avoid scratches), how to clean gas stoves (make sure to remove the grates and clean them separately), and how to clean electric stove burners (be extra careful not to get the electrical connections wet and to gently clean them).
- Dishwasher: This should be done every three months with a dishwasher cleaner. Be sure to wipe down the seals and exterior, and don’t forget to clean the dishwasher filter too.
- Small appliances: Here are some you can clean: the coffee maker, toaster, air fryer, microwave, or toaster oven.
- Washing machine: This should be cleaned monthly. Here’s how to clean a top-load washer and how to clean a front-load machine — remember to thoroughly clean the seal and gasket! Alternatively, you can rely on a washing machine cleaner that you can easily throw in on a regular or self-cleaning cycle.
- Dryer: Just like washers, you should be routinely cleaning your dryer — especially the lint filter. Additionally, the dryer vent needs to be cleaned at least once a year.
How did cleaning your oven go? And if you didn’t choose to clean it, what appliance did you clean instead? Tell us in the community forum.
More Ways to Participate in the Spring Cleaning Cure:
- Sign up for email updates.
- Visit the Spring Cleaning Cure page and catch up on assignments.
- Download the Spring Cleaning Cure calendar.
- Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall progress here.
- Join the conversation by checking out the Cure board in our community forum.