Do you hate cleaning your oven because it’s an all day affair involving toxic chemicals or smoke? Me. Too. I’ve used Easy Off oven cleaner & I refuse to go through that again. My life philosophy is if I have to suit up in hazmat gear, I’m not using it no matter how much time it saves me.
The problem is finding a non-toxic oven cleaner that actually works.
I tried every natural oven cleaner recipe on Pinterest but there is something about this new gas oven that bakes the grease on extra tight.
Baking soda + hot towel: Ha!
Lemon + salt: Bahahaha!
Dishwashing soap + vinegar + baking soda: Good try but no cigar.
I tried EVERYTHING over Mardi Gras break this year, putting in 8 hours of elbow grease to end up with this. Not good. Not good at all.
I also gave myself a few grease stains while I was at it. See how I removed them in a snap.
I decided to tackle the beast one last time & I won!
Surprisingly, none of these products are made specifically for cleaning inside ovens but they are perfect for removing baked on grease.
Best for cleaning oven glass:
The citric acid in Cerama Bryte really loosens up baked on grease & their razor blade scraper is the most comfortable to use. Spread it on thick and let it sit for a bit. A bit = go make a cup of coffee bc you’re going to be at this a while.
Citric acid is also amazing at removing labels.
If your oven isn’t as bad as mine, you can get away with scrubbing small baked on spots with the non-scratch sponges & skip the scraper. If you can barely see through the oven door glass like mine, continue on.
Full Disclosure: You’re probably going to be scraping the glass for an hour or two. I was being super careful not to scratch the glass so it took me about 2.
After a good overall scrubbing with the non-scratch sponge, load the scraper with a brand new razor and carefully scrape off the baked on bits. If the Cerama Bryte dries, wipe it up with a paper towel and reapply. A little goes a long way, so don’t over do it.
Best for Non-Glass Oven Interior
Use the same process as above using Weiman’s Glass Cooktop instead. I don’t know why this cuts through grease better on the enameled parts but it just does. It doesn’t work as well on the actual glass which is why I used Cerama Bryte on it. Weiman’s polishes up to a brilliant shine, making your oven look brand new!
You can use both products for quick clean ups without needing gloves but since you will be working with them for a couple hours I would go ahead & wear nitrile gloves. Weiman’s & Cerama Bryte are drying on top of touching grease is not my favorite thing.
My Everyday Grease Cleaner
My go to for cleaning grease around my stove, backsplash, and exhaust hood is my Jiffy Steamer. That’s right. I use a garment steamer to clean my kitchen. It’s seriously so easy without having to use harsh chemicals or making a bigger mess. Seriously, I love it.
I also use steam to kill weeds.
I like to use a mixture of white vinegar & baking soda to clean up as well. It cuts through grease better than Simple Green and doesn’t dry my hands out. I also kinda like it because the pungent smell alerts my husband to the fact that I am cleaning, signaling to him that it’s time to get off the couch to help. (All about that training yall. Ha!)
Have questions? Let me know in the comments and be sure to check out more of my favorite cleaning products.
Leann says
I have burnt on grease inside my new self-cleaning oven. I’ve been using the Cerama Bryte on the glass top and had already discovered how great it worked on the inside glass of the oven door. I’m a little worried I’ll damage the oven coating. I guess that’s why Cerama Bryte won’t recommend in case it messes up the warranty. I’d rather clean up a spill here or there than run the clean cycle. It’s so hot and kind of scary. I’ve only used it once. One site had a repairman that said they get a lot of repair calls after a customer has run the cleaning cycle. A fuse has usually blown. I’ll pick up some Weiman’s tomorrow. Just wondering if your oven has a self-cleaning feature. Love your site.
Genevieve says
Thank you!
This oven is not self-cleaning bc it’s gas but I’ve had ovens with the feature & “self-cleaning” my foot. Ha! It’s really awful & just brings the internal temp super high. It’s a really awful process that can’t be stopped unless you throw your breaker.
My advice is to just use elbow grease instead of possibly burning your house down. It’s also oddly satisfying to remove all that gunk. I use the citric acid based cleaners on everything inside my oven & if it can be unscrewed & cleaned in the sink instead, I do it. My back is too old for cleaning hunched over for that long.