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The Focus Way · Cleaning guide

How to clean an oven: interior, racks and door glass

By the Focus Cleaning team · Published

The short answer

Treat the oven as three jobs. For the interior of a standard enamel oven, spread a bicarb soda paste on the cold oven (away from the elements and fan), leave it a few hours or overnight, then wipe it out and mist vinegar on any residue. Soak removable racks in hot soapy water. Clean the door glass with hot water and detergent rather than bicarb, which can be abrasive on glass. Pyrolytic, catalytic and telescopic-runner ovens have their own rules, so check your manual first.

Clean oven interior and glass door after an oven clean

Before you start

What you'll need

  • Your oven's user manual (or the model number, to find it online)
  • Bicarb soda and water
  • White vinegar in a spray bottle
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Rubber gloves
  • Plastic spatula, non-scratch pads and microfibre cloths
  • A laundry tub or bath for the racks, lined with an old towel

Safety first

  • Only clean an oven that is switched off and completely cold.
  • Keep paste and liquids off the heating elements, the fan and the door seal.
  • If you choose a commercial oven cleaner, many are caustic: follow the label exactly, wear gloves and eye protection, and ventilate well.
  • Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaning products. Some combinations release toxic gas.
  • Keep the room ventilated: open a window and run the exhaust fan while you work.
  • Wear gloves, read the label on any product, and follow its directions.
  • Store products in their original labelled containers, out of reach of children and pets.

Check the surface

  • Pyrolytic (self-cleaning) ovens: use the oven's pyrolytic program as the manual describes, and remove any racks, runners and accessories it says can't stay in. Don't use oven cleaner inside unless the manual allows it.
  • Catalytic liners absorb splatter and are designed to self-clean at high temperature. Don't scrub or use oven cleaner on them.
  • Telescopic runners shouldn't be soaked. Wipe them with a damp soapy cloth, or follow the manual.
  • Door glass: only remove the door or its panels if your manual explains how for your model. Only use a glass scraper if the manual says it's suitable.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Switch off and let it cool

    Turn the oven off and wait until it is completely cold. Switch it off at the wall if you can.

  2. 2

    Remove racks and trays

    Take out the racks, trays and removable shelf supports your manual allows. Brush out loose crumbs.

  3. 3

    Soak the racks

    Put plain racks and trays in a towel-lined tub with hot water and dishwashing liquid, and leave them to soak. Leave telescopic runners out of the soak.

  4. 4

    Apply bicarb paste to the interior

    For a standard enamel interior, mix bicarb soda with a little water into a spreadable paste and coat the base, sides and back, keeping clear of the elements, fan and seal. Skip this step for catalytic liners.

  5. 5

    Leave it to work

    Close the door and leave the paste for a few hours, or overnight for heavy build-up.

  6. 6

    Wipe the interior out

    Lift the paste with a plastic spatula and a damp cloth, rinsing the cloth often.

  7. 7

    Mist vinegar on the residue

    Spray a little vinegar on any white residue so it foams, then wipe again with a clean damp cloth until no residue is left in the corners.

  8. 8

    Clean the door glass

    Wash the inside of the door glass with hot water and dishwashing liquid on a soft cloth, then dry it. Don't use bicarb on the glass.

  9. 9

    Scrub, rinse and dry the racks

    Scrub the soaked racks with a non-scratch pad, rinse, dry fully and refit them.

What the Focus team recommends

Read the manual before the first clean: the oven type changes what is safe. Wiping spills once the oven has cooled after cooking stops them baking on, and a light clean every few months is far easier than a year of build-up.

Questions

Can I use bicarb soda on the oven door glass?

CHOICE advises against it, because bicarb can be abrasive on glass. Hot water and detergent on a soft cloth is the gentler starting point.

Should I use a razor scraper on burnt-on spots?

Only if your manual says a glass scraper is suitable for your oven door. Some glass and coatings scratch easily.

How do I clean a pyrolytic oven?

Follow the manual: remove the accessories it lists, run the pyrolytic program, and once the oven is cold wipe out the ash with a damp cloth. Clean the inside of the door glass before running the cycle, as CHOICE recommends.

How do I clean between the door glass panes?

Many oven doors can be taken apart, but every model is different. Only do it if your manual shows how.

Sources and further reading

Appliance and product manuals always take priority over general advice.

Last reviewed:

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