Asked on Feb 06, 2017

Best way to clean a REALLY dirty oven?

Leah Deverett
by Leah Deverett
I know… this oven is disgusting! I recently moved into a new apartment and the landlords did not leave the place in good condition. I’m determined to get this place cleaned up, starting with the oven!

A few products I’ve heard of using are:
  1. Easy Off
  2. Mr Muscle
  3. Homemade cleaner: baking soda & vinegar

  4. Have you tried any of these products/methods before? Would they work for the exterior of my oven?
    Thank you!
  19 answers
  • William William on Feb 06, 2017

    http://www.hometalk.com/search/discussions?filter=cleaning%20oven

  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Feb 06, 2017

    Baking soda!

  • Yenny Manzi Yenny Manzi on Feb 06, 2017

    Easy Off will do the job. I left it overnight and was impressed how easily the old grease came off. I don't recommend the homemade vinegar and baking soda, I tried it once and it didn't work for me, I scrubbed a lot and the old grease was hard to come off. I hope this helps.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 06, 2017

    Because of that very difficult cleaning process I would recommend the following....Start with Mr Clean Magic Eraser,Follow with a paste of baking soda mixed with white vinegar,use a mild scrub brush and see where you are at,if the problem still exists you can try the oven cleaner,however I have not had any results and my stove is new

    • Leah Deverett Leah Deverett on Feb 07, 2017

      Thanks! Hadn't thought to try Magic Eraser..but I usually have great success with those. Will give it a shot!

  • Rbl17505149 Rbl17505149 on Feb 07, 2017

    Richard Blymiller

    Leave a cup of ammonia in there over night wipe clean I know,I have cleaned for almost ten yes.

  • Barbara Vaughn Barbara Vaughn on Feb 08, 2017

    If you use easy off, that's th best one, make sure to wear gloves, and put down news paper, you may have to clean oven more then once if it's really bad, and have some SOS pads, have fun, try to but the easiest off with no fumes, otherwise you need good ventilation.

  • Suzanne Crowther Suzanne Crowther on Feb 08, 2017

    for spot on cleaning I use baking soda lemon juice a bit white vinegar mix this up make it strong. Remove all the stainless steel collect it all together . Line a deep stainless steel sink wit alfoil jus rip it of the roll add 2 layers into sink pour salt half cup you can add drop detergent place all wracks in and fill with very hot water leave over night wash them in hot soapy water dry they should al look new . With the oven mix up the GET the spot clean mix and spray in side oven coat every thing well if a lot of crap in base mix more soda and lemon juice into a paste add this in a circle motion to baked on bits leave 4 hour give it another spray wait over night wipe clean . When its all sparkling clean add some ammonia in spray bottle add cold water and keep when you use your oven while slightly warm spray inside wipe out it will always stay clean and fresh

    • See 1 previous
    • Suzanne Crowther Suzanne Crowther on Feb 10, 2017

      Your very welcome iv cleaned a few lol you will get a shock when you soak the shelves the burnt on black falls off its the reaction of foil and salt a bit of magic

  • Cathydp464 Cathydp464 on Feb 09, 2017

    I use Dollar Tree's version of Easy Off... I even used it on the oven vent hood, it stripped not only the caked on grease, but 3 layers of paint and is back to it's original shine from the 50's when it was installed.

  • Nelson Amma Nelson Amma on Feb 09, 2017

    You Can Use a mixture of LEMON juice & Baking Soda..Which Can MAke it easier to you.

  • M barnard M barnard on Feb 10, 2017

    Easy Off, low odor, professional. Spray oven interior and racks, leave at least overnight if really bad. Use a Dobie pad with gloves to clean the more crusted areas though they may wipe off. I put the racks in my dishwasher after wiping the worst areas with the Dobie pad, or magic erasers work too but tend to come apart on the racks, though fine for interior walls of oven. I use this method to clean on my self cleaning double ovens as it works better and is far less expensive. My son loves to cook but not the cleaning so much . . . and I am thrilled that he likes to cook and I like to clean. Good deal for me!!! Good luck and hope this works. My oven is 15 years old. Just discovered this method a year ago. NOTE: This easy off will also clean soap scum off glass shower doors like magic. - use the Dobie pad here as well.

    • Leah Deverett Leah Deverett on Feb 13, 2017

      Thanks for your help! Sounds like a great system you and your son have  As long as you don't mind the cleaning!

  • M barnard M barnard on Feb 13, 2017

    Seriously, this product cleans up so easy - it just wipes off - use paper towels so no clean up after. Wet paper towels for final wipe down. Took leass than 10 min and my 2 ovens were a mess, crusted stuff. Shameful to admit . . . but I was working full time and did not realize it was out of hand. Four kids, you can imagine.


    I hope this works for you. Once it's clean and you stay on top of the spills, it's easy! That said, I should admit I HATE to clean . . . so I do sympathize!

  • Ginny Ginny on Feb 13, 2017

    Easy Off or other cleaners suggested by Hometalk members should be fine unless the oven is self-cleaning.

  • Ilan Davidovics Ilan Davidovics on Feb 14, 2017

    This is a lifesaver. Thanks for the tip!

  • Sandra Sandra on Feb 14, 2017

    I had to clean ovens for a living when I was cleaning apartments for an apartment complex so for myself I prefer mr. muscle warm the oven a bit then turn it off . spray spray on mr muscle let it set a bit , overnight if you prefer then wipe down with warm water and do a final wipe down with warm water again if you prefer .worked well for me

  • I don't love chemicals. And no matter how many times you wipe them out of the oven, as soon as it gets turned on the odor of the cleansers reactivate. So I always opt for the baking soda and vinegar trick. It takes some elbow grease, but it works. I remove everything from the oven. Then I make a baking soda/ water paste and I make it thick. Then I spread it all over the inside of the oven and leave it. The next day, I take vinegar and spray it inside and leave it for a bit. Then I use a blue scotch brite pad and scrub. On the glass, I take a razor blade, in a safety handle, and scrape away grease that's left and retreat it with the baking soda mix and scrub again until it's clean. It's a dirty job, but it works. If you have a self cleaning oven and you don't mind using it - I don't use it - you can start there first and loosen up the grime. I find that self cleaning smells bad and doesn't really clean well though.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on May 13, 2021

    The very best oven cleaner I have used is Norwex. It not only works great but it also doesn't have all the horrible fumes. I AM NOT a consultant, a friend gave me a bottle and I will be using it forever going forward.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 13, 2021

    So far the best I have found is a bowl of ammonia, the fumes loosen the baked on stuff. Let it set overnight and wipe off the next day. I do have a self cleaning oven but do not use that cycle, a expensive waste of energy.

  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on May 15, 2021

    Combination of a over cleaner and if you oven has the option turning on the oven cleaner use that too

  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Aug 16, 2021

    this is always my favorite https://amzn.to/3g6GwaI