In this post, we share a simple six-step process for cleaning the oven without using unnecessary chemicals. By using soap and a few simple tools, you can restore your oven to its former condition in an environmentally friendly way.

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Clean your oven in six simple steps, completely without unnecessary chemicals!

1. Start by brushing all the loose “debris” out of the oven with a brush.

This is what the oven looks like before we begin treating it with soap. A few simple steps will make it look like new again.

When it comes to soap, it is much easier to clean the oven with a fatty soap. Fat dissolves fat—the like-dissolves-like principle. Dirt in the oven is often grease. What isn’t grease is food residue from plants or animals. A rule of thumb for natural cleaning is to use something alkaline to remove residue from plants or animals. Soapa is both fatty and alkaline.

Another advantage of solid soap is that it is so firm and thick that you can create a thick foam without it running off the oven’s inner walls and ceiling.

2. Work the soap into all the oven’s surfaces with a little water. Some ovens have parts that can be removed and cleaned separately.

3. Remove the baking trays and racks and cover them with soap. Use plenty of soap and water. They need to be thoroughly wet for this to work. Then place everything in a plastic bag and seal it. Leave this package wet for at least 24 hours, or preferably longer if you have time. Make sure it stays wet and covered with soap and water throughout. This will loosen the dirt on the rack so you can easily remove it afterward with the eco-fiber cloth or brush.

Start the oven at 150–180 degrees for about 20 minutes. For extra effect, place a bowl of water inside. It’s the steam we’re after! Hot water and soap work well together.

4. Be careful when you start wiping out the oven! Let the water cool before you start wiping out the oven. If you have time, leave the oven with soap in it overnight. That way, you can be sure it has cooled by the next day, and the soap and water will have had extra time to work while you take care of other things.
Our oven cleaning kit includes a brush with really stiff bristles. Use the brush to scrub the surfaces in the oven. Wipe them out with the cloth and repeat until you are satisfied. If there is really stubborn baked-on residue, you may need to use the scraper, but be careful not to 1 cut yourself or 2 damage the surface.

5. The oven door. It is time to take it apart, but first remove the inner side of the glass, which is always the dirtiest, and here you may need both an eco-fiber cloth and a scraper.
A bonus tip: Take a couple of photos of the clips and fasteners in the oven door so you can look at the pictures and see how it should be assembled. This makes it easier to put the door back together later; there are many different oven doors, and some are really tricky to reassemble. 

Polish and scrape the glass panels (there are usually two) on both sides, then put them back.

If you are having problems with the oven door, there is a separate blog post specifically about the oven door here.

6. Now it is time for the racks. Take them out of the bag with soap and water and scrub them clean. It is a good idea to do this in the sink, as it will then be easy to rinse them off as well. 
Put it back together and then you can start cooking again!

Can this be done faster? -Yes, of course! There is almost always a stronger chemical you can find, but the question is whether you want to deal with it and whether you want to cook food in the oven afterward.
With this method, you let time, heat, soap, and soap do the heavy lifting.

 This is what it looks like when it is finished!

We have put together a kit that contains everything you need: one package of solid, concentrated, fragrance-free soap, 230 ml; an eco-fiber cloth; a glass cooktop scraper; and a small, coarse scrubbing brush. You can find the kit here.

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Questions and Answers

What are the basic tools and products needed to clean the oven according to the description?
To clean the oven, you need a sturdy brush, solid soap, a scraper, water, and an eco-fiber cloth. You can find all of this in the Soapa Oven Cleaning Kit.

Why is it suggested to leave the baking trays and racks soaked in soap and water for at least 24 hours?
Leaving the baking trays and racks soaked in soap and water for at least 24 hours dissolves the dirt, making them easier to clean later.

What is the benefit of taking photos of the clips and fasteners in the oven door before taking it apart?
Taking photos of the clips and fasteners in the oven door makes reassembly easier after cleaning by providing a visual reference for how the door should be put back together.

Buy the Oven Cleaning Kit here