Your oven is gross—here's how to clean it

Face it, your oven is filthy, but there's no need to be ashamed. It seems like every time you use it, some new spill or stain forms and slowly bakes into that once-pristine enameled surface. Have you asked yourself if you even know how to clean an oven?! Many don't.

Luckily, most ovens include self-cleaning modes that can wipe away all that sticky grease and crusty residue. Even manual cleaning can be made easier with proper maintenance and the right cleaning products.

So are you ready to say goodbye to all that grime? First, take stock of your options. Not all ovens are alike, so be sure to check your owner's manual to see which self-cleaning settings are available to you, as well as the manufacturer's recommendations. With that in mind, here's the lowdown on cleaning an oven.

Utilize your oven’s self cleaning function

Pyrolytic cleaning is the most common type of self-clean function, and also probably the easiest. Pyrolytic cleaning raises the oven temperature to a blistering degree—usually between 900°F and 1,000°F. The cycle lasts a few hours and reduces all that grime to ash, which can be easily wiped away once the oven cools.

While there's some variation between ovens, you'll want to remove the oven racks and wipe out any crumbs before running the cycle. Make sure you won't need to cook anything for at least a few hours, as the cleaning mode will lock your oven and render it unusable for the whole period. When the cycle is over, you'll be able to wipe away the remaining debris with a damp cloth. (Wait until the cavity cools down!)

Not every oven will have this, but some self-clean modes use steam to clean the oven—often alongside a pyrolytic option. These ovens are coated with an enamel that releases grime when it encounters steam and low heat, making it easy to wipe away after the cycle finishes.

The steam clean option tends to work much faster than pyrolytic cleaning (one cycle usually takes under an hour). Furthermore, it doesn’t require nearly as much heat or energy, and it doesn't give off any nasty fumes.

That said, the cleaning isn't as thorough or effective. If your oven has both pyrolytic and steam self-clean cycles, you may want to run the steam self-clean cycle more regularly. This will reduce the need for the pyrolytic mode, which is better suited to large, messy stains.

What You’ll Need

• Damp cloth
• Oven cleaner (optional)

How to clean an oven

1. Turn on self-cleaning mode

Whichever self-cleaning mode your oven uses, read your oven’s manual and follow the instructions. Check whether your oven racks are safe to leave in the oven during the self-cleaning cycle. If not, you’ll want to remove them.

Be prepared to turn on some fans, as it will get hot and release a nasty smell.

Pyrolytic cleaning cycles take a couple of hours,s so plan to clean when you don’t need to use the oven.

2. Let the oven cool

Once the cycle has finished, all the built-up grime will have turned to ash or will be released from the walls. All you need to do is take a damp cloth and wipe it away.

You’ll want to be thorough so the ash doesn’t burn up when you go to use your oven next.

3. Use an oven cleaner

If your self-cleaning function didn’t get everything off or your oven doesn’t offer that cycle, turn to an oven cleaner. Oven cleaners need to be used on a completely cool oven, so you might need to wait until the day after running a self-cleaning cycle before using them.

Oven cleaners spray on and need to sit for an hour. Afterward, you can wipe it away, and all the grime will come with it.

These cleaners also work well on oven racks if you can’t clean them during the self-cleaning cycle.