How to clean your oven? The best tips from cleaning experts

Your oven is one of the most used appliances in your kitchen.

And, with all the overflowing gratins, grease splatters, and burnt food residues... it's also one of the dirtiest appliances in the house!

Luckily for you, I have access to thousands of household helpers available on our platform.

So, I asked the best profiles to share their top tips for cleaning all types of ovens.

In this article, you'll find a summary of all the essential information to bring your oven back to life.

❌ 5 mistakes to avoid when cleaning your oven

Before you start cleaning your oven, it’s important to know the pitfalls to avoid to prevent damaging your appliance or compromising your safety.

Here are the most common mistakes to avoid.

1. Neglecting regular cleaning

Waiting until your oven is very dirty or heavily soiled will make cleaning much harder and more time-consuming.

Grease and food residues build up over time, forming tough layers.

Regular maintenance after each use or at least once a month keeps your oven in good condition, makes cleaning easier, and prevents bad smells.

2. Using harsh chemical products

Using too strong chemical products can damage your oven’s walls, the inner glass, the seals, and even leave harmful residues that could contaminate your food during future cooking sessions.

Additionally, some of these products release toxic fumes when heated.

Opt for natural cleaners like baking soda, white vinegar, or lemon juice, which are just as effective and safe for your health and the environment.

3. Using abrasive sponges

Using metal sponges or hard brushes can scratch the surfaces of your oven, especially the door and oven window.

These scratches not only affect the aesthetics of your appliance but also encourage the buildup of dirt.

Use soft sponges, microfiber cloths, or non-abrasive specialty sponges to clean delicate surfaces without damaging them.

4. Neglecting the oven seals

The seals play a crucial role in the proper functioning of your oven by ensuring perfect insulation.

Neglecting their cleaning can cause premature wear, heat leaks, and increased energy consumption.

Clean them gently with a damp cloth soaked in soapy water, then rinse and dry. Avoid using harsh products or pulling on them, as they are often fragile.

5. Drowning the oven in water

Using a large amount of water during cleaning can damage the electrical components of your oven and cause short circuits.

Be careful, you could cause irreversible damage to your appliance!

Opt for a slightly damp sponge and avoid pouring water directly into the appliance.

After cleaning, thoroughly dry all surfaces with a dry cloth to remove any moisture traces.

Automatic or manual cleaning mode: which should you choose?

Before you begin, it’s important to understand whether you can use an automatic cleaning mode, which is only found in certain ovens, or if you need to go for a traditional manual cleaning.

Pyrolytic oven cleaning

Pyrolytic cleaning is an automatic function present in some high-end ovens.

This method involves heating the oven to around 500°C, burning off all food residues and grease into easy-to-wipe ashes.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Effectively removes tough dirt.	Requires a compatible oven.
No chemicals needed.	Uses a lot of energy.
Greatly reduces manual cleaning effort.	Can release unpleasant smells during the process.

Catalytic oven cleaning

Catalytic ovens have porous enamel-coated walls that absorb and break down grease as soon as the temperature reaches 200°C.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Automatic cleaning during cooking.	Less effective on deeply ingrained residues.
More energy-efficient than pyrolysis.	Catalytic panels need replacing every 5 years.

Hydrolytic oven cleaning

Hydrolytic cleaning uses the power of steam to soften residues, making them easier to remove manually.

Here’s how it works:

1. Fill the tray with water and a bit of white vinegar or lemon juice.

2. Heat the oven to 70-80°C for 30 minutes.

3. Once the oven cools down, wipe the walls with a sponge or cloth.

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Natural and eco-friendly method.	Limited effectiveness: Less effective on stubborn grease and ingrained residues, requiring additional manual cleaning.
Uses less energy.	Best for light dirt: Suitable for regular maintenance but less effective on a heavily soiled oven.
No risk of smoke or unpleasant smells.	Not fully automatic: Residues must be wiped after the cycle, adding a manual step.

Complete manual cleaning: time-consuming but effective!

If your oven doesn’t have an automatic cleaning function, manual cleaning is the only solution left.

Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:

1. Preparation: Unplug the oven and ensure it is cool. Remove the grids, trays, and accessories to clean separately.

2. Apply the cleaning product: Use an appropriate product on both the inside and outside walls.

3. Let it sit: Leave the product on for the recommended time, anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.

4. Clean and rinse: Scrub the surfaces with a non-abrasive sponge to remove the stubborn stains.

5. Rinse: Wipe with a damp cloth to remove any product residue.

I'll explain everything in detail below.

Best oven cleaners: what to use for manual cleaning

This is where the tips shared by the fantastic trusted cleaners available on Yoojo will help you!

Here are their top tips for cleaning an oven from top to bottom.

❄️ Baking soda: the magic product

Baking soda is a product with countless uses!

Its mild abrasive properties help lift residues without scratching surfaces.

📋 How to use it:

1. Prepare a paste by mixing 3 tablespoons of baking soda with a bit of water.

2. Apply the paste to the inside walls of the oven, focusing on the most soiled areas.

3. Let it sit for at least 12 hours or overnight for maximum effectiveness.

4. Scrub with a non-abrasive sponge to lift the residues.

5. Rinse with a damp cloth to remove any product residue.

💧 White vinegar: a top ally

Like baking soda, white vinegar can be used in many ways!

It’s an excellent degreaser and natural disinfectant, ideal for dissolving grease.

📋 How to use it:

1. Spray pure white vinegar on the oven walls.

2. Let it sit for 30 minutes.

3. Wipe with a damp sponge.

🍋 Lemon Juice: Eco-Friendly and Economical

Lemon juice has degreasing properties and leaves a fresh scent.

Many providers I’ve spoken to use lemon juice, combined with baking soda.

📋 How to use it:

1. Squeeze the juice of two lemons into a heat-resistant bowl.

2. Place the bowl in the oven and heat to 80°C for 30 minutes.

3. Turn off the oven and let it cool.

4. Clean the walls with a damp sponge to remove softened residues.

⚪ Dishwasher tablets: An underestimated tip

Dishwasher tablets contain powerful degreasing agents.

You might not think of them, but they’re highly effective, and you probably already have some at home!

📋 How to use it:

1. Dissolve one tablet in a bowl of hot water.

2. Use a sponge to apply the solution to the oven walls.

3. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes.

4. Scrub and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

🧼 Specialised oven cleaning products

It's obvious, but I recommend using these only if you can’t clean your oven with the tips above.

They’re very effective, but they’re also very abrasive chemicals... so use them sparingly!

📋 Usage tips:

• Read the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

• Wear gloves and ventilate the room well during use.

• Avoid contact with heating elements and seals to avoid damage.

Now, I’ll finish with a video I love because it perfectly sums up the process, without 30 minutes of unnecessary chatter:

Why hire an oven cleaning expert?

Between the time required, the physical effort, and the fear of damaging your appliance, this task can become overwhelming.

If you don’t want to spend two hours of your weekend scrubbing away grease, now is the perfect time to hand this task over to an expert.

That’s why Yoojo was created, and that’s why we offer an oven cleaning service (check the best experts near you).

Let me explain everything!

❌ Cons of cleaning your oven yourself

Cleaning your oven yourself might seem cost-effective, but it comes with several disadvantages that are important to consider before you dive in.

Disadvantages	Details
Time and effort required:	Deep cleaning an oven can take several hours, especially if it hasn’t been maintained regularly. Patience is often needed to remove burnt grease and stuck-on food residues. Some areas are also hard to reach, making the process even more complicated.
Results may not be up to par:	Without the right products and techniques, some stains may persist despite your efforts. Natural methods have their limits when dealing with a very dirty oven, potentially leading to unsatisfactory results despite the time spent.
Risk of damaging your appliance:	Using the wrong products or abrasive materials can damage the internal surfaces, heating elements, or seals of your oven. Poor handling can also cause malfunctions, leading to costly repairs.

✅ Pros of hiring a cleaning expert

Hiring a professional to clean your oven comes with many advantages that easily outweigh the already low cost of the service.

Advantages	Details
Save precious time:	By hiring an expert to clean your oven, you free up time for other personal or professional activities. The provider takes care of everything, from assessing your oven’s condition to thoroughly cleaning every component.
Impeccable results:	Providers have specific products and equipment designed to remove even the most stubborn dirt. Their expertise allows them to clean your oven deeply without causing damage, ensuring an optimal result.
Preserve your appliance:	A professional cleaning helps extend your oven’s lifespan. By taking care of sensitive parts and using non-abrasive products, they prevent premature wear and tear.

Conclusion: choose the best solution for cleaning your oven!

Keeping your oven clean is important to ensure its efficiency, extend its lifespan, and guarantee the quality of your dishes.

Whether you opt for manual cleaning with natural products, use automatic modes, or prefer to hire a professional, the key is to choose the method that works best for you.

If your oven is very dirty, it may be more economical and less hassle to hire a provider.

The cost of hiring a provider is close to the price of the products and accessories required for a deep clean.

Plus, you gain precious hours of free time, avoid physical effort, and eliminate the risk of damaging your appliance!