7 Cleaning Tips to Make Your Oven and Stovetop Sparkle

Start with the gentlest option and work your way up, says Kait Schulhof of A Clean Bee blog and podcast. She likes using distilled white vinegar because “it’s safe, inexpensive, very effective and relatively sustainable.”​

If you use commercial products, check the Environmental Working Group’s website about potentially harmful ingredients. Also, check your appliance’s manual for the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations. Improper cleaning could invalidate the warranty.​

3. Remove oven racks​

Remove the racks and soak them overnight in a bathtub or laundry sink full of warm, soapy water to break down the grease and burnt-on food. If you use a tub, line it with towels to protect it from scratches. In the morning, wipe the racks down, scrubbing off any remaining bits.​

4. Scour the oven interior​

If the oven’s interior isn’t too dirty, wipe it down with a sponge or cloth soaked in distilled white vinegar, Schulhof advises. ​

Another natural method is to apply a paste made of baking soda and water to the oven walls, then let it sit for 30-60 minutes or overnight. Afterward, wipe down with a sponge soaked in distilled white vinegar, removing all the paste from cracks in the oven.​

For a deep clean or if the oven is really grimy, consider using a commercial oven cleaner. Some people prefer foam because it clings to surfaces, whereas spray can drip. Use an old toothbrush for corners and cracks. Check out Easy-Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner, Goo Gone Oven & Grill Cleaner or Kona Safe/Clean Oven & Grill Cleaner Spray.​

Avoid soap because it leaves a film, Schulhof says, and be wary of anything not labeled an oven cleaner because it may leave a residue that can create fumes when the oven heats up.​

5. Use the self-clean setting​

If your oven is really dirty, use the self-cleaning feature. Typically, a self-cleaning oven setting raises the temperature to a high heat in order to burn off any crud. Some ovens also have a steam-cleaning setting, which uses water and a lower temperature to allow residue to be wiped away more easily. Before activating, first empty the oven, including the racks, and use a silicone or wooden tool to scrape off encrusted food to minimize smoke and reduce the risk of fire. Steam cleaning may take 1 to 1.5 hours, while the high-heat self-cleaning approach may take three hours or longer. It will also heat up the room and may produce fumes, so open the windows or turn on a fan for ventilation. Afterward, let the oven cool and wipe down the inside, if needed. ​

“The heat is doing all of the hard work for you,” Holdefehr says. “It cleans with minimal effort without a lot of chemicals.” ​

When Elizabeth Skidmore, 58, of St. Petersburg, Florida, moved last year to a new home, she tried the self-cleaning feature on the oven after unsuccessfully trying to clean it herself. “It got it so clean — it was amazing,” she says.​

6. Don’t forget the door​

Even if you use a self-cleaning feature, the oven door’s window may not look clean. Spray a glass cleaner on a cloth or spread a thick coat of a baking-soda-and-water mixture on the glass, letting it sit for 20 minutes to overnight and then wipe, Holdefehr said. ​

7. Clean the cooktop often​

Experts recommend cleaning your cooktop after every use — or as often as possible — so spills don’t harden. Wipe it down weekly. ​

The cleaning process and products used depend on the type of cooktop. Soapy warm water or baking-soda paste works on most surfaces, including drip pans, electric coils and gas grates, Holdefehr says. Wipe well, leaving no residue.​

For stainless steel, use white vinegar to clean and remove fingerprints, or a specialty product like Weiman Glass Cooktop Cleaner and Polish, Schulhof says. For glass, use the baking-soda paste with liquid soap on burn marks (let sit for at least an hour) and with vinegar for watermarks (let sit for two nights covered in plastic wrap). Also check out Carbona Ceramic Cooktop Cleaner and EZ Brite Glass and Ceramic Cooktop Cleaner & Conditioner.​

When it comes to cleaning, a little effort goes a long way. The more your get into the habit of regular cleaning, the longer you can go between deep cleans. And a brighter oven and stovetop make for an inviting kitchen and a welcome place to create delicious meals. ​