10 Jul 2025 How to Finally Clean Your Dirty Oven Without Scrubbing All Day, According to Pro Cleaners
See the full article in The Spruce
By Sarah Lyon
Key Takeaways:
- Oven buildup worsens over time, especially with roasting or broiling.
- Use vinegar steam or baking soda paste for easy, no-scrub cleaning.
- Prevent messes with regular wiping, oven liners, and quick spill cleanup.
Oven buildup is, unfortunately, inevitable, and the more often you cook, the more it will occur.
“As food heats up, the grease, oils, and food bits can splatter or drip onto the oven walls, and over time, these bits harden and turn into tough stains,” Robin Murphy, the chief cleaning officer at Maid Brigade White Plains, says.
Those who turn to methods like broiling and roasting when cooking will be prone to more buildup in their oven, Murphy explains, due to the way heat breaks down oil and fat.
How to Clean Your Oven With Vinegar Steam
Vinegar steam is one method for cleaning. Do keep in mind, Murphy notes, that this approach is going to be more effective when you’re going about routine maintenance, not tackling major buildup. Her go-to process for using vinegar steam to clean an oven is below.
- Preheat your oven. Set it to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare your vinegar solution. You will want to fill an oven-safe bowl or dish with one to two cups of vinegar. Place this on the oven rack. If you would like, you can add a few lemon slices for scent purposes or a drop of dish soap, which will help to fight grease.
- Close the oven. Once you have done so, allow the vinegar to heat up and steam for about 30 minutes. This process will help to loosen grease and residue in your oven, Murphy explains.
- Wipe the oven. Once the 30-minute period is up, carefully open your oven. Using a damp cloth or sponge, wipe down the inside of the oven. Murphy notes that you can add a bit of baking soda or all-purpose cleaner to the mix in order to tackle stubborn areas.