Have you opened your oven door and cringed at the sight of caked-on grime and grease splatters? As much as you love baking casseroles and roasting meats, the aftermath can leave your oven looking like a war zone.

While it’s tempting to reach for harsh chemical cleaners to tackle the mess, exposure to the toxic fumes they release can be harmful. Fortunately, you can get your oven clean naturally without exposing yourself or your family to risky chemicals.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best methods for how to clean oven naturally using common household ingredients. With a little scrubbing elbow grease, you’ll have your oven looking shiny and new again in no time. Let’s get started!

Why You Should Avoid Harsh Oven Cleaners

Before we dive into the natural cleaning methods, let’s look at why you should avoid the commercial oven cleaners lurking under your sink.

Most conventional oven cleaners contain powerful chemicals like sodium hydroxide (lye), 2-Butoxyethanol, and bleach. When you use these cleaners, they release toxic fumes that you can end up inhaling.

Exposure to the chemicals found in these cleaners has been linked to:

• Respiratory issues
• Headaches
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Skin burns
• Nausea

The fumes released from oven cleaners are strong enough to irritate your eyes and lungs. You also risk chemical burns if the products come into direct contact with your skin.

On top of harming you, these chemicals are terrible for the environment. They can contaminate groundwater if poured down drains. Many oven cleaners also come packaged in aerosol cans, releasing greenhouse gasses like propane and butane into the atmosphere.

So, for the sake of your health and the planet, it’s wise to avoid commercial oven cleaners whenever possible. The good news? You can make powerful DIY cleaners using natural ingredients you already have at home.

Method #1: Baking Soda and Vinegar

One of the most effective ways to clean oven naturally is by mixing baking soda and vinegar. This classic cleaning combo offers strong grime-fighting powers without the unwanted side effects of chemicals.

How Does It Work?

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a mild alkali that dissolves grease and neutralizes odors. It also serves as a gentle abrasive to lift dirt from surfaces.

Vinegar is an acid that breaks down grime. The acetic acid in vinegar cuts through grease while providing antibacterial properties to disinfect surfaces.

When baking soda and vinegar combine, a chemical reaction occurs, releasing carbon dioxide gas. This expansion of foam and fizzing helps to penetrate and lift built-up grime. The gritty texture of baking soda also loosens debris to allow the vinegar to work its grime-busting magic.

Cleaning Your Oven with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Here are the simple steps to clean your oven by harnessing the cleaning power of this iconic duo:

What You’ll Need:

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Measuring spoon
• Measuring cup
• Rags/sponge
• Gloves

Step 1. Remove any racks or pans from the oven and wipe out any large crumbs or debris with a damp rag to get started on a clean slate.

Step 2. Combine 1⁄2 cup of baking soda and 3 tablespoons of water in a bowl to form a paste. For stubborn build-up or big ovens, you can double or triple the paste recipe as needed.

Step 3. Apply the paste to the surfaces inside the oven, coating the stains and build-up areas. Try to avoid getting the paste directly on the oven heating elements.

Step 4. Allow the baking soda paste to sit for a minimum of 40 minutes to penetrate baked-on grime (though leaving it on overnight is ideal). The longer the baking soda sits, the better it can work into caked-on messes.

Step 5. After letting it sit, wipe the paste off the oven surfaces using a damp cloth or sponge. Reapply any stubborn spots in need of further effort.

Step 6. Pour a cup or two of vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl in the center of the oven. The vinegar will strengthen the cleaning power of the baking soda residue.

Step 7. With the oven off and door cracked, allow the vinegar to remain in the oven for 20 minutes to work with the baking soda to break down residue.

Step 8. Remove the vinegar bowl and wipe out any excess cleaning solution with a rag. Rinse the oven interior with hot water and dry with fresh cloths.

By following these simple steps, the fizzing duo of baking soda and vinegar can lift stubborn stains without any harsh chemicals required. It’s the perfect green alternative to toxic oven cleaners!

Baking Soda and Vinegar Cleaning Tips

• For big cleaning jobs, allow the baking soda paste to sit on grimy areas overnight before wiping and applying vinegar.
• When using vinegar, select a white distilled vinegar for the best cleaning results. Apple cider vinegar works too.
• Avoid getting the baking soda paste directly on the heating elements to prevent damage.
• Always follow up with a hot water rinse. Vinegar has a strong scent you’ll want to remove.
• Wear gloves when handling concentrated vinegar or baking soda paste to prevent skin irritation.

Method #2: Salt and Vinegar

If baking soda isn’t handy, another great way to learn how to clean oven naturally involves pairing salt with vinegar.

Similar to baking soda, salt works with the acidity of vinegar to bubble away grease and lift burnt-on debris from oven interiors.

Here is the simple cleaning process:

What You’ll Need:

• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup white vinegar
• Bowl and spoon
• Clean cloths

Step 1. Remove racks and trays from the oven. Give the interior surfaces a preliminary wipe down with a wet rag.

Step 2. Pour the salt and vinegar into a bowl. Stir to combine thoroughly into a thick, gritty paste.

Step 3. Using a spoon or your gloves hands, spread the paste evenly over stained areas of the oven, coating heaviest build-up liberally.

Step 4. Allow paste to set for 20 minutes. The salt and vinegar will work to dissolve caked-on grease and loosen food burnt onto oven surfaces.

Step 5. Wipe oven clean using a damp cloth, removing all cleaning solution residue. Give areas in need an extra scrub to remove stubborn debris.

Step 6. Rinse oven interior with hot water and wipe dry with a fresh cloth. Replace racks and trays.

The combined power of salt and vinegar makes oven cleaning a cinch. For tough cleaning jobs, allow the paste to set for up to an hour before rinsing – giving the dynamic duo more time to lift grime.

Method #3: Lemon Juice

Beyond vinegar and salt, lemon juice also offers natural acidic cleaning powers. The citric acid within lemons can dissolve grease and stains without releasing harsh fumes like chemical cleaners.

Here is how to harness the cleaning potential of lemons:

What You’ll Need:

• 3 large lemons
• Baking dish
• Water
• Clean cloths

Step 1. Remove oven racks and trays and give the interior a wipe down with a wet cloth.

Step 2. Slice lemons in half widthwise. Squeeze juice into a baking dish. Drop used rinds into the dish too.

Step 3. Fill baking dish half full with water to dilute the lemon juice concentrate.

Step 4. Place filled dish on oven bottom rack. Set oven temperature to 250°F. Allow lemons to bake for 30 minutes as juices steam and condense on oven surfaces.

Step 5. Turn oven off and allow to fully cool.

Step 6. Once cooled, remove lemon dish. Using a cloth, wipe interior oven surfaces to lift stains loosened by lemon steam during the cleaning cycle.

The natural acid from the lemon juice and steam helps lift baked-on gunk without scrubbing. For extra cleaning power, you can boil lemon peels in a pot of water. Then, transfer the lemon water into a baking dish and place in oven to produce steam.

No matter which citrus cleaning method you choose, lemons offer a easy and natural way to remove grime and leave your oven fresh.

Natural Oven Cleaners: Additional Tips

Now that you know how to harness the power of pantry staples to clean oven naturally, here are some extra tips to make routine cleaning easy:

Clean Spills Promptly
Don’t let food spills or grease splatters bake onto oven surfaces. Clean messes promptly while still fresh. Applying heat bakes grime on permanently, making cleaning more difficult.

Use Liners
Prevent drips and stains by placing aluminum foil or baking liners on the bottom oven rack before cooking messy dishes. Simply replace liners between batches.

Remove Racks
Always remove racks before cleaning. This allows you to fully coat oven interiors with DIY cleaning pastes without getting racks gunky. Bonus tip: Clean racks separately by soaking in a baking soda bath.

Try Steam Clean
For light cleaning between deep cleans, try steam! Boil a pot of water and place in cool oven for 20 minutes. The steam helps loosen debris for easy wipe down without scrubbing.

Set Reminders
Mark your calendar to clean the oven every 6 months, or more often if you use the oven frequently. Regular upkeep prevents major grime build-up.

In Conclusion

If smelly chemical cleaners have been your go-to for tackling grimy oven messes, ditch them for good! As you now know, you can easily clean oven naturally using common pantry staples like baking soda, vinegar, salt and lemons.

Not only are these methods budget-friendly, they skip the health hazards and environmental impact of harsh store-bought oven cleaners. With minimal effort, you can whip up homemade pastes and solutions that cut through grease and leave a sparkling clean oven.

The next time you notice grease splatters building up or an unpleasant burnt smell, don’t reach for gloves and a face mask! Instead, grab some baking soda and vinegar. Thanks to the tips you learned today, you can scrub your oven clean without the safety risks of toxic chemicals.