How to Clean Your Oven and Glass Door

Oven cleaning is the kind of task people avoid until the buildup becomes impossible to ignore. The truth is, a clean oven heats more efficiently, cooks more evenly, and doesn't fill your kitchen with smoke and burnt smell every time you use it. The glass door is where you see the problem most clearly—and it's also where you have the most control. A baking soda paste works better than commercial oven cleaners for most home cooks because it's non-toxic, cheap, and actually more effective on baked-on grease and carbon. The key is patience: let the paste do the work overnight instead of scrubbing frantically for an hour.

1. Soak Those Racks Now. Pull out the oven racks and lay them in your bathtub or a large plastic storage container. Fill with hot water and add half a cup of dish soap. Let them soak while you work on the oven interior. This softens the buildup on the racks without any scrubbing effort on your part.
2. Clear the Debris First. Use a stiff brush or old broom to sweep out any loose crumbs, spills, and debris from the bottom of the oven. Get into the corners. This prevents you from spreading burnt bits around when you apply the paste.
3. Mix Your Magic Paste. In a bowl, mix half a cup of baking soda with three tablespoons of water. Stir until you have a spreadable paste with the consistency of peanut butter. If it's too thick, add water one tablespoon at a time. If it's too thin, add more baking soda. The paste should cling to vertical surfaces without running.
4. Coat Every Surface Thoroughly. Starting at the top of the oven cavity, spread the paste thickly over all interior surfaces: the ceiling, walls, bottom, and sides. Avoid the heating elements and any exposed wiring. Use a plastic or silicone spatula to push paste into corners. Don't apply it to the glass door yet—you'll handle that separately. Work systematically so you don't miss large patches.
5. Don't Skip the Glass Door. Spread the remaining paste over the interior side of the glass door, making sure to coat every visible surface. Pay extra attention to the corners where grease pools and burns on. Leave the paste on the glass too—it will help loosen the baked-on film.
6. Chemistry Does the Work. Close the oven door and walk away. Let the baking soda paste work for at least 12 hours, ideally overnight or longer. The longer it sits, the more the paste breaks down the grease and carbon buildup. Don't turn on the oven during this time.
7. Scrub Racks While You Wait. While waiting, scrub the soaked racks with a soft brush or non-scratch sponge. The soap and soaking time will have softened most of the buildup. For stubborn spots, use a plastic scraper or old toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and stand them upright to dry.
8. Let It Fizz and Bubble. On day two, spray white vinegar over the dried baking soda paste inside the oven. The vinegar will fizz and bubble as it reacts with the baking soda, breaking up the paste and lifting it away from the surfaces. Let it fizz for a few minutes, then spray again if needed.
9. Work Top to Bottom. Using a damp cloth or non-scratch sponge, wipe out the oven interior. Work from top to bottom so loosened paste drips down, not into already-cleaned areas. You may need to wipe multiple times and rinse your cloth frequently. Stubborn spots will yield to gentle scrubbing with a damp cloth; don't force it.
10. Scrape at 45 Degrees. For the glass door, use a single-edge razor blade or plastic scraper held at a 45-degree angle. Scrape gently but firmly, using overlapping strokes. Work from top to bottom. The baking soda paste will have softened the buildup, so the razor will glide through without excessive pressure. Wipe the glass with a damp cloth between scraping passes to see your progress.
11. Catch Those Corner Spots. Do a final pass of the entire oven interior with a clean, damp cloth. Pay attention to the corners, the sides of the heating elements, and the top edges where paste collects. For any remaining spots on the glass, apply a tiny bit of fresh baking soda paste, let it sit for an hour, then scrape and wipe again.
12. Reassemble and Dry. Once the oven is completely dry, carefully slide the cleaned racks back into their slots. Make sure they sit flat and level. Close the oven door and run the oven at 200°F for 10 minutes to dry any remaining moisture inside.