How to Clean Your Oven Naturally After Holiday Cooking

This method is especially useful for stubborn, baked-on spots.

What you need

• Baking soda
• Water
• Scraper or spatula
• Damp cloth

Steps

1. Mix baking soda with just enough water to create a thick, spreadable paste.
2. Spread the paste over burned or greasy areas.
3. Leave it to work overnight.
4. The next morning, gently scrape away the dried paste and loosened residue.
5. Wipe the remaining grime with a damp cloth.
6. For particularly stubborn areas, repeat the treatment rather than aggressively scrubbing.

Method 3: Lemon Steam Cleaning 🍋

The lemon method can help loosen greasy residue and leave the oven smelling fresh.

What you need

• 2–3 lemons, quartered
• 1 cup water
• Heatproof oven-safe dish or pot

Steps

1. Place the quartered lemons and water in a heatproof container.
2. Heat the mixture until it reaches a simmer.
3. Carefully place the hot container inside the oven.
4. Close the oven door and leave it closed for about 30–60 minutes.
5. Turn off the oven and allow it to cool enough to safely handle.
6. Carefully remove the container.
7. Wipe the loosened grease and food residue away with a damp cloth.
8. Repeat for areas that still have stubborn buildup.

Important: Use a container specifically rated for oven use, and handle the hot water carefully to avoid burns.

Method 4: Self-Cleaning Function 🔥

If your oven has a manufacturer-approved self-cleaning cycle, you can use it instead of chemical oven cleaner.

Steps

1. Remove the oven racks and any loose food or debris.
2. Check your oven’s manual for specific self-cleaning instructions.
3. Make sure the kitchen is well ventilated.
4. Start the self-cleaning cycle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Keep children and pets away from the oven while the cycle is running.
6. Once the oven has completely cooled, wipe away the remaining ash with a damp cloth.

Note: Self-cleaning cycles can produce smoke and fumes and reach extremely high temperatures. Follow your oven manufacturer’s instructions rather than improvising.

Simple Homemade All-Purpose Spray

For a basic cleaning spray, mix:

• 1½ teaspoons (7.5 mL) Sal Suds or 2 tablespoons (30 mL) liquid Castile soap
• 2 cups (500 mL) water

Add the ingredients to a spray bottle and gently mix.

Spray onto suitable oven surfaces, then wipe with a damp cloth.

⚠️ A Few Important Oven-Cleaning Tips

• Always make sure the oven is off and cool before manual cleaning.
• Don’t spray cleaner directly onto heating elements, electrical components, fans, or gas burners.
• Check your oven’s manual before using baking soda, steam, or the self-cleaning cycle.
• Never mix cleaning products such as bleach, ammonia, or commercial oven cleaners together.
• After cleaning, wipe the oven thoroughly with clean water to remove residue before using it for cooking again.

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