Are you ready for a homemade oven cleaner really works? This is it. It’s a DIY recipe that will clean all the grime out of your oven and make it sparkle again.
If you’re sick of scrubbing your oven only to have some of the dirt and grime still there, this is the recipe you need.
With this recipe, you can get a sparkling clean oven with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. This DIY cleaning solution is not only effective but also safe for you and the environment.
Why choose a homemade oven cleaner recipe?
Commercial oven cleaners can have harsh chemicals and overpowering fumes that are hard to take, especially if anyone in your home has allergies or asthma.
The only fumes in this recipe come from the vinegar and lemon juice, and they aren’t harsh or lingering like ammonia and other ingredients in cleaners on the store shelf.
Is this a natural oven cleaner?
No, because it uses dish soap which may have some unpronounceable ingredients. The other ingredients are simple, but the dish soap you choose will have whatever ingredients it has.
That said, this recipe is gentle yet effective. Dawn, for example, is known for being used to clean birds who’ve been caught up in oil spills. Bird feathers are so delicate you can’t even use regular soap on them.
Do I have to Make a Baking Soda Paste?
That’s another no. This recipe doesn’t require baking soda. You can always make a baking soda paste if you’ve got a relentless stain that won’t come off.
But you probably won’t need it with this recipe. It’s a simple liquid solution, and it works.
Is it environmentally friendly?
Yes, much more so than most store cleaners. We already talked about Dawn and bird feathers. All of the ingredients in this recipe are believed to have little to no impact on the environment.
How does it get an oven clean?
The ingredients in this recipe are: vinegar, Dawn dish soap, lemon juice and water. That’s it. Why are they in there?
As we said above, Dawn is known for being gentle yet really loosening grime and grease without scratching or damaging the surfaces like the inside your oven. You can’t beat that combination.
Vinegar’s acidic properties make it another great degreaser that can help dissolve stubborn stains. It also acts as a strong natural cleaner – not quite a true disinfectant, but it kills many of the bacteria and viruses disinfectants kill.
Lemon juice isn’t just here for its refreshing scent. It also has antibacterial properties which will help make sure your oven is literally clean enough to eat off of.
Gather your supplies
Grab your ingredients and a spray bottle – preferably one with an adjustable nozzle for better control. Bonus points if you can repurpose one from an old cleaner. Just be sure to wash it thoroughly.
Mixing Your DIY Oven Cleaner
This is so easy to make.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Dawn dish soap
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 1/2 cup of water
Instructions
Pour the ingredients into the spray bottle and shake it to mix everything well.
Now to Clean Your Oven
Before you get started, make sure your oven is cool enough to touch. Remove any loose debris or food remnants. This helps the cleaner work even better.
Take your spray bottle and generously spray it all over the inside of the oven. Be sure to get it into all the nooks and crannies. And cover the oven racks well!
Letting it work its magic
Let the cleaner sit for about 30 minutes. In that time, the Dawn, vinegar and lemon juice will break down and loosen grease and grime and old bits of food so they can be removed easily.
Go do something else for half an hour!
Now Sponge it off
Now you start wiping the inside of the oven with a sponge or cloth. You shouldn’t have to scrub any harder than you would with a store cleaner.
If you have any trouble with the racks, pull them out and clean them over the sink. Just to make it easier on yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cleaning Your Oven
Q1: How often should you clean an oven?
A1: It’s recommended to clean your oven every 3-6 months depending on its usage. If you use it very frequently or spill a lot, you may need to clean it more regularly.
Q2: What can I use to clean my oven?
A2: If you’re reading this, you probably already rejected commercial oven cleaners. In addition to this recipe, you can use a baking soda and water paste.
Q3: Does a self-cleaning oven need to be cleaned?
A3: Oh yeah. Self-cleaning is a gimmick term. They use high temperatures to burn off grease and food residue. If you think the fumes from store-bought cleaners are harsh, the smell from an oven in self-cleaning mode will chase you out of your home.
Q4: Can’t I just clean my oven with vinegar or lemon juice?
A4: Yes, but they need a lot of extra elbow grease compared to commercial products. That’s why this recipe also adds Dawn – it’s as effective as anything you could buy.
Q5: Should I remove the racks before cleaning the oven?
A5: You don’t have to. Most people recommend it because it makes it easier in most cases. I’ve cleaned it with the racks in and with them out. You can get it clean either way.
Q6: Are there any safety precautions that I should take when cleaning my oven?
A6: Make sure your oven is switched off and cool before you start cleaning. Also, wear rubber gloves while handling chemicals or homemade solutions. Just because lemon juice and vinegar are simple and natural doesn’t mean they’re easy on skin.
Q7: Can you clean the oven door with this recipe?
Yes, this cleaner is safe to use on every part of the oven, including the cooktop and burners.