If you’re someone who loves to cook and bake, then you know the mess that can accumulate inside your oven over time. In fact, everyone we spoke to agreed that from baked-on grease to hardened food particles, cleaning an oven is no easy task.
Let’s agree that spot cleaning is probably easy. But in most cases, a deep clean is what your oven requires to ensure it is working efficiently. Unfortunately and even if your oven has a self-cleaning feature, you’ll still need to choose a reliable cleaner to spot and deep clean when necessary. So there’s no escape from cleaning your over no matter how much you may hate this task and try to avoid it.
The good news is that with the right oven cleaner, deep cleaning your oven can be an effortless process. And as usual, there are many oven cleaners available in the market, which makes it challenging to choose the best one.
In this article, we’ve analyzed dozens of oven cleaners to come up with the best ones for deep cleaning your oven. We’ve considered factors like type, standing time, size, and scent to help you make an informed decision. Please read on our buyer’s guide further down the page.
1. Easy Off Fume Free – Best Overall
Best Oven Cleaner Reviews
The below are the 8 best oven cleaner products you can find on the market.
-
- Easy Off Fume Free (Top Pick)
- Mr. Clean Oven and Grill Cleaner MagicEraser – Best for Spot Cleaning
- Delta Carbona Bio Oven Cleaner
- Weiman Oven & Grill Cleaner
- Miele Oven Cleaner for Self-Cleaning Ovens
- Goo Gone Oven and Grill Cleaner – Oven Cleaner For Baked-On Grease
- Simple Green AllPurpose Cleaner – Best Oven Window Cleaner
- Stax Astonish Oven & Cookware Oven Cleaner Paste – Best Cleaning Paste
1. Easy Off Professional Fume Free Oven Cleaner Aerosol – Best Oven Cleaner and Best Overall
Easy Off is the best oven cleaner if you are looking for an aerosol spray that smells great and is one of the safest products to use on your oven. Although it is designed to be used on ovens and oven doors, it can also be used for grills, boilers, stainless steel pans, and other surfaces that could get greasy.
Easy Off is a professional fume-free oven cleaner, meaning it cannot catch on fire and does not emit any harmful chemicals into the environment. This is great in terms of safety, both for yourself and for your house.
While we must admit, that oven cleaners that are flammable, admit fumes, and are full of harsh chemicals clean the grease off of the oven in a more efficient manner, we think the trade-off is not worth it. Easy Off gets about 75% of the job done with 0% of the risks associated with powerful industrial-grade oven cleaners. We think this is a trade that is well worth the costs of scrubbing a little bit harder.
Easy Off is safe to be used for self-cleaning ovens and can be used without gloves, although we would still recommend wearing gloves while applying this solution. It gives off a fresh lemon scent, which really separates itself from the rest of the competition. In terms of smell, we can easily say Easy Off wins, as other brands tend to smell too harsh. In terms of efficacy, surely you can find brands that dissolve grease better, but you know at the end of the day, you still have to wipe it off with a towel.
For all intents and purposes, Easy Off gets the job done. It removes most of the grease in your oven, and you’ll have to work for the last 25% that just doesn’t want to go away. However, since it is extra safe, we think it is the best oven cleaner in terms of risk and reward.
- Loosens grime in 30 seconds
- Easy to wipe away
- Get the job done
- You may need to apply the product twice to get your oven sparkling
2. Mr. Clean Oven and Grill Cleaner MagicEraser – Best for Spot Cleaning
Mr. Clean Oven, Kitchen, and Shoe Cleaner MagicEraser is the best solution for spot cleaning but also to get rid of tough stuck-on spots on your oven and grill. Unlike other harsh chemical cleaning products, this cleaner contains no chemicals, so you can clean with peace of mind knowing that it’s safe for you and your family.
The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser kitchen scrubber is designed to remove 3x more greasy kitchen mess per swipe than any leading all-purpose bleach spray cleaners. So, if you’re looking for a powerful cleaning solution that’s tough on dirt all around the house, this is the one for you.
This cleaning scrubber is great for tackling tough kitchen messes such as grease on ceramic cookware, burnt-on messes on glass stovetops and ovens, and grime on granite countertops and appliances. With dual-sided cleaning and the grease-fighting power of Dawn, you’ll be able to easily remove even the toughest stains and grime in no time.
So, if you’re tired of using harsh and time-consuming elbow grease to clean your oven and grill, try the Mr. Clean Cleaner MagicEraser. It’s the perfect solution for getting your cold oven or grill sparkling clean without the hassle of using easy-off fume-free oven cleaners or other chemical cleaning products.
- Extra durable
- Highly convenient to use
- Requires a bit of scrubbing
3. Delta Carbona Bio Oven Cleaner – Best Biodegradable Spray
Delta Carbona Bio Oven Cleaner is the best oven cleaner spray if you are looking for a biodegradable solution to clean your oven and other stainless steel appliances. Bio Oven Cleaner is able to be broken down by natural processes into basic components that are friendly to the environment and your home. It is free of fumes and extremely safe to use.
It is the 1st SCS-certified biodegradable oven cleaner on the market and one of the best oven cleaners non-toxic you can find. And because there is no lye or other chemicals that are flammable, you can even use it while the oven is a bit hot or on a microwave or toaster. We would say Bio is the main competitor to Easy Off Fume Free. Both have their pros and cons.
We would say the main difference is that Bio is a truly fume-free solution. It comes out in a gel form that clings to the inside of your oven while Easy Off is still aerosol and gives off some fumes. In terms of scent, we still prefer Easy Off over Bio, as Easy Off has a fresh lemon scent and Bio is kind of just odorless. In terms of efficacy, Easy Off works better at dissolving and getting rid of grease and stains. However, it takes longer for Easy Off to work.
We find Bio reacts faster with the substrates in your oven. Either way, you can’t really go wrong with Bio or Easy Off if you are looking for the best oven cleaner with the thought of safety in mind first. Bio is definitely a bit safer since it is fully biodegradable, but you may have to work a bit harder to scrub off the last bit of grease in your oven.
- Works well in the oven
- Also works on microwave interiors and fireplace windows
- No strong odor
- Requires about four hours to sit for a deep clean
4. Weiman Oven & Grill Cleaner – Best For Oven Rack
If you want the best oven rack cleaner, you should definitely take a look at the Weiman Oven & Grill. It is the best oven cleaner for gas oven that cuts through all sorts of baked food. We really like the Weiman Oven & grill because it cleans oven racks very effectively. It is a 2 in 1 cleaner that is also a degreaser. This means that Weiman does a great job of dissolving stubborn grease and grimy soil.
We recommend that you use this for the oven interiors such as doors, grates, pans, and the rack. It does a great job in remove hardened grease on your oven racks without the need to scrub too much. We would say it is safe to assume that most oven cleaners cannot remove grime on oven racks nearly as well as Weiman.
The Weiman Oven & Grill is not just good at cleaning. It is also a great rust protector. Even after just one application, you can protect your oven and grill grates and rack from rust and bacteria. It also doesn’t really emit a lot of fumes, which we were a bit worried about at first. We were definitely surprised by how well it worked keeping into account its rather neutral odor.
Overall, we think this is the best oven rack cleaner and is great for self-cleaning ovens. It is cheap, effective, and does not give off too much odor. The Weiman Oven & Grill dissolves most grime, which means you won’t have to work too hard to scrub off dirt and debris.
- The formula that helps racks resist rust
- You can scrub residue in just under 10 minutes
- Neutral odor
- May require scrubbing for a stubborn mess
5. Miele Oven Cleaner for Self-Cleaning Ovens – Best For Self-Cleaning Ovens
Miele Oven Cleaner is the best oven cleaner for self-cleaning ovens. It is recommended for self-cleaning ovens, although you can certainly use it for regular ovens. The selling point is that it has a very short contact time and does not require oven heat-up. The company reports that you have to wait up to a maximum of 40 minutes before the oven to ready for use again.
Self-cleaning ovens are designed to burn off the extra grease by blasting it at extremely high temperatures. They are also designed to not use any chemical agents. However, we found that most self-cleaning ovens will still leave traces of grease and grime. This is where the Miele Oven Cleaner comes in.
We fully admit it is not the strongest oven clean out there. If you are buying it for its ability to blast and dissolve grease, you better look elsewhere. The Miele Oven Cleaner shines in its ability to be used in conjunction with a self-cleaning oven. It is gentle and a lot less toxic than those powerful chemical cleaners.
You simply spray this product on after a self-cleaning cycle and let it sit for 10 or so minutes. Afterward, you can gently remove the remaining grease and stains without having to wear a gas mask. All in all, if you want the best oven cleaner for self-cleaning ovens, the Miele Oven Cleaner is the way to go.
- A little goes a long way
- Works under 10 minutes
- Best to be used with self-cleaning oven
- Not the strongest cleaner
6. Goo Gone Oven and Grill Cleaner – Oven Cleaner For Baked-On Grease
This is the best oven cleaner for baked-on grease. The Goo Gone Oven and Grill Cleaner is an excellent solution for tough, greasy, and dirty ovens and grills. This heavy-duty oven cleaner is designed to remove even the most stubborn food debris, grease, and carbon buildup from your oven and cooking surfaces. Cleaning with Goo Gone is a breeze, thanks to its stay-in-place foam technology that helps the product stay where it’s sprayed.
This cleaning powerhouse is suitable for use on self-cleaning, non-self-cleaning, and stainless-steel ovens, as well as indoor and outdoor grills, cooking racks, pots, and pans, burner drip pans, rotisserie, and toaster ovens. Its unique formula is designed to penetrate and dissolve grease, food, and carbon deposits, leaving your oven and grill shining like new.
Goo Gone Cleaner is also easy on your sense of smell, with no offensive odors, making it perfect for indoor use. Its biodegradable formula makes it environmentally friendly and safe for use around your home.
You can use this product with ease thanks to its spray bottle that allows for optimal coverage on your surfaces. Made in the USA, this cleaning product is a must-have for hassle-free deep cleaning.
- Use in a cold oven
- Dissolves grease in three to five minutes
- Made in USA
- Best not to use on aluminum, faux stainless steel, painted walls on natural stones like marble
7. Simple Green AllPurpose Cleaner – Best Oven Window Cleaner
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is a cleaning solution for all your household needs. The powerful formula is specially designed to remove dirt, grease, and stains effortlessly, making cleaning a breeze.
This versatile cleaner can be used on various surfaces, including counters, carpets, floors, fabrics, equipment, and vehicles. Plus, it’s perfect for use in any manual or automatic cleaning equipment such as floor scrubbers, carpet cleaners, pressure washers, and parts washers.
It can clean all of your kitchen surfaces, including appliances, floors, and even your kitchen towels.
Overall, it’s the best oven window cleaner to use on the interior of your oven, especially for those stubborn stains. Reviewers agree that this is the best oven cleaner natural that is safe to use on all surfaces in your home, making it the perfect all-purpose household cleaner.
It’s versatile to use, as you can dilute it to clean up lighter messes or use it concentrated for heavier messes. In summary, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is a must-have for anyone who wants a powerful, safe, and effective cleaner to tackle any cleaning job around the house. You can try it on your oven glass and see the difference it can make.
- Cleans oven windows, oven exterior, and many other surfaces in the home
- It can be diluted to clean up lighter and heavier messes
- You need to rinse it for the best results
8. Stax Astonish Oven & Cookware Oven Cleaner Paste – Best Cleaning Paste
This is the best paste that works wonders on the interior of your oven, glass oven, appliances, ceramics, stovetop, and Pyrex. The Stax Astonish Oven & Cookware Cleaner Paste for oven glass is the perfect solution for removing the tough build-up of grease, burnt oil, and dirt that’s left behind after cooking.
It works fast, cutting through grease, food splatters, and spills with ease. You can use it on oven racks, cooker tops, pots and pans, cookware, sinks, tiles, stove tops, glass, ceramic stoves, bathtubs, chrome, metal, and much more.
The multi-purpose cleaner is abrasive, making it tough enough to restore items to look like new. However, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t use it on plastics, non-stick coatings, polished metal surfaces, gold or silver plates or brushed stainless steel.
Rest assured that you’re getting a high-quality oven cleaner with the Stax Astonish Oven & Cookware Cleaner Paste. You just need to apply the paste with a damp nylon scouring pad. Then you rub it into the spot or stain, and finally wipe away any excess with a clean, damp rag. You’re done. Each container contains 150 gram of paste.
- Affordable
- Suitable for heavy-duty use and baked-on food/messes
- Cruelty-free formula
- Only requires light scrubbing
- Abrasive formula
Final verdict
The different products we reviewed are varied based on the different types of ovens you may have at home. Each has a different particularity, with some being spray, and others being paste. You now have a pool of cleaning solutions for your oven you can choose from.
Choosing the Best Oven Cleaner – Buyer’s Guide
When looking for an oven cleaner, it is important to consider a number of criteria such as its cleaning power. Basically, oven cleaners vary in their effectiveness, with different brands and formulas offering different strengths. There are five main criteria that you need to investigate as follows:
- Cleaning time
- Type of the surface
- Ingredients
- Fragrance
- Price
1. Cleaning Time To Clean Food and Grease
Cleaning time is probably one of the major selection criteria. There’s an important formula: the shorter the time, the more chemicals in the cleaning product. And the more chemicals, the more fumes, and risk to yourselves and your family. The shorter average wait time for product penetration is 30 seconds for spot cleaning and 10 minutes for deep cleaning. Most of these products have some fumes. But you have other products that are biodegradable and require a little more time to act on oven grease. Once the product has had time to penetrate, use a scrubbing brush or sponge to remove any remaining grime. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and to wear gloves and protective eyewear when working with oven cleaners. With a little elbow grease, your oven can look as good as new in no time.
2. Type Of Surface To Clean Oven Messes
The surface you are dealing with is almost as important as the cleaning product you use. That’s why there are many different products that can be used on multiple surfaces beyond the type of oven they were intended for. Oven cleaners are very effective on surfaces made of stainless steel or enamel steel, but they can also be used on other kitchen appliances, like stovetops, inside and outside grills, or microwaves. Additionally, they can be effective on bathroom sinks and even countertops. That said, it is important to look at the label before using any product; some oven cleaners can be too harsh for certain surfaces and could cause damage. Overall, using an oven cleaner can give you an all-around cleaner for your home if used correctly.
3. Powerful Oven Cleaner Ingredients
The effectiveness of the cleaner is highly dependent on the ingredients used. But the ingredients are also important for factors such as how environmentally friendly and safe it is to use. Sodium hydroxide is a powerful ingredient found in many oven cleaners that effectively cuts through and breaks down grease buildup. The FDA considers it to be relatively safe for use, but not in large quantities.
However, if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly option, consider choosing an oven cleaner with a water- or plant-based formula. These cleaners are biodegradable and can still effectively clean the interior of the oven. They can also be used on oven racks. Note that you always need to read the label and instructions carefully before using any oven cleaner product. And check the ingredients if they are harmful or not.
4. Fragrance Of The Oven Cleaning Agent
The fragrance of the oven cleaning agent is something that can make or break a cleaner’s reputation. A heavily scented cleaner can be overwhelming and unpleasant for those who are sensitive to smells. This is why it’s important to choose a cleaner with a light scent, such as lemongrass, or no scent at all.
For the best results, it’s important to select a cleaner that has a balance of powerful cleaning agents (preferably biodegradable) and a pleasant fragrance. The reason is that the oven cleaner’s smell is key to creating an inviting atmosphere in the kitchen.
In summary, whether you prefer a light scent or no scent at all, choosing the right oven cleaning agent is an important factor to consider in keeping your kitchen clean and inviting.
5. Price Of Your Oven Rack And Grill Cleaner
The price of your oven rack and grill cleaner depends on the bottle size, the amount of solution it holds, the brand, how effective is the product, and the type of chemicals it has. Most oven cleaners come in a spray bottle that can hold between 12 and 32 ounces of solution. Depending on your needs, you may want to choose a larger bottle or a multipack if you plan to use it on various surfaces around your home.
Generally, the price of these cleaners can vary from a few dollars to $50. While it may seem like an unnecessary expense, cleaning the oven is essential to maintaining a safe and healthy environment in your kitchen. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of a good cleaner when considering the overall cost of owning an oven.
How To Clean Your Oven
There are four main ways you can clean your oven:
- Using the best oven cleaner
- A self-cleaning oven
- Using a homemade solution
- Calling over a professional
1. Using the best oven cleaner
Using one of the best cleaners is probably the easiest way to clean your oven. We have provided 8 of the best cleaners for cleaning your oven with their associated reviews for you to choose from. Each of these cleaners has been tested and well-researched before being shortlisted by our experts.
Sometimes you may want to use industrial-grade oven cleaners. These are the best oven cleaner because they are made specifically for the oven. They are strong enough to remove the toughest stains but also won’t react harshly with the material in your oven. These oven cleaners come in either foam, gel, or liquid form. They usually require you to just apply and leave for a few hours. The chemicals in the oven cleaner will react with the dirt and stains in your oven and dissolve them. After some time, you can easily wipe off the remains and have a clean oven again.
2. Self-cleaning oven
The only thing you need to do is to put your oven in a self-cleaning position and let it do the work. Note that in many cases, you still need to wipe out the dirt after the self-cleaning process has ended.
Note that you can always use self-cleaning in conjunction with an oven cleaner solution. You should not use both at the same time. It is best to do a self-clean cycle first, and then use the best oven cleaner for self cleaning oven product.
3. Best oven cleaner homemade
In terms of homemade solutions, lemon juice, baking soda, Dawn, and vinegar are the most used products. They are good in that they are not expensive and there is no risk of harming your skin or creating fumes. Below is the most common example of such a homemade solution that you can use with a spray on a heavy-duty oven and grill cleaner.
- Apply the oven cleaner, which is to sprinkle baking soda over the stain in your oven.
- Spray water, or to get a better result spritz a 3:1 water to white vinegar solution. Note that vinegar will make baking soda bubble. Do not worry, this is normal.
- Just leave the solution works its way through the grim for about 15-20 minutes. Note you need to do this after your oven has cooled.
- Wipe up the dissolved food, vinegar, baking soda, water, and the grim with wet paper towels.
- If your oven isn’t clean enough, then you need to reapply some vinegar with your spray. Wait a couple of minutes (say about 5 minutes) and then wipe the entire oven interior with a 3:1 water-to-vinegar solution.
- Close the oven, you’re done.
However, the downside of these types homemade natural oven solutions is that they won’t remove any serious stains and require you to scrub vigorously. Basically, these homemade solutions should only be used as a last resort in case you don’t have a dedicated oven cleaner. Obviously, the above remedies are sometimes called 2-in-1 oven rack and grill.
4. Calling a professional
If you need a professional, then things may be a little desperate now or you don’t have the time. Obviously, the downside is cost, as you will probably be spending lots of money on hiring another person to do something that can be done in a matter of a few minutes. Note that it is best to pre-check the products and services any professional offers and get a few quotes before hiring a company to do this work for you.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
Can I clean my oven with baking soda and vinegar?
The answer is yes. You’ll find many recipes and guides on how you can do a DIY solution made of baking soda, vinegar, and lemons to clean your oven. However, this method is not as effective as using oven cleaners that are specifically formulated to tackle oven messes. While it may work well enough on small spots, it requires a lot more time and scrubbing than any of the oven cleaners on the market.
For such a solution to work, it’s important to make sure your oven is cleaned regularly with homemade cleaners. The reason is that it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and can potentially affect the taste of your cooking.
Are oven cleaners dangerous?
Applying an oven cleaner can be nerve-wracking, as many people are concerned about their safety. In the past, cleaners were infamous for being smelly and filled with fumes that made it difficult to breathe. However, most modern products are fume-free, come in pleasant scents, and produce little, if any, discomfort to users.
This is why they are generally considered not to be particularly dangerous. It is important, however, to always minimize contact with the eyes and skin when applying an oven cleaner, as with any cleaning product. Additionally, it is best not to even try to mix oven cleaners with any other cleaning product, as this can lead to chemical reactions that can be extremely dangerous.
When using an oven cleaner, remember to take extra care when cleaning grill and oven grates, as these can be particularly difficult to clean. In summary, with proper use and safety precautions, oven cleaners such as Easy-Off Professional Fume-Free Oven can be an effective, safe, and easy-to-use solution for removing grease and grime from ovens and grills.
Can I use an oven cleaner in my self-cleaning oven?
When it comes to cleaning your oven, it can be tempting to reach for a powerful oven cleaner to deal with tough oven messes. However, if you have a self-cleaning oven, using an oven cleaner is not really recommended. In fact, most appliance manufacturers advise against it.
A self-cleaning oven works by heating up to high temperatures to burn away any spills or leftover food debris. However, you still need to wait for the oven to cool off, and then take the mess out after the self-cleaning cycle has ended.
Although oven cleaners claim to be safe to use in self-cleaning ovens, it’s always best to check with your manufacturer before using them. Using an oven cleaner in a self-cleaning oven can result in damage to your oven’s coating, which can make it look unattractive and may also void your appliance’s warranty. Therefore, it’s better to use your oven’s built-in self-cleaning function to get rid of any stubborn grime or stubborn spills. Not only is it safer, but it also keeps your oven looking sparkling clean without causing any harm to your appliance.
Note that we have used in our test an oven cleaning product after a self-cleaning cycle, and nothing wrong happened. So, though we recommend against it, we feel that you should know this.
Can you clean your oven with other household cleaners?
The grease inside your oven can be quite stubborn to get rid of, and you might be thinking about using other household cleaners to get the job done. It’s important to note that while you can use all-purpose cleaners to clean your oven, you need to ensure that the label clearly states it’s safe to use on ovens. Otherwise, the chemicals inside the cleaner could react and damage your oven.
Alternatively, you best use an oven cleaner that works specifically for cleaning ovens. These cleaners are formulated with ingredients that can break down the grease build-up inside your oven quickly and efficiently.
How often should you clean an oven?
While it’s recommended to give your oven a thorough cleaning every six to twelve months, the frequency of oven cleanings depends on how often you use your oven. Frequent bakers may need to clean their ovens every three to six months, while those who rarely use their ovens may only need to clean them once a year.
Note that some oven cleaners also offer features that aid in preventing further buildup of grime and grease, potentially reducing the need for frequent cleanings in the long run. Regular maintenance is a crucial aspect of keeping your oven in top condition, ensuring it lasts for many years to come.
Can I use my oven after I clean it?
Yes, you can use your oven after cleaning it. But it’s always a good idea to check the product instructions before using. Most oven cleaners work well and allow you to use your oven almost immediately. You will only need to remove the oven racks and grill grates when cleaning, and then rinse them off with water before putting them back in. Once you’ve finished cleaning, make sure that you close the oven door, and then you’re ready to go.
Note that some products may require a waiting period before use, so it’s important to follow the instructions carefully. This waiting period would typically be mentioned in the instructions.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-cleaning_oven
