A Microbiologist Reveals the Easiest Way To Clean Your Oven Door

Two cleaning experts agree: The secret is in your pantry.

I don’t usually notice it at first. Then, one day, I’ll open the oven and see the baked-on gunk in crusty patches on the glass oven door. Wiping with a sponge does absolutely nothing, of course. What's the solution?

I asked two experts who say the key to cleaning your oven door is baking soda.

"Nothing beats baking soda,” says microbiologist Jason Tetro, host of the Super Awesome Science Show and author of The Germ Code and The Germ Files.

“It’s my first choice to get rid of anything on a hard surface, including glass. It’s non-abrasive, so there’s no chance of scratching,” Tetro says. “There are other options for sure, but for me, that’s the one I would choose.”

Tetro suggests making a paste with baking soda and water. “It’s the best way to get that baking soda to stay on and do its job.”

Smear the paste on the grime of the oven door. Tetro says he tends to leave it on for about an hour, but you can get good results in as little as 20 minutes. “I just like to have that extra time to let it break up all that gunk,” he says.

Then, use a gentle sponge to scrub off the residue. “For the glass oven door, a plastic scraper can be helpful in removing stuck-on bits,” suggests Jessica Ek, spokesperson for the American Cleaning Institute. Finally, wipe down the door with a wet paper towel or clean microfiber cloth.

Let the Oven Do the Work

If you don’t want to put in all the elbow grease to paste, scrub, and clean, let your oven do the job.

“The easiest way to clean those spots, as well as the rest of the oven, is by using the self-cleaning function that many modern ovens have. To do this, follow the oven manufacturer’s instructions.” Be sure to remove everything inside, including pots and racks. And don’t leave the house during the cleaning cycle in case there are fumes or smoke.

Then, after you’re finished cleaning, either with baking soda or with the self-cleaning function, finish up by wiping the outside of the glass. That way, you can admire your pies and casseroles while they bake. “A glass cleaner and a clean microfiber cloth is all you need to clean the outside part of the oven window glass,” Ek says.

What About the Racks and Oven Floor?

While you’re cleaning the door, you might want to take a look at the walls, racks, and bottom of your oven.

Dish soap can be helpful for washing wire oven racks. “Take them out of the oven and scrub them in the sink with warm water and soap,” says Ek. “Rinse and air dry before putting them back in the oven.”

Ek suggests using a wet sponge to remove food debris from the bottom of the oven and a scouring pad to remove stuck-on bits of food.

The most important tip? Tackle messes when they happen. “The sooner you clean spills in the oven, the easier they will be to remove,” Ek says. “For gunk that has been there a while, you may not get it all with the first cleaning. Repeat for a deeper clean.”