This Simple Cleaning Hack Will Leave Your Oven Doors Sparkling

The rule of thumb for ovens is that they should be cleaned at least once every three months, though many of us likely don't do it as often as we should. Don't be too ashamed, though; cleaning expert Becky Rapinchuk told NBC that a lot of folks are like that: "People blow off cleaning appliances because they don't have the time, or it takes too long to clean the grime that's built up because they didn't have the time."

But let's be honest: The most intimidating appliance to clean is nearly always the oven. That's because the accumulation of gunk can be such a pain to remove from the oven racks and the door. But a terrific hack for defeating the gunk is Bar Keepers Friend. This common multipurpose cleaner can make cleaning your oven door easier than ever!

You could always use the oven's self-cleaning feature if it has one. Contrary to the rumors, the self-clean feature is not statistically likely to start a fire in your home, according to the National Fire Protection Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, who said as much to The New York Times. There is a safest way to use your oven's self-cleaning feature. That said, repair experts also told the outlet that the self-cleaning feature can break your oven and is not likely to work very well. So, sadly, your best bet for how to clean your oven is to do it manually.

Especially if your oven has been neglected in cleanliness, getting burnt-on food off can be tough. What is even worse, though, is that people can see how dirty your oven door is by taking one look at the glass. Thankfully, a Pinterest hack utilizing Bar Keepers Friend has shown us the oven light. House Becoming Home on Pinterest turned us on to this new way of using Bar Keepers Friend, a product that lurks in our cabinets for the toughest of messes. Bar Keepers Friend is also one of the easiest ways to clean your oven racks.

As it turns out, this hack hasn't been so secret! Even Bar Keepers Friend's website outlines how we can easily shine up our oven doors. Breaking through the build-up is pretty easy when you utilize a cleaner like the gritty BKF. First, get a bowl with some water and mix enough Bar Keepers Friend into it to make a paste. Then, wet the oven glass (and door — you might as well do the whole thing) with a sponge or rag. Next, take your paste mixture and put it on the oven door. 

Bar Keepers Friend suggests letting the paste stand for a few minutes before continuing. From there, gently scrub the door with your sponge or rag and then clean off the excess paste from your door. If it's been a while since you cleaned your oven glass and door, it might need more than one pass.