What You Need To Know Before Cleaning Vintage Cookware With Oven Cleaner

Those who love vintage cookware that bring a retro charm are often tempted to take home well-worn pots, pans, and baking dishes from the thrift shop or a garage sale. After decades of use, baked-on gunk and brown stains might be both on the inside and outside of, say, a Dutch oven or Pyrex bowl. No matter how diminished the appearance, some elbow grease to restore an old, valuable, well-constructed piece is an easy trade-off. Social media users have cooked up an easy but dicey fix — using oven cleaner to clean as a quick solution. But before you spray it onto a 50-year-old Dutch oven or antique cast-iron pan, there are things you need to know.

While the product is a handy tool that'll help you clean your oven in record time, you'll need to take safety precautions. Oven cleaner is a caustic material that can severely injure the user, burning skin, eyes, the airway, and digestive tract, according to the National Capital Poison Center. If used in an enclosed space, always open windows and wear protective gear, such as gloves, long sleeves, a mask, and goggles.

Those who've shared their experience using oven cleaner to restore a vintage piece are amazed at the results. After shaking the can, spraying the dirty parts, and letting it sit, most carbon buildup can be wiped away. It might take several rounds of spray. Because of health risks, some recommend placing the pot, pan, or dish inside a plastic bag before spraying and closing it after the cleaner is applied. You can also choose to apply the spray in the backyard. Collectors have had success with Pyrex, cast iron, and cookware with an enamel coating. Viewers are just as amazed by results, but many question whether pieces can be damaged.

Directions for one popular oven cleaning brand, Easy-Off, states that it's safe to use on porcelain enamel, iron, stainless steel, ceramic, and glass surfaces (not excessively). They say not to use it on baked enamel, aluminum, and chrome. As for vintage and cleaning experts, some think oven cleaner should be used only as a last-ditch effort to get a pot or pan clean. Any non-stick coatings may be destroyed. Many prefer gentler and more natural agents, including vinegar or baking soda, or a combination of both. When using anything to clean, however, make sure to heed a crucial safety measure you should take when cleaning by wearing gloves and safety glasses.