7 Ways To Successfully Clean Oven Glass

Ovens are what allow us to cook some the most delicious and easy-to-make foods in our home recipe books. From homemade pizza to apple pie, ovens never disappoint with the dishes they can create. Unfortunately, as easy as ovens are to use, they are not the easiest kitchen appliance to clean. With its awkward size and location, cleaning your oven can be a dreaded, back-breaking task. 

But regardless of how many times you want to procrastinate and avoid the chore, a dirty oven not only affects your health and the quality of your food, but according to AM&M, it can also put your home at risk for household fires. And while an oven can be cleaned with the routine kitchen cleaning products and utensils, the glass door of your oven may be a bit more stubborn to make spotless. Helping you reach your cleaning potential, House Digest is here with some of the best methods for successfully cleaning your oven glass.

Ovens can come in a variety of shapes and styles. Depending on the style you have in your home, it may be easier to clean your oven glass by removing the door from the rest of the oven. To that end, Real Homes recommends having a designated area for your oven door before going through the process of removing. If there is not enough space on the floor, where it should be placed on top of an old towel, be sure to clear a workspace large enough for the door to fit.

Although removing the oven door may make the task of cleaning easier, ensure you are aware of the potential risk of breaking the door or glass during the removal process. To remove your oven door, start by opening the door to its full capacity to locate the hinges where you will be able to detach the door. Using a screwdriver unscrew the screws from the hinges, unlock the hinges, and remove the door (per Paradise Appliance).

Most oven brands have a self-cleaning function, during which the oven's temperature rises to between 800 and 1000 degrees, turning left-over particles and residue to ash (via Apex Appliance Service). The ash can then be easily wiped away once the cycle has concluded. 

Although this is a natural and easy option in regards to cleaning your oven, there are several things to consider before trying this method. First, many oven repairs are needed due to this self-cleaning function. Kitchn states that because this feature causes ovens to hit extremely high temperatures, it can cause the control panel to overheat, as well as cause other electrical damages. Expert Appliance Repair also mentions the toxic fumes and unpleasant odors that could occur throughout the process of this feature. Allowing your oven to reach those extreme temperatures also increases the risk of injury, due to the exterior temperature of the oven slightly rising along with the inside. Fires are also more prevalent during the use of this oven function.

Avoiding as much scrubbing as possible, Real Homes recommends a steam cleaning method that is both safe and chemical-free. By filling an oven-safe pot or bowl with water, and placing it in the oven at 450 degrees, you will be able to soften the grime and stains in your oven, making it easier to clean. This process takes 20 to 60 minutes, after which you should turn off the oven and wait for it to cool before wiping away the condensation and grime that accumulates.

Although this is a great way to easily and safely remove grime from your oven glass, tough stains may still persist after the process is complete. If this is the case, Real Hmes recommends using a baking soda and water paste to give your oven glass an even deeper clean. Just lather the paste onto the surface, spray with vinegar, and watch the bubbles before scrubbing clean.

Baking soda and hot water has always been one of the easiest and most effective ways to clean kitchen appliances, due to baking soda's natural ability break-down grease, dirt, and other elements you want to rid your kitchen of (per Live Science). 

For cleaning oven glass, Crafty Morning recommend pouring hot water over the surface of the glass. This method can also be done with vinegar opposed to hot water. Then, you should coat the glass in baking soda and let sit for at least 30 seconds before scrubbing with an aluminum foil ball. The foil will be able to scrape off even the toughest of stains without scratching the surface of the glass. When finished, wipe off the surface with a paper towel or rag. Clean again with water to avoid streaks from the baking soda, before completely drying the surface with a clean rag or paper towel.

Alongside the regular household items and techniques, regular store-bought cleaners can also be used to get the grime and stains off your oven glass. Easy-off and Zep are two of the best and safest oven cleaning brands that work towards ridding your oven glass of grime and stains (per Good Housekeeping). 

Easy-off is a fume free cleaner that can loosen the grime in your oven in less than a minute. Just spray onto the surface and wait approximately 30 seconds before wiping it clean. Zep works similarly, albeit within a longer timeframe. Although Zep works more effectively on warm surfaces, it dissolves grime and stubborn stains within 10 minutes. When using store-bought cleaners, however, avoid using them too often due to the potential damage they could cause to surface of the oven. If the cleaner has strong chemical fumes, it is advised to wear a mask during use or open a window for proper ventilation (Per Reader's Digest).

Sometimes residue gets baked onto the inside portion of your oven glass, making for a tough removal process. In this case, Everyday Teacher Style recommends Cerama Bryte cleaner because other household cleaners may not be strong enough for this task. 

Following the instructions, add the Cerama Bryte to the glass. As you are scrubbing it may help to use a razor blade to chip off any particularly stubborn pieces. Be careful, however, when using a razor because it could potentially scratch and break your oven glass. All-clean states it is best for razors to stay in the hands of professions when it comes to cleaning glass, but if you use one, ensure the glass is not heat-tempered, tinted, or safety glass. Once all the grime is scrubbed away, finish off by buffing with a microfiber cloth. For the best results, ensure the microfiber cloth is both clean and dry before use.

Sometimes the cleaner or cleaning technique you use is not enough to give your oven glass that sparkle you desire. In that case, Merry Maids recommends using a natural glass cleaner, like lime juice or distilled white vinegar to top off any cleaning method. Just spray the cleaner onto the surface and use downward strokes to clean. For this process, use a microfiber cloth for the best results. When buffing the glass with the microfiber cloth after cleaning, ensure the cloth is dry and clean to prevent smudges and streaks. 

This simple technique for getting your oven glass to shine can be used with an average glass cleaner as well. Stoner Invisible Glass Cleaner and Windex Original Glass Cleaner are two of the top glass cleaner brands recommended by The Spruce. Top10Best.how also recommends a verity of Weiman products that could add that desired bit of shine your oven glass.