How to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar

You might want to hand-clean your oven for a variety of reasons: Your oven doesn't have a self-cleaning feature, you don't want to use harsh chemicals or you just prefer an old-fashioned deep clean. Here is how you can use common household items to wash your oven.

Ashlee Clark Thompson

Ashlee spent time as a newspaper reporter, AmeriCorps VISTA and an employee at a healthcare company before she landed at CNET. She loves to eat, write and watch "Golden Girls" (preferably all three at the same time). The first two hobbies help her out as an appliance reviewer. The last one makes her an asset to trivia teams. Ashlee also created the blog, AshleeEats.com, where she writes about casual dining in Louisville, Kentucky.

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Ashlee Clark Thompson

Nov. 18, 2017 5:00 a.m. PT

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How to clean your oven

It's easy to clean your oven with some stuff you already have in your home.

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Supplies

Here's what you'll need: Dish gloves, baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, water, a spray bottle, a sponge or cleaning cloth, a scraper or spatula, paper towels, bucket or bowl and (optionally) a vacuum cleaner.

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Step 1

Remove the racks from your oven and wash them in warm, soapy water. Some oven racks are dishwasher safe, but check your oven manual first to make sure they won't be damaged in the dishwasher. Dry the racks and set them aside.

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Step 2

Remove any loose food particles from your oven.

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Step 3

Make a paste using three parts baking soda and one part water.

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Step 4

Spread the paste around the inside of your oven. If there are really tough, burnt on spots, put a little extra baking soda paste on them. Avoid putting the paste on heating elements inside the oven.

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Step 5

Close your oven and let the paste sit overnight.

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Step 6

Moisten your sponge or cleaning cloth with warm water and wipe away the baking soda paste. Use a bucket or bowl full of warm water to rinse the sponge or cleaning cloth as you're removing the baking soda paste. For any stubborn messes, use a scraper or spatula.

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Step 7

Fill a spray bottle with one part vinegar and one part water. Spray down the oven and wipe away leftover baking soda paste with paper towels or another cleaning cloth. You can use a handheld vacuum or attachment to remove any remaining clumps of baking soda.