How to clean an oven

Between baked dinners, chicken wings and the occasional overflowing lasagne, ovens cop a lot of punishment. Every spill and splatter gets more firmly cooked on each time you use it, until you're left with baked-on grease that won't budge with a quick wipe.

Learning how to clean an oven properly doesn't just make it look better - built-up grease and food residue can cause smoke, burnt smells and, if left unchecked, may even affect how your oven performs.

Fortunately, a deep clean is reasonably easy to do, whether your oven cleans itself or needs a bit of elbow grease.

Before you start scrubbing, check whether your oven has a self-cleaning function. If you're not sure, check the manual or search your oven's make and model online. It will usually contain the word ‘pyrolytic’ in its product name.

Self-cleaning ovens use a pyrolytic self-cleaning cycle, which heats the interior to around 500°C and turns grease and food residue into a fine ash you can just wipe away - no scrubbing, chemicals or cleaning products needed.

If your oven doesn't have this feature, don't worry - a bit of baking soda and vinegar will work wonders.

Before you do a deep clean, the oven should be at room temperature. If you’re motivated to clean it after a particularly messy cook, let it cool before tackling it. Having said this, it’s best to wipe up any fresh spills while the oven is still slightly warm - but not hot - because it’s easier to clean before oils and sauces get fully dried on.

Remove the oven racks and trays. Pop them in the sink or a tub with warm water and a splash of dishwashing liquid or a dishwasher tablet, and let them soak for 20-30 minutes while you tackle the interior.

Skip the harsh chemicals and mix up a natural cleaning solution instead: combine one cup of baking soda with a third of a cup of dish soap to form a thick baking soda paste. Using a soft sponge or brush, spread the paste over the interior of the oven, working it into any nooks and crannies where grease tends to hide. Avoid the heating elements, as these shouldn't get wet or covered in paste. Leave it for at least 30 minutes (longer if your oven is heavily soiled) to give the paste time to loosen the grime.

Once it has soaked into the grime, mop up the paste and the softened dirt with some paper towel, before wiping away any remaining residue with a damp cloth.

For the glass oven door, mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and apply it in circular motions, then buff dry with a microfibre cloth for a streak-free finish.

If you've got stubborn, baked-on marks that won't lift with vinegar alone, dab on a little of the baking soda paste, leave it for 15 minutes, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. A squirt of lemon juice is another natural option that can cut through grease, or you can use a regular glass cleaner if you prefer.

Pyrolytic temperatures are too intense for oven racks and trays, so take these out before you start, along with any other loose accessories such as thermometers or trivets. Metal fittings that aren't rated for the cycle can warp or discolour under that much heat, so it's worth double-checking your manual if you're ever unsure what's safe to leave in.

Wipe up any large spills or heavy food deposits first too, since leaving a lot of residue in the oven during the cycle can cause smoke or an unpleasant smell. You don't need to scrub at this stage - just clear away the worst of it with a cloth or paper towel so the self-cleaning cycle isn't working overtime.

Select the pyrolytic function and let the cycle run its full course - this typically takes anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on your model of oven.

For safety, the door locks automatically during the cycle and cannot be opened again until the oven has cooled down. Once it's finished and cooled, all that's left inside is a fine layer of ash, which you can easily wipe away with a damp cloth.

While the cycle runs, soak your racks and trays in warm, soapy water for 20-30 minutes, then scrub off any grease, rinse and dry them before putting them back in when the pyrolytic cycle is complete.

For the exterior, clean the glass oven door the same way as above: a vinegar and water solution applied in circular motions, buffed dry with a microfibre cloth.