How to Clean an Oven Step by Step (Even a Filthy One)

To clean an oven step by step: switch it off and let it cool, take out the racks and soak them, coat the inside with a thick bicarbonate of soda paste (or a caustic oven cleaner for heavy carbon), leave it for several hours or overnight, then scrape, wipe and rinse, finishing with the door glass. The same steps work for a filthy oven; you just need a stronger product and more soaking time. This guide covers the gentle method and the heavy-duty method, a quick weekly clean, the glass and racks, what not to use on self-cleaning ovens, and when it makes more sense to hand it to a professional.

Before you start: what type of oven do you have?

Look at the manual, or search the model number, before you reach for any product.

• Standard enamel interior: the usual glossy dark interior. You can use bicarbonate of soda or a caustic oven cleaner.
• Catalytic liners: rough, matt panels on the sides, back or roof. They absorb grease and burn it off at high temperature. AEG’s catalytic cleaning guidance, for example, says not to clean these surfaces with oven sprays, abrasives, soap or other cleaning agents, as they damage the coating. Clean around them, or remove them if the manual shows how, and run the oven hot to clean them.
• Pyrolytic ovens: have a self-clean programme that heats the oven to a very high temperature and turns residue to ash. Use the programme as the manual describes (most say to take out the racks and trays first), then wipe out the ash once cool. Don’t use chemical cleaners inside.
• Steam-clean or “easy clean” enamel: usually cleaned with water in the base and a short programme, then a wipe. Heavy build-up may still need bicarbonate paste.

How to clean an oven step by step: the short version

Step	What to do	Time
1	Switch off at the wall and let the oven cool	30–60 minutes
2	Remove racks, trays and runners, and put them to soak	5 minutes, then soak
3	Scrape out loose debris	5 minutes
4	Apply bicarbonate paste or oven cleaner to the cavity and door	10–15 minutes
5	Leave it to work	Overnight for paste; as the label says for cleaner
6	Scrape, wipe and rinse until no residue is left	30–60 minutes
7	Clean the door glass, then scrub and rinse the racks	20–40 minutes
8	Dry, refit, and heat the oven empty briefly if you used a chemical cleaner	20 minutes

The detailed methods below explain each step for enamel ovens, and what to do differently for catalytic and pyrolytic ovens.

What you’ll need

• Rubber gloves, and eye protection if using a caustic spray
• Bicarbonate of soda and water, or an oven cleaner suitable for your oven
• White vinegar in a spray bottle
• A plastic scraper or old bank card, and a glass hob scraper for the door glass
• Non-scratch scourers, microfibre cloths and a bucket of warm water
• Old towels or newspaper for the floor
• A bin bag or large tray, or the bath, for soaking racks

Step-by-step: the bicarbonate of soda method

This works well for grease and moderate burnt-on spills, and it’s the gentlest option on enamel.

1. Switch off and cool down. Turn the oven off at the wall and let it cool completely.
2. Take everything out. Remove racks, trays, side runners and, if possible, the fan cover. Scrape out loose crumbs and burnt bits.
3. Soak the racks. Put them in the bath or a large tray with very hot water and a couple of dishwasher tablets or a squirt of washing-up liquid. Put an old towel under them to protect the bath. Leave them to soak while you do the rest.
4. Make the paste. Mix about half a cup of bicarbonate of soda with a few tablespoons of water to make a spreadable paste, like thick yoghurt. Make more for a very dirty oven.
5. Coat the inside. Spread the paste over the base, sides, back and inside of the door, avoiding the heating elements, fan and any catalytic liners. Use it thickly on the worst areas. It will turn brown as it works.
6. Leave it overnight, or for at least 12 hours, with the door closed.
7. Scrape and wipe. Use the plastic scraper to lift the paste and grime, then wipe with a damp cloth, rinsing it often.
8. Spray with vinegar. A light mist of white vinegar makes any leftover bicarbonate foam, which lifts the residue. Wipe again with clean water until no white film is left.
9. Dry and refit. Dry the inside, scrub and rinse the racks, dry them and put them back.

Step-by-step: heavy carbon build-up

If the oven hasn’t been cleaned for years and the base is covered in thick black carbon, bicarbonate alone may barely touch it. A caustic oven cleaner, usually based on sodium hydroxide, is more effective, but it needs care.

1. Read the label and check the product is suitable for your oven type.
2. Open the windows, put newspaper on the floor and wear gloves and eye protection.
3. Apply the cleaner to a cold oven, avoiding elements, fans, seals, catalytic liners and the outside of the oven.
4. Leave it for the time on the label. Some gel products are designed to be left for several hours.
5. Scrape and wipe off with a damp cloth, then rinse thoroughly with clean water several times so no residue is left to heat up next time you cook.
6. Run the oven empty at a moderate heat for 15 to 20 minutes, with the window open, before you cook in it.

Rack-cleaning kits with a sealable bag and a caustic solution are useful for badly burnt racks and shelves. Follow the instructions exactly and do it outside or in a well-ventilated room.

How to clean the oven door glass

• Cover the inside of the glass with bicarbonate paste and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes, or overnight for heavy staining.
• Hold a glass scraper flat to the glass to lift burnt-on marks without scratching.
• Wipe with a damp cloth, then polish with a vinegar and water spray and a dry microfibre cloth.
• Between the panes: many ovens let you remove the inner glass so you can clean the grease that drips between the layers. Check the manual for how the door comes apart and how the glass goes back, as refitting it the wrong way round can be unsafe.

Don’t forget the rest of the cooker

• Grill and grill pan: soak the pan with the racks, and clean the grill compartment roof carefully around the element.
• Door seal: wipe with warm soapy water only. Don’t pull or scrub it.
• Hob and extractor: grease from the hob collects in the extractor filters. Our appliance cleaning checklist covers these.
• Outside and controls: wipe with a damp cloth and a drop of washing-up liquid. Don’t spray cleaner directly onto controls or touch panels.

How to clean an oven quickly (regular clean)

If the oven is only lightly dirty, you don’t need an overnight soak. Once it’s cool, wipe out crumbs, spray the inside and door with a mix of warm water and a little washing-up liquid, and wipe with a non-scratch sponge. For a few stubborn spots, dab on bicarbonate paste, leave it for 20 to 30 minutes, then wipe it off and rinse. Doing this every few weeks stops spills baking into carbon and saves you the big job later.

How to keep it clean

• Wipe spills once the oven has cooled, before they burn on next time.
• Use a roasting tray or oven liner on the bottom shelf, not directly on the oven floor.
• Cover dishes that tend to spit, such as roasts.
• Give it a proper clean every three to six months, depending on how often you cook.

When is professional oven cleaning worth it?

• The oven has years of carbon that won’t shift, or the glass is stained between the panes.
• You’re moving out of a rental. A dirty oven is one of the most common reasons for cleaning deductions, and you’ll want it back to its check-in condition. Our guide to getting your deposit back explains why.
• You’re a landlord getting a property ready for new tenants.
• You’d rather not spend an evening with caustic cleaner and rubber gloves.

Our oven cleaning service has fixed prices when added to an end of tenancy, deep or pre-tenancy clean:

Oven type	Fixed price as an extra
Single oven	£35
Double oven	£45
Range cooker	£60

Studio flats booked for an end of tenancy clean include the oven and other appliances as standard. About one in five of the end of tenancy cleans we carried out between March 2023 and September 2026 included an oven clean. Booked as a standalone job, oven cleaning typically came to £120 in the same period, and it’s busiest in February and November. See our full prices page for everything else.

Frequently asked questions