You could have the cleanest kitchen in town, but if your oven looks like it hasn’t been cleaned since you bought it, you’re going to lose some serious points with your house guests. Plus, a dirty oven can be a major fire hazard. 

Before you head to your local market to buy expensive oven cleaners, read this step-by-step guide on how to clean an oven without oven cleaner and save yourself some money (and a trip to the store).

Choose one of the Following Techniques

Sprinkle Borax Powder on Dirty Surfaces

If you're looking for a way to clean your oven without using oven cleaner, Borax powder may be the answer. Sprinkle the powder on the dirty surface, then use a damp cloth to scrub away the grime. 

You may need to do this a few times to get the oven sparkling clean, but it's worth it to avoid harsh chemicals. Plus, Borax is inexpensive and easy to find at most stores.

Make Your Own Oven Cleaner Spray With Vinegar and Baking Soda

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of white vinegar.
3. Pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle.
4. Spray the mixture onto the dirty areas of your oven, making sure to cover all surfaces evenly.
5. Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes.
6. Use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe away the dirt and grime.
7. Rinse with water and dry with a clean towel or cloth.

Mix Lemon Juice and Water

Lemon juice has a ton of benefits for cleaning. For one thing, it will naturally polish stainless steel and other metals in your kitchen. And secondly, it’s excellent for removing stains and odors from countertops and other surfaces.

To make this great-smelling homemade oven cleaner, pour half a cup of lemon juice into a bowl and mix it with an equal amount of water. Submerge a clean cloth into the mixture and wring it out so that it's damp but not dripping. Wipe the entire inside of your oven with the cloth, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. 

Let the lemon juice sit on the oven surface for at least 15 minutes. Rinse your oven with clean water (you can use a spray bottle for this). Dry it off with a clean towel, and voilà! A sparkling clean oven and no harsh chemicals required.

Oven Cleaning Hacks

• Spray on your solution and let it sit overnight. Then, use a non-abrasive scouring pad to wipe away the grime.

• Make a thick paste with your chosen solution and spread it heavily over the surface of your oven. Let this sit for a couple of hours or overnight, then wipe it away.

• If you need to know how to take care of a self-cleaning oven, it’s best to read the owner’s manual. These types of ovens often require that you do not use a cleaner at all, but a little oven cleaner DIY is usually okay.

• If all else fails, a product like Easy-Off Oven Cleaner is still a good option. 

Keep Your Oven Clean and Avoid All the Hard Work

After spending a day scrubbing a dirty oven, you’ll most likely decide you’d rather find ways to keep it that way. Simple steps like wiping up spills immediately with a damp cloth and lining the bottom with foil can help you keep it sparklingly clean all the time.

Saving time on painful tasks like these can make life much more fun, especially when you live in an active housing community and have so many more enjoyable things you could be doing. And if you’re still searching for your community, contact us now to help you find the perfect apartment.