Having a clean oven is important for both health and safety. But if you’ve never cleaned your oven(s) before, it can look and feel like a daunting task ahead of you. This article provides three easy ways to tackle this problem head-on and help you clean the bottom of your oven like a pro.

Here’s three easy methods for cleaning the bottom of an oven

Cleaning your oven(s) isn’t always the simplest of tasks, especially if you do not have the equipment, time, or willpower to engage in such as task (don’t worry, you’re not alone here). While it may be challenging to build up the energy to tackle this task, we’ve put together three methods that will help you tackle the challenge of cleaning the bottom of any oven. 

1. Using the Self-Cleaning Cycle
2. Applying an Industrial Cleaning Product
3. Using Natural Cleaning Alternatives

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Method 1: Using the self-cleaning cycle

It’s essential to keep the bottom of your oven clean so that you can use it for cooking and storing food effectively. While you may want to grab a cloth and start cleaning, there are some specific steps you should follow when cleaning the bottom of any oven:

You will need the following:

• Cleaning Cloth
• Oven Cleaning Wipes (Optional)
• Sponge
• Paper Towels

Step 1

Before you start cleaning, clear out the oven. Take out all of the oven racks, as well as any pizza stones or baking stones, so that you can reach the bottom of the oven more easily. Take out any other items that may have been left in there, like a casserole dish or a potholder.

Next, clean the oven racks in preparation for putting them back into the oven after you’ve cleaned the bottom. This point in the process can also be an excellent time to clean any baking stones or pizza stones with stains on them—mainly if they didn’t come off during regular cleaning after use.

Step 2

Large food particles are the worst! Use a paper towel or cloth to clean the bottom of your oven while removing large bits of grease and food. Sometimes this is all that’s preventing a good cleaning solution from working! Optionally, you can also use Oven Cleaning Wipes, which help to remove grease, grime, and food stains.

If there is a large chunk of food, especially with sauce or oil, on the bottom of the oven, apply the cleaning solution to the surface of the bottom of the oven instead of the food. By wiping the bottom of the oven, you can eliminate any caked-on debris or grease on the surface.

Step 3

If you have a self-cleaning oven, activate this function to remove all grease and food particles. After the oven has finished cleaning, all food particles will be dry and crispy, making them easier to remove.

Oven self-cleaning cycles can take up to three hours. If there is a lot of smoke in the oven, turn it off and clean the bottom of your oven by hand.

Clean the bottom of your oven by wiping it down with a damp cloth or paper towel. Wiping the bottom down will eliminate any ash accumulated on the bottom of your oven during your self-cleaning cycle. Take care to wipe off any ash before adding any cleaning products, or it could cake together.

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Method 2: Applying an industrial cleaning product

The next step is applying an industrial cleaning product. We recommend using Oven Brite. It can help break down the organic goo that tends to build up on the bottom of your oven, and it smells pleasant while doing so! Plus, it’s safe on all stove surfaces, including for when you need it to clean a glass cooktop.

You will need the following:

• Rubber Cleaning Gloves
• Newspapers or Paper Towels
• Spray Oven Cleaner (Oven Brite)
• Safety Glasses (Optional)

Step 1

To avoid ruining your health and well-being, put on the appropriate safety equipment. Wearing rubber gloves and safety glasses will keep the chemicals from hurting you. Clean the oven with this heavy-duty barrier between you and the chemicals.

If you want to do your best to avoid skin contact with the cleaner, don’t use disposable gloves. They might offer some protection, but they might not be enough to stop your skin from coming in contact with the cleanser.

*Quick note on the safety glasses. While it may seem a stretch to have to wear safety glasses cleaning your house, on many occasions, having these glasses on prevented me from potential hospital trips. I can’t count the times that accidents have happened when it comes to stubborn bottles and spray devices. Safety first people.

Step 2

To avoid excess cleaner on the floor, cover it with newspapers or paper towels. This will protect your floor from accidental spillage.

Step 3

Spray the oven cleaner onto the bottom of the oven. Stand about 8-10 inches from the surface and sweep the cleanser with your arm, spraying in a back and forth motion. Try not to squirt the oven cleaner on your heating element. This will cause a problem when you turn on the oven because of the chemical reaction. Contain the cleaning spray to the bottom of the oven.

Step 4

Let the oven cleaner sit for 30 minutes so that it can work its magic. After 30 minutes, you can wipe the oven clean with soap and water. Please don’t disturb the oven while the cleaner is working-leave it closed so that fumes are contained.

Step 5

When the oven cleaner has been in for 30 minutes, wipe the bottoms of the oven with a damp cloth. Use a scrub brush or sponge to scrub off the grime for any sticky residue. Get into all corners and cracks to remove all dirt and oven cleaner.

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Method 3: Using natural cleaning alternatives

But wait! There’s more. Luckily, there are ways to clean your oven without using toxic chemicals or even harsh cleaning products—and they should only take a few minutes out of your day! This environmentally-friendly cleaning hack is perfect for those who want to avoid chemicals. So grab some paper towels, baking soda, and vinegar. Let’s get cleaning!

You will need the following:

• Baking Soda
• Bowl
• White Vinegar
• Spray Bottle
• Lemons
• Table Salt

Step 1

To start, mix one and a half cups of baking soda with three tablespoons of water and create a paste in a bowl. Leave for 12 hours, or overnight, until the mixture turns into a dense, thick paste. Apply the paste to the bottom of your oven, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spray inside the oven.

To clean the oven, combine baking soda and white vinegar to make a foamy cleaning mixture. Leave it to sit for a few minutes before wiping the oven down. If you’re looking for a quick way to get your oven sparkling, you can make a baking soda paste, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then spray it with vinegar and wipe it away.

Step 2

Another easy way is by using lemon water. Fill an oven-safe bowl ¾ of the way full with water and squeeze two lemons into it. Drop the lemons into the water, place them in the oven, and let it bake at 250 °F for an hour. 

When you pull it out, use a damp cloth to wipe down your oven.

Let the oven cool down enough to where you can clean it, but it is not too hot to touch. Wet scouring pumice or microfiber sponges are great for scrubbing difficult stains.

Step 3

Ever heard of cleaning an oven with salt? It will work wonders for you! All you need is some salt, an oven mitt, and a sponge. Start by preheating the oven to 150 °F (66 °C). 

Sprinkle salt all over the bottom and let it sit for a few minutes. Then put on the oven mitt and use the moistened sponge or rag to clean the bottom of your oven. The salt will help you remove the grime easily.

Additional care tips to clean the bottom of your oven

Don’t wait until you spill something to clean the bottom of your oven. Cleaning regularly — especially right after a spill — is the key to relatively easy cleanup. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to get rid of the mess.

The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to get rid of the mess. If you have a self-cleaning oven, don’t overdo it. Many people think that self-cleaning is the magic cure for a dirty oven. Nope. It can worsen a mess by melting or breaking the insulation or pushing grease or food particles farther down into the oven cavity. Be sure you read the directions and follow any cleaning limits.

Frequently asked questions for cleaning the bottom of your oven