Cleaning oven glass is rarely that simple, especially if it’s been a long time since you’ve done it.
In fact, whether you have a conventional or convection oven, getting the glass truly spotless may be the most difficult part of cleaning it.
Cleaning the glass can be more difficult than cleaning the interior of the oven, even if you have a self-cleaning model as this sadly does little to clean the glass.
Mike Harris, owner of Oven Rescue Group, the oven cleaning franchise that operates all over the UK, has shared the “best way to remove stubborn dirt and grime” from oven glass.
He said: “As oven glass is on display, it can be one of the hardest things to clean as you’ll want to make sure it’s not only completely clean but also streak-free – inside and out.
“Luckily, getting baked on grime off the glass doesn’t have to involve hours of elbow grease – you can do it relatively easily and quickly – it just takes patience and a couple of supplies.”
The oven specialist noted that the first step is always to try a natural method – specifically baking soda and vinegar as these are “powerhouses when it comes to cleaning”, and when mixed together can help to “lift off a myriad of stains”.
While it can be tempting to clean the oven when it’s warm, it’s always advised to wait until the oven is cool before cleaning.
Once completely cool, mix the baking soda with water until it turns into a thick paste that you can spread. While that combines, pour about 100ml of vinegar into a spray bottle and put some kitchen towels down on the areas where it may drip to protect flooring, cupboards, etc.
After, simply start applying it carefully to the inside of the glass. Let it sit for 20 minutes before using a clean damp cloth to wipe it away in circular motions to really loosen it up.
For those who find the stains are still there, simply apply more of the paste mix and spray it with the vinegar. It should start to fizz which means the vinegar is reacting with the baking soda, and “it’s this action that gets really deep into the stains to help lift them off”.
Mike added: “Again, leave it to work its magic for another 20 to 30 minutes before using the damp cloth to wipe it away.”
Once you’re happy with the cleanliness, use the vinegar and a dry microfibre cloth to polish up the glass. The expert claimed: “The trick here is to use long, soft strokes, to leave it streak-free.”
The same can then be repeated for the front of the glass. These aren’t usually as dirty as the inside, so a simple spritz of vinegar and a good wipe with a microfibre cloth should be enough.
