Cleaning an oven can be one of the most difficult household chores due to the amount of grease, oil and food splatter that become burned into the surface. These stains become a very sticky residue that harden into a tough charred marks that will not budge no matter how much you scrub as anything greasy will repel water. 

However, Kimberly Hillegass, a cleaning expert from Sears Home Services has shared it is actually very simple to dissolve grease and burnt on food as all you need is baking soda. She said: “Baking soda is a versatile and powerful cleaning agent. Its abrasive texture helps scrub away stubborn stains, while its alkaline properties break down and dissolve grease. Plus, baking soda is non-toxic and safe to use around food, making it an excellent choice for cleaning your oven.”

It might sound bizarre, but grease, food and other fatty stains found in ovens are acidic and you need an alkaline substance like baking soda to get rid of them. 

Baking soda will break down any greasy residue in a oven and help loosen any stuck on stains so you do not have to use a harsh chemical cleaner. 

Although baking soda may seem simple, it is one of the most effective ways to get rid of stuck on grease so you do not have to stress about scrubbing any burned on marks ever again.

Not only can baking soda clean a oven, but this is a old-fashioned method that will work to clean air fryers, stove tops, microwaves and any other greasy surface in your kitchen. 

How to clean a oven properly with baking soda

To begin, put on a pair of rubber gloves and then mix 120ml of baking soda in a bowl with a few tablespoons of water. You want the baking soda to form a paste so it will stick to stains, but you do not want it to become too watery, otherwise it will not work. 

Then, simply apply the baking soda paste to your oven door or anywhere else covered in grease marks, but make sure not to cover the heating element.

Let the baking soda solution sit in the oven overnight, roughly eight to 12 hours, as you want to give it a lot of time to break down the stains. 

Once the time is up, wipe the baking soda off with a sponge or brush. If you want, spray the oven with white vinegar as it will create a fizzy reaction that will help lift any remaining stains. 

Wipe the baking soda residue away with a wet cloth, and then dry the oven completely with another clean cloth. Your oven should now be completely clean and will have taken less than 10 minutes of actual work to remove any tough stains.