Your cooker does the hard yards, from quick midweek dinners to slow roasts that feed the whole crew. But when it comes to cleaning, most of us would rather pretend it’s not there.
Thankfully, keeping your oven in top shape doesn’t have to be a battle. You don’t need harsh chemicals, endless scrubbing, or a whole Saturday devoted to elbow grease. There are simpler, smarter ways to get the job done and actually enjoy the process.
Here’s how to clean your oven without breaking a sweat.
Make Use of the Self-Cleaning Ovens
Many of the newer stoves come with a self-cleaning function, and it’s one of those features that really makes life easier. The oven locks itself, turns up the heat, and reduces spills and splatters to a fine ash you can wipe away with a cloth.
It’s simple, effective, and doesn’t involve scrubbing until your arms give out. Just run the cycle every month or two, or whenever your oven surfaces are looking particularly grim, then give it a quick wipe-down afterwards.
Turn on a fan or crack a window. This keeps the kitchen warm and cosy while the oven does its thing.
For anyone juggling work, family, and the usual household chaos, it’s a real time-saver—one of those rare features that genuinely makes life easier.
Try Steam Cleaning
Some spills aren’t worth calling in the heavy artillery. For lighter spills, a simple steam clean works wonders.
All it takes is a heatproof dish filled with water and a splash of vinegar. Slide it into the oven, set the temp to around 120°C, and let the steam do the heavy lifting.
Half an hour later, the gunk will have softened, ready to wipe away with just a damp cloth.
Make sure to get into the corners, along the seams, and around the door edges where grease often hides. A quick scrub with a sponge or brush in these spots prevents grime from building up and keeps your oven heating evenly.
Repeat this process weekly or after particularly messy cooking sessions to stay ahead of stubborn baked-on messes.
Use Natural Cleaners
You don’t need harsh sprays. A couple of pantry staples can tackle even the grimiest oven. Baking soda and vinegar might be humble Aussie household favourites, but when it comes to baked-on mess, they’re quite mighty.
Mix a thick paste of baking soda and water, spread it across the oven interior, and let it sit overnight. By morning, most of the grime will lift without you breaking a sweat.
For a bit more punch, splash on a little vinegar to trigger a powerful fizz. This reaction should loosen up the stubborn bits. It’s safe, eco-friendly, and won’t sting your nostrils like harsher sprays.
The best part is that you’re cleaning with the same pantry staples you probably already used in last week’s Anzac biscuits or your favourite salad dressing.
Consider Commercial Oven Cleaners
Even with regular upkeep, some ovens reach a point where spills, splatters, and baked-on grease refuse to budge. When gentle scrubbing, steam, or natural cleaners just aren’t enough, it’s time to bring in commercial oven cleaners.
These products are formulated to tackle stubborn, baked-on messes that would leave milder methods waving the white flag.
Here’s how to use them: spray the detergent onto a cool oven, let it sit for the recommended time, then wipe away the residue. They work quickly and effectively, though it’s wise to wear gloves and ensure good ventilation.
For anyone staring down an oven that looks more like a charcoal pit, commercial cleaners are your ‘break glass in case of emergency’ option. They’re your solution to get the job done when nothing else will.
Remember the Racks and Trays
Your oven racks and trays take the brunt of the action—catching drips, splatters, and the occasional overflow that no one saw coming. Fortunately, giving them a proper clean is actually pretty easy.
The simplest method is to soak them for a while. Place them in your laundry sink, bathtub, or even a large tub from Bunnings, then cover with hot water and a generous squeeze of dishwashing liquid.
Leave them for a few hours while the suds soften the baked-on residue. After that, a gentle scrub with a non-scratch sponge is usually all it takes.
Rinse well, dry, and they’re ready to go again. They should come out clean, shiny, and far more inviting for your next roast or batch of biscuits. Do this alongside your oven’s interior cleaning, and you’ll have the whole job done in just one session.
Think about Maintenance Options
Your oven’s looking sparkling, and you deserve a pat on the back. Now it’s time to keep it that way. With a few clever tricks, you can dodge future scrubbing marathons. Here’s how.
Use Oven Liners
Reusable oven liners are cheap, easy to find at Coles, Woolworths, or Bunnings, and they catch drips and crumbs before they burn onto the oven floor.
Rinse them under the tap or toss them in the dishwasher, and they’re good as new. For anyone who bakes a lot, these liners are pure gold—keeping your oven floors drip-free and stress-free.
Address Spills Quickly
Don’t let spills settle in. When something bubbles over, deal with it once the oven has cooled. A quick wipe with a damp cloth now saves you from chiselling off burnt-on crust later. It’s the difference between a 10-second clean and a cleaning session you’ll resent.
Know When to Call the Experts
Sometimes, even with regular care, an oven reaches a point where DIY just won’t cut it. That’s when calling in oven cleaning specialists makes sense.
These experts have specialised tools and products that can break down stubborn, baked-on mess far more effectively than anything you’ve got at home. Plus, you get to skip the elbow grease entirely.
Conclusion
Keeping your oven clean doesn’t have to be a full-scale workout or a weekend sacrifice. A little maintenance here and there, plus the occasional deeper clean, keeps things running smoothly and your cooking tasting the way it should.
And if you’ve made it through this guide, well done. That’s more commitment than most ovens ever get. Take a breather, make yourself a cup of coffee, and enjoy the feeling of having a grease-free oven.
