By Jennifer Noonan and Gretchen Heber | Updated Dec 15, 2023 2:55 PM
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You know the story: After cooking a big meal, especially after doing so several times a week during the holiday season, splattered grease and unidentifiable bits of stuck-on food end up clouding the glass of your oven window.
There’s no harm in allowing the mess to accumulate there for a while. Sooner or later, though, you need to clean the oven glass, not only for appearance’s sake, but also to maintain the performance and longevity of your appliance.
Here’s the thing, though: Cleaning oven glass is rarely easy, especially if a lot of time has passed since you last made the effort. In fact, getting the glass truly spotless may be the toughest part of cleaning your oven, whether you have a conventional or convection model. Cleaning the glass can even be more difficult than cleaning the oven interior, especially if you’re fortunate enough to own a self-cleaning oven (which, sadly, does little to clean the glass).
Even cleaning the oven racks can be much less of a chore, as there are methods for getting the job done that require relatively little exertion.
Compared with these other tasks, cleaning that brown-stained oven door glass is pretty labor intensive. The good news is that it’s uncomplicated work, and you probably already have all the supplies you need for the job. Follow along to learn the best way to clean oven glass.
After making sure the oven is off, open the door all the way and remove any loose bits of blackened food. As you work, pay special attention to the area where the oven glass meets the door. A handheld vacuum makes it easy to draw crumbs out of the seam here, but a moistened cloth works fine in a pinch.
In a small bowl, combine a half cup or a full cup of baking soda with just enough water to form a thick, shaving cream-like paste. Spread the paste evenly over the oven glass, adding a bit more water for even coverage, if necessary. Let sit for at least 15 minutes.
Allow the paste sufficient time to work its grime-loosening magic, then wipe the glass using a clean, moistened microfiber cloth (or any rag, really, as long as it’s clean). Rinse the glass thoroughly with water and wipe the surface dry, taking care to pick up any residual baking soda.
If, after you’ve applied and wiped away the paste, burnt-on grease remains, use a razor blade to scrape it away—gently! Finish by vacuuming up debris (or wiping it up with a cloth), then wipe the door down once more with a clean, damp cloth.
In extreme cases—for example, if you’re living in a rental where the oven window hasn’t been cleaned in years—a natural paste may not pack enough power to degrease the oven window. If that’s the case, you may choose to store-bought, chemical-based oven cleaner, such as Rejuvenate Glass and Ceramic Cooktop and Oven Cleaner and Restorer or Easy-Off. If you go that route, be sure to follow the instructions on the product label. For most cooks, though, the classic combination of baking soda and water should restore greasy oven glass.
Start by spreading a baking-soda-and-water paste over the opened oven door. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe it off completely. Use a razor blade to scrape off stubborn bits of baked-on grease. If grime remains, you may have to resort to a chemical cleaner. With a little elbow grease, you’ll soon have a clean oven window.
Oven cleaner is safe to use on oven window glass and will not harm it, but check the owner’s manual for your oven if you have doubts. (Many manufacturers discourage using commercial oven cleaners on the interior surfaces of self-cleaning ovens.) Finally, always follow the instructions on the oven cleaner to ensure that you are using the product correctly.
How to clean between panes of oven glass is a vexing problem. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to clean in between the panes of your oven door without taking it apart. Depending on how your oven is constructed, however, you may be able to remove the top edge of your oven door and use a yardstick covered in cloth to reach down and wipe this area. You may even be able to fit a cloth-covered yardstick through vents at the top or bottom edge of the door. But to do a really effective job, you’ll need to take the door apart.
Show of hands: Who likes cleaning their oven? Right. Exactly no one. If you have to do it, you might as well do it quickly, efficiently, and effectively. If circumstances dictate that you must resort to a commercial oven cleaner, be sure to ventilate the room well and run the range hood fan.
Once your oven and door are clean, why not tackle other grimy cooking appliances? Our guides to how to clean a microwave and how to clean an air fryer will get you started.
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