Few housekeeping chores are as demanding as cleaning an oven. Baked-on crumbs, grease-covered walls, and burnt odors make a dirty oven look like a warzone more than an appliance—so cleaning the oven becomes a really BIG task.
Now, you may think you must use a strong cleaning agent to eliminate the grime successfully. Luckily, there’s no need to cover your oven’s walls with harmful chemicals, as you can use vinegar instead. How? Keep reading to find out!
How to steam-clean your oven with vinegar
Most modern ovens have a handy function that makes steam cleaning even easier. If yours doesn’t have that option, don’t worry! There’s still a way to use the power of steam and make your oven clean again.
Step #1. Get your oven ready
To avoid accidents and clean your oven efficiently, you’ll need to take out the racks and everything else inside. Before you continue, you may want to use this opportunity to scrape loose burnt food or wipe excess grease from the walls.
Now, you can wash the racks in your sink. Use lukewarm water, dishwasher detergent, and a rough sponge to remove the grime off the racks. Once done, dry them with an old towel and return one rack to the oven, placing it in the middle holder.
Step #2. Prepare a cleaning solution
In a casserole dish (or a similar-sized, oven-safe container), pour one cup of white vinegar and fill the rest with distilled water. Using distilled water will keep your oven spot-free once you finish the cleaning.
Place the dish in the middle rack and jump to the next step.
Pro tip: If you use tap water, be sure to rinse thoroughly at the end to avoid mineral spots.
Step #3. Turn on the heat
With everything in place, you can now turn on your oven to 450° F. You should leave it like that for about 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how grimy it is. During this time, steam will form and cover your oven’s interior, loosening the grime.
Step #4. Make your oven shine
After time’s up, your dish and rack will be burning hot, so let it cool before taking them out. Once your oven is empty again, use a damp sponge to scrub the grime and gunk with the rough side. For particularly stubborn stuck-on food, use a scrub pad.
Finally, rinse the area with a dampened microfiber cloth. And just like that, your oven will return to its former glory. Time to bake a cake in celebration!
How to clean your oven using vinegar and baking soda
Although helpful, steam-cleaning your oven with white vinegar could not be enough if your oven is extra filthy. There’s an even better option for those cases—it takes more effort and time to do it, though. Check it out here:
How To Clean Your Oven With Baking Soda And Vinegar
Is cleaning your oven too much hassle? We got you covered!
If you are not sure steam-cleaning will help, let the experts clean for you. Our skilled cleaners at Fabulously Clean will leave your oven spotless if you request it. Plus, we’ll make your house the cleanest it can be. Get a free quote now!