By Jasman, Co-founder of PureZest | Updated September 2026 | 7-minute read

Key Takeaways

• You can clean your oven without caustic oven cleaners or harsh fumes. An enzyme-based degreaser, baking soda, and a little patience do the job.
• Always start with a completely cool oven and remove the racks first.
• For everyday grease and splatters, spray, wait 1 minute, and wipe. For thick, baked-on buildup, use a baking soda paste overnight.
• Soak oven racks in hot water and dish soap to loosen grease before scrubbing.
• A quick wipe after big meals keeps you from needing a major deep clean, especially over the holidays.

Why Skip Harsh Oven Cleaners?

Many conventional oven cleaners contain caustic ingredients like sodium hydroxide (lye). They work quickly, but they can irritate your skin, eyes, and lungs, and they often leave strong fumes in your kitchen. Some also require you to keep kids and pets out of the room while you use them. In a closed-up Canadian home in fall and winter, those fumes have nowhere to go.

The good news is that most oven grime is simply cooked-on grease and food. Gentler cleaners that break down grease, combined with a bit of dwell time, can handle it without the harsh chemicals.

What You'll Need

• An enzyme-based multi-purpose cleaner or degreaser
• Dish soap and hot water (for the racks)
• Baking soda and water (for heavy, baked-on grime)
• A plastic scraper or spatula
• A non-scratch sponge and microfiber cloths
• Rubber gloves
• An old towel (to protect your bathtub if you soak racks there)

How to Clean Your Oven Step by Step

Step 1: Let it cool and prep

Make sure the oven is off and completely cool. Remove the racks, any oven thermometer, and pizza stones. Sweep or vacuum out loose crumbs and burnt bits.

Step 2: Soak the racks

1. Lay an old towel in your bathtub (to prevent scratches) or use a large laundry sink.
2. Place the racks on the towel and cover them with hot water and a generous squeeze of dish soap.
3. Let them soak for a few hours, or overnight for heavy grease.
4. Scrub with a non-scratch sponge or brush, rinse, and dry completely.

Step 3: Clean the inside of the oven

For everyday grease and splatters:

1. Spray an enzyme-based cleaner over the oven walls, floor, and inside of the door.
2. Let it sit for about 1 minute so the enzymes can break down the grease.
3. Wipe clean with a damp microfiber cloth. Repeat on any stubborn spots.

Avoid spraying directly onto heating elements, the fan, the temperature sensor, or gas openings.

For thick, baked-on grime:

1. Mix baking soda with a little water to make a spreadable paste.
2. Spread it over the dirty areas, avoiding heating elements, and leave it overnight.
3. The next day, gently lift the paste and softened grime with a plastic scraper.
4. Spray your cleaner over any remaining residue, wait a minute, and wipe clean.

Step 4: Clean the oven door glass

1. Spray the inside of the glass, let it sit for about 1 minute, and wipe.
2. For brown, baked-on film, apply a thin layer of baking soda paste for 20–30 minutes, then wipe.
3. For stubborn spots, use a razor scraper held at a low angle, gently, on the glass only.
4. Buff dry with a clean microfiber cloth for a streak-free finish.

Step 5: Wipe the outside

Spray your cleaner onto a cloth (not directly onto the control panel), then wipe the knobs, handle, and oven front. For stainless steel, wipe in the direction of the grain and buff dry.

Step 6: Final wipe and reassemble

Give the inside a final wipe with a clean, damp cloth, let it dry, and put the racks back.

What About Self-Cleaning Ovens?

Self-cleaning cycles heat the oven to very high temperatures to burn off residue. They can work well, but they often create smoke and odours, so open a window, turn on the range hood, and keep pets (especially birds) out of the kitchen. Always follow your oven's manual. Many manufacturers advise against using commercial oven cleaners inside self-cleaning ovens, and for light, regular cleaning, a quick spray and wipe is often all you need.

How to Keep Your Oven Clean Longer

1. Wipe spills once the oven cools, before they bake on during your next use.
2. Use a baking sheet under pies, casseroles, and roasts that might bubble over.
3. Cover dishes that tend to splatter, like roasts and lasagna.
4. Use an oven liner only where your manual allows. Many manufacturers say not to place liners directly on the oven floor.
5. Do a quick monthly clean so grease never gets the chance to build up.

How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?

Meet PureZest Multi-Purpose Cleaner: Your Enzyme-Powered Oven and Kitchen Degreaser

PureZest Multi-Purpose Cleaner is made with an enzyme-based formula that's especially effective on the kinds of messes ovens collect: grease buildup, cooked-on splatters, and kitchen stains.

Spray. Wait 1 minute. Wipe.

That's it. Our citrus enzymes get to work breaking down grease and food residue, so after about a minute it wipes away with a microfiber cloth instead of needing heavy scrubbing.

Why it works so well in the oven and kitchen

• Enzyme-based formula: enzymes and citric acid break down grease and food residue, instead of relying on caustic chemicals.
• Tough on grease buildup: cuts through greasy film on oven walls, door glass, stovetops, and range hoods.
• Lifts kitchen stains: from oil splatter and sauce splashes to sticky spills.
• No harsh fumes: made without bleach, ammonia, or parabens, with no added fragrances or dyes, so your kitchen doesn't smell like chemicals afterward.
• One bottle, whole kitchen: use it on the oven, stovetop, counters, cabinets, and appliances.

How to use it in your oven

1. Make sure the oven is completely cool.
2. Spray the oven walls, floor, and door glass, avoiding heating elements and the fan.
3. Leave it for 1 minute.
4. Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth. For thick, baked-on buildup, repeat or pair it with the baking soda method above.

Shop PureZest Multi-Purpose Cleaner, save with the 1.9L refill pack, or get the Kitchen Essentials Combo with our Enzyme Dish Soap for soaking oven racks.

More Kitchen Cleaning Guides

• How to Clean Kitchen Grease Naturally
• The Ultimate Holiday Deep Cleaning Checklist
• What Is an Enzyme Cleaner?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean my oven without harsh chemicals?

Remove the racks, spray the inside with an enzyme-based cleaner, wait about 1 minute, and wipe. For thick, baked-on grime, apply a baking soda paste overnight, scrape it off with a plastic scraper, then spray and wipe away the rest.

How do I clean oven racks?

Soak them in a bathtub or large sink with hot water and dish soap for a few hours or overnight, placing an old towel underneath to protect the tub. Then scrub with a non-scratch sponge, rinse, and dry.

How do I clean the glass on my oven door?

Spray the glass, wait about 1 minute, and wipe. For brown, baked-on film, apply baking soda paste for 20–30 minutes, then wipe and buff dry. A razor scraper held at a low angle helps with stubborn spots.

How often should I clean my oven?

Wipe spills once the oven cools, do a quick clean monthly, and deep clean every 3–6 months, or before and after the holiday cooking season.

Can I use PureZest Multi-Purpose Cleaner inside my oven?

Yes. Spray it on the cool oven's walls, floor, and door glass, avoiding heating elements and the fan, leave it for 1 minute, and wipe. For heavy, baked-on buildup, repeat or combine it with a baking soda paste.

Is it safe to use my oven right after cleaning?

Yes, once you've given the inside a final wipe with a clean, damp cloth and let it dry. Make sure no baking soda paste or cleaning residue is left behind before you turn it on.

The Bottom Line

A clean oven doesn't require caustic chemicals or a kitchen full of fumes. Let it cool, soak the racks, spray, wait a minute, and wipe. Save baking soda for the really tough spots, and wipe up spills early so grease never builds up.

Get a cleaner oven the easy way with PureZest Multi-Purpose Cleaner.

About the author: Jasman is the co-founder of PureZest, a BC-based natural cleaning brand, and previously ran a cleaning services business.