Even though it’s a task no one enjoys, cleaning your oven regularly is essential. Grease and burnt-on food can produce smoke and odors that can affect the taste of your food and, over time, the performance of the appliance.
For very dirty ovens with caked-on grime, the best solution is probably the oven’s self-cleaning setting or a commercial oven cleaner. But an occasional steam cleaning may be enough to tackle minor spills and light soil. Best of all, steam cleaning the oven lets you avoid the toxic chemicals found in many commercial oven cleaners and saves the oven from the high temps and wear-and-tear of the typical self-cleaning cycle.
How Steam Cleaning Works
Steam cleaning relies on water and a hot oven to release steam into the oven’s interior. The steam loosens up burnt-on food and spills, which can then be wiped away with a damp cloth.
Some ovens have a built-in steam clean oven setting, but you can harness the power of steam to clean your oven even if your oven doesn’t have any special features. No matter what type of oven you have, one of these three methods should work for you. Here’s how to clean an oven with steam the next time your oven needs a quick refresh.
How to Steam Clean an Oven Using Water and a Baking Dish
This approach to cleaning an oven with steam doesn’t require any special tools or high-end oven settings. All it takes is a working oven, a wide, oven-safe baking dish, and about an hour of your time.
SUPPLIES
Large, ovenproof baking dish or bowl
Water
Vinegar (if using)
Sponge or microfiber cloth
Scrubber pad
Baking soda
Step 1: Use a damp cloth to clean out loose debris.
Remove the racks so you can sweep out any food particles and easy-to-wipe-up spills before you start. As the oven won’t reach the extremely high temperatures needed for self-cleaning cycles, you can put the racks back in before steam cleaning using a baking dish—the steam may make it easier to scrub the racks clean later.
Step 2: Fill an oven-safe dish with water.
Pour about 2 quarts of water into a baking dish and place it on the oven’s middle rack. Don’t use a glass dish or any other dish that can’t withstand high temperatures. If desired, add about ¾ cup of distilled white vinegar to help cut through grease and odors, but first check your oven’s manual. Some manufacturers caution that vinegar may cause staining or discoloration of the oven liner. Then close the oven door.
Step 3: Set the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Set the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. As the oven heats up, the hot water will release steam that will help loosen any grease or baked-on messes.
Step 4: Set the timer for 45 minutes.
Depending on how dirty the oven is, it may take a little longer than 45 minutes. After the timer goes off, wipe at a few stains to see if they start coming up. Do this carefully—the oven is still hot. If the stains don’t wipe away, close the door and wait another 15 minutes. Otherwise, turn off the oven and let it cool enough for you to touch it comfortably.
Step 5: Wipe out the oven using a sponge or scrubber pad.
Remove the racks and clean them separately. Then use a damp sponge or cloth to wipe the loose grease and gunk off the interior surfaces. Although the steam will have loosened the grime, you will still probably need to rub stubborn stains with a scrubber pad. For tough spots, scrub with a paste of baking soda and water.
How to Steam Clean an Oven With a Handheld Steamer
If you own a handheld steamer, you already know how versatile this tool is. But did you know that it can clean ovens as well as it cleans grout, tile, toilets, and other hard surfaces?
SUPPLIES
Handheld steamer
Distilled water
Sponge
Cleaning cloth
Step 1: Use a damp cloth to clean out loose debris.
Remove the racks to give yourself space to work, and wipe away food particles before you start. Clean the racks separately later on—you can even put the handheld steamer to work on them.
Step 2: Fill the handheld steamer with distilled water.
It’s generally recommended to use distilled water in handheld steamers to prevent mineral buildup in the appliance, but check the instructions for your steamer.
Step 3: Choose the appropriate attachment.
Handheld steamers come with a variety of tools. The most effective options for cleaning ovens are scraper or brush attachments designed for cleaning hard surfaces.
Step 4: Turn on the steamer and wait for it to reach temperature.
More expensive handheld steamers may reach higher pressures or offer the ability to regulate the pressure. Consult the user’s manual for your steamer to determine the best setting for oven cleaning.
Step 5: Work the steam cleaner over the oven’s interior.
Slowly move the steamer over the oven’s surfaces, using your attachment of choice and lightly scrubbing or scraping baked-on food and grease.
Step 6: Wipe up grime as you go.
Pause the steamer periodically to wipe up grime and condensation with a sponge or cleaning cloth. Continue steam cleaning and wiping until the interior is cleaned to your satisfaction.
How to Steam Clean an Oven With a Steam Clean Setting
Built-in self-cleaning cycles are extremely common in today’s ovens, but some manufacturers also offer a steam clean option. Steam-clean cycles are usually about 30 minutes, much shorter than self-cleaning cycles. Because they don’t reach the extremely high temperatures that self-cleaning cycles need, steam-clean cycles are also easier on the oven.
The specific steps for steam cleaning an oven with a built-in steam-clean setting vary from one oven to the next, but here is the general process.
SUPPLIES
Oven with steam-clean setting
Cleaning cloth
Sponge
Distilled water
Vinegar (if recommended by the oven manufacturer)
Step 1: Use a damp cloth to clean out loose debris.
Remove the racks to give yourself space to work, and wipe away food particles before you start. Check the user’s manual—you may be able to put the racks back in for the cycle. If you’re unsure, leave them out and clean them separately.
Step 2: Pour distilled water into the bottom of the oven.
In most ovens with built-in steam cleaning, you’ll pour 1 or 2 cups (see the user’s manual) of distilled water directly into the bottom of the oven cavity. Check the manual to see if the manufacturer recommends adding vinegar to the water. Recommendations vary; if in doubt, don’t use vinegar.
Step 3: Start the steam-clean cycle.
Select the steam-clean setting on the oven, and let it run for the full cycle. Cycle length varies by model, but it’s usually about 30 minutes.
Step 4: Let the oven cool and wipe out the grime and any remaining moisture.
After the steam-cleaning cycle concludes, let the oven cool down a bit. Use a sponge or rag to wipe up any water and remove loosened grease and grime.
How to Deep-Clean Your Oven After Steaming
While steam cleaning is a good way to freshen up an oven between deep cleanings, it’s not as effective as either a self-cleaning cycle or a thorough manual cleaning with oven cleaner and lots of elbow grease. After steam cleaning the oven, you’ll probably still have grime to deal with. Here’s a rundown of spots you may need to touch up.
- Stubborn stains on interior surfaces: If there are still baked-on spills and grease after steam cleaning, scrub them with a DIY paste of baking soda and water or an abrasive cleanser like Bar Keepers Friend or Bon Ami.
- Oven racks: Options for cleaning oven racks include scrubbing the racks with a paste of an abrasive product like Bar Keepers Friend or baking soda; putting the racks in a large trash bag with a few cups of ammonia and letting them sit overnight before scrubbing; or placing the racks in a bathtub along with very hot water and a cup of dishwasher detergent and letting them soak for a few hours before scrubbing.
- Oven glass: To clean the glass on the oven door, make a thick paste of baking soda and water, spread it over the glass, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Wipe it off with a sponge or cloth and rinse thoroughly. Use a razor blade or scraper to remove stubborn grease. As an alternative, try a mild abrasive like Bar Keepers Friend.
- Surfaces around the door: Being careful not to harm the gasket, scrub with a baking soda paste or a mild abrasive cleanser to clean off grease and residue that the steam couldn’t reach.
How Often to Steam Clean Your Oven
How often you need to steam clean your oven depends on how much you use your oven and how well you maintain the appliance. In general, running a steam-clean cycle every few months may let you put more time between deep cleanings, especially if you’re good about wiping up spills promptly.
Final Thoughts
Steam cleaning an oven is a practical way to remove dirt and grime without exposing yourself or others in your home to harmful chemicals. It’s a cleaning option that works with any oven and doesn’t require any special tools or settings. When steam cleaning an oven, remember to always allow the oven to cool off before wiping it out to avoid any burns or injury, and be careful when you’re working with hot water or steam.
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