How to clean oven glass | Domestic & General

For some of us, cleaning the glass on our ovens is a regular habit. For others, it only gets done when the door is splattered with oil or cheese. Either way, our tips will tell you how to scrub that glass oven door until it shines.

Safety first: before cleaning the glass door, make sure the oven is completely cool. This is extra important after using your oven’s self-cleaning feature (which is very hot).

What you’ll need for the job

There are a few ways you can clean your oven glass, with various cleaning products. The method you choose will depend on:

Whether you’re cleaning the inside or outside of the glass
How much grease or baked-on dirt there is
How you feel about using harsh chemicals

You can choose from dozens of oven sprays, gels and cream cleaners. Some are more toxic than others, so it’s worth looking at the safety information on each one. A few popular brands include Astonish, Cif, Mr Muscle, Oven Mate, Wpro and Jeyes.

Bear in mind that while baking soda is less toxic, it is abrasive – so may not be ideal for glass.

Apart from your chosen cleaning products, you’ll also need:

Cleaning gloves
Microfibre cloths
Paper towels
A non-scratch sponge
A bowl of warm water with some washing up liquid
A pumice stick, if the above don’t finish the job

For cleaning between the glass, you might need a flexible stick or wire and some rubber bands as well.

Helpful tips before you start

When cleaning glass, be sure to use only soft cloths or sponges and non-abrasive cleaners. Anything else could make small scratches in the glass.

It’s a good idea to check your oven manual first. Some ovens have removable glass, which could make the cleaning easier. If so, place the glass gently on a soft surface, like a towel, before cleaning.

Also, remember that glass is fragile. Be careful not to lean on the door or apply too much pressure when scrubbing.

How to clean the inside of the oven door

The inside of the oven door tends to have the most burnt-on food and grease. So you’ll likely need a stronger cleaner than just washing up liquid here. Remember to wear gloves for this, as these chemicals can be corrosive.

Before you get scrubbing, here’s a technique to make things easier. Fill a heat-proof dish with water and a few teaspoons of white vinegar. Then put that in the oven on low heat for half an hour. This will loosen any baked-on bits, saving you some elbow grease.

Apply your chosen cleaning product over the whole of the glass inside
Scrub the cleaner over the glass with a non-scratch sponge
Leave the cleaner for as long as stated on the packaging
Wipe the cleaner off with a dry microfibre cloth
For stains that still won’t come off, wet the glass and use a pumice stick to gently scrape them away
Heat the oven to its top temperature for half an hour to remove any chemical smell

After this, your oven should be all spick and span. If you heat the oven after cleaning, it shouldn’t produce smoke when you go to cook with it. But if it does, see our guide to what to do if your oven is smoking.

How to clean oven glass from the outside

Here’s how to clean the outer side of your glass oven door.

Dampen a microfibre cloth with the water and washing up liquid
Wipe any food and grease off the glass
Wipe the glass again using another damp microfibre cloth
Buff the glass till it shines using a dry microfibre cloth

Need more tips about how to clean your oven, inside and out? See our full oven cleaning guide.

How to clean between the oven glass

Cleaning between the glass is not as easy as cleaning the inside or outside. Thankfully, you should only need to do this if food or liquid has gotten into the air vents.

Before trying this, check your oven’s manual for instructions. You may be able to remove the glass, which could make it easier. But make sure this won’t invalidate your warranty or guarantee, if your oven has one.

Depending on your oven’s design, take the door off its hinges or remove the bottom drawer of the oven
Straighten out a wire coat hanger, or get another long and flexible stick, like a fly swatter
Soak a microfibre cloth in a general cleaning product that includes degreaser
Wrap that cloth around the flexible stick and secure it with rubber bands
Push the cloth on the stick into the gap between the glass panes and start scrubbing
When the cloth gets dirty, replace it with a clean one and repeat as many times as needed
Refit the door or replace the bottom drawer of the oven

How to keep your oven cleaner for longer

If you dread the thought of deep-cleaning your oven, there are a few ways to keep it cleaner every day. Remembering to let the oven cool before cleaning, you can try to:

Use a roasting bag for big cuts of meat, to prevent splashing
Put oven sheets on the floor of the oven and a spare roasting tray to catch drips
Turn on the self-cleaning function after you use the oven
After cooking, put an oven-safe bowl of water in at a high temperature for half an hour, then wipe with paper towels
Give the glass a quick wipe, inside and out, after each use

What to do if your oven isn’t working properly

As well as making it look good, cleaning your oven regularly is one way to keep it working for longer. If grease and debris build up over time they can lead to faults or breakdowns.

Some of the more common oven problems include:

Temperature too high or low
Failing to ignite or draw power
Door jamming or not latching
Light not turning on when needed
Food not cooking evenly

Only a qualified engineer should fix these types of faults. If you need help, book an oven repair today.

About the author

Josh Allen

Josh is a copywriter at Domestic & General who works across our digital journeys and beyond. Starting out in journalism and travel writing 10 years ago, he's since turned his hand to technology and insurance. Josh is also a published short story writer with a novel in the works, and he's known to twang a tune on the guitar and banjo.