Nobody needs a dirty, gunky oven! You need to try this fantastic DIY Oven Cleaner. Prepare to be amazed by this natural cleaner that removes grease and grime to leave your oven sparkling!
If you are a DIY buff like I am, also check out my Best Cleaning Hacks and How to Make Your Own Natural Cleaners!
The Best Homemade Oven Cleaner Spray
DIY is one of my favorite things. From Disinfecting Wipes to DIY Hand Sanitizer, there’s just something so satisfying about making something myself (and often saving money!) instead of buying it from a store.
I’ve done homemade window cleaners. And DIY toilet bowl cleaners. So when this Pinterest Homemade Oven Cleaner started doing the rounds on social media, I just knew I needed to try it! And it’s been my go-to ever since.
This homemade formula is non-toxic, naturally disinfecting, budget-friendly and you’ll be amazed by how well it works! Have your spray bottles at the ready, cause I can’t wait to share with you how to make the best oven cleaner right at home!
Why Should I Clean My Oven?
While cleaning an oven is far from glamorous, the main reason to keep your oven clean is safety. Dirty ovens, or ovens with accumulated grease, can cause dangerous grease fires. Appliances that are not cleaned regularly can also become breeding grounds for bugs (literally) and germs. Ick!
Secondary to safety, a dirty oven over time won’t perform as well as a clean one. So it’s in our best interest to keep our ovens in tip-top shape.
How Often Do Ovens Have to be Cleaned?
Most ovens should be cleaned at least every 3 months. Telltale signs that your oven needs cleaning include built up food, grease or residue, suspicious odors, and smoking.
What You’ll Need
Just a bit of dish soap and a few household ingredients are all that’s needed for this gunk-busting homemade oven cleaner. Here is a quick overview. Check out the instruction card below for specific amounts.
- Dish Soap: Since I’m a fan of all the many uses for Dawn dishwashing liquid, that’s my soap of choice for this cleaner.
- Lemon Juice: Lemons are naturally acidic, with antibacterial and stain-removing properties.
- Vinegar: White vinegar is a disinfectant and great for removing grease and grime.
- Water: To dilute.
How to Make DIY Oven Cleaner
It’s super easy to make your own oven cleaner. For this recipe, you simply get a spray bottle and mix up the ingredients (you can use a funnel if needed to help with spillage). Give the bottle a gentle shake to combine everything.
How to Clean an Oven
Here’s how to use your natural oven cleaner to clean your oven in 3 easy steps:
- Remove everything from the oven. Take out the racks and anything else inside, such as thermometers or baking trays. You can use the same cleaner to spray, soak, and then wipe down the oven racks separately.
- Spray the inside of the oven. Give the inside of your oven a generous spritz with cleaner, making sure to get the door and all the nooks and crannies. Leave the cleaner to sit on the grime for about 20-30 minutes.
- Spray the racks. Spray the racks with the cleaning solution and leave them to sit inside a trash bag, or in the bathtub while the cleaner works its magic.
- Wipe. Once the time has passed, wipe down the oven chamber with a warm, damp cloth or sponge. Rinse the sponge or cloth as needed, while you work from the top down, and back to front. Wipe down the racks and return them to their rightful place. Tada! You’re back in business with a sparkling clean oven.
Tips for Success
- At the risk of stating the obvious, this DIY cleaner shouldn’t be used on self-cleaning ovens. They do the work of cleaning with high temps, not cleaning solutions.
- Spread newspaper over the floor around your oven to protect it while you work, and also make the cleanup easier.
- You may need to clean your oven more often if you’re an avid baker or cook. On the other hand, those who only use their ovens a couple times a month may get away with cleaning only twice a year.
- Give the bottle a light shake before each time you use it, just in case any separation has occurred.
Choosing a Spray Bottle
When it comes to DIY cleaners, there are a few different bottle options:
- Plastic Spray Bottles: Empty spray bottles can be found in stores like Dollar Tree. They’re affordable and mostly reusable. The only downside is that certain plastic bottles aren’t dishwasher friendly and can be more difficult to clean.
- Amber Glass Bottles: Slightly more expensive, but they can be used again and again and most are dishwasher safe. The pumps/sprayers are also super easy and cheap to replace.
- Repurpose Old Bottles: Clean leftover bottles well with hot soapy water. Do not reuse spray bottles that contain bleach or ammonia. These chemical products are deadly if combined and it’s better to avoid contamination altogether!
Once you have your bottles of choice, I’ve created some handy cleaning labels that can be downloaded and printed out! Find them here:
More Easy DIYs to Try
- Homemade Disinfecting Wipes
- Epsom Salt Garden Hacks
- Homemade Mosquito Repellent
- DIY Home Organizing Hacks
- Best Upcycled Furniture Ideas
- DIY Yard Projects
DIY Oven Cleaner
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup dish soap
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Add all of your ingredients to your spray bottle. Use a funnel to help prevent spillage.
- Gently shake everything up.
- Use your oven cleaner!
