It is a fact of life that your oven is going to get dirty eventually. Even the shiniest, newest model will eventually face splatters and spills on the inside. Scraping off this burnt-on food, grease, or oil can be a real chore. This is why so many people invest initially in a self-cleaning oven. However, there are times when you still need to purchase the best oven cleaner for self-cleaning ovens.
Is the self-cleaning cycle on your oven good enough or do you need a secondary source to help keep your appliances in working order? Most people find that the self-cleaning function of their oven is helpful to a point. Eventually, they encounter a situation where they need something a little bit more though.
Find out more about how your self-cleaning oven works, when you should use a cleaning product, and what to look out for in this complete guide!
Table of Contents
What is a Self-Cleaning Oven?
First, it is important to understand what a self-cleaning oven is and how it works. Not every oven is a self-cleaning model. Many people are led to believe that running a simple cleaning cycle on their oven means that they do not have to put forth any effort, but this is not true. A self-cleaning oven simply makes it easier to clean off the spills that happen inside.
The first self-cleaning ovens date back to the late 1900s and General Electric’s appliances. They had the idea that they could heat the oven to a temperature so hot that it would carbonize all of the leftover food particles inside. In other words, it reduces your spills and splatters to ash.
Once the cycle is done and everything has cooled down, you still have to reach in and clean those ashes out. While it is significantly easier for you to clean this way, it does not take the total burden off of you.
Keep in mind that it does require a lot of energy to run a single cycle like this. Many people prefer to use oven cleaners to handle day-to-day messes and save their self-cleaning cycles for when the oven is particularly awful.
Can I Use Chemical Cleaners in a Self-Cleaning Oven?
Many people wonder what will happen if they accidentally used the cleaner on a self-cleaning oven. In most situations, your oven is going to be perfectly fine. You just want to make sure that you get absolutely all of the cleaner out of the oven before you run the self-cleaning cycle. As long as the oven is completely free of cleaner, you should be in the clear.
Chemical cleaners should be used sparingly throughout the lifespan of your self-cleaning oven. Over time, they can diminish the actual self-cleaning ability of the oven as well as wear down the liner. However, here are a few things you can look for when you do need to use an external cleaner.
What Should You Look for in the Best Oven Cleaner for Self-Cleaning Ovens?
Simple ingredients
The biggest thing you should look for in the best oven cleaner for self-cleaning ovens is a simple product. You don’t want anything that has too many chemicals or harsh ingredients that can ruin the finish on the inside of your oven. Not to mention, products like these can be harsh on the lungs and the skin.
If at all possible, you should look for products that are marked biodegradable as these do promise to be a bit eco-friendlier.
Scent and Fumes
Remember that many cleaners will come with a very strong odor. Unfortunately, there is not much ventilation in and around your oven. You can come away with a dizzying headache if you spend too long inhaling the fumes of a harsh oven cleaner. Look for fume-free options or those that are fragranced with natural essential oils.
Ease of Use
There are many different ways that you can purchase a cleaner for your oven. The most common is a spray bottle or a foam spray that clings to the mess. This is an extremely convenient way to clean. Others are gritty pastes that work deep into the grease and eliminate it right at the source. You have to decide which type of cleaner is going to be easiest for you to personally use.
Best Oven Cleaner for Self-Cleaning Ovens
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to take a closer look at some of the options on the market. Here are our top eight choices for the best oven cleaner for self-cleaning ovens.
1. Krud Kutter Concentrated Degreaser
Are you interested in investing in a household name brand? Krud Kutter (on Amazon) offers a popular solution that many consider to be the best oven cleaner for self-cleaning ovens. It has a formula that really sticks to the areas where you spray. This simple action allows it to penetrate those tough stains faster so you can simply wipe them away.
This fume-free cleaner works quickly and efficiently. All you have to do is let it soak for a few minutes and then wipe it away with a wet cloth or paper towel. It is a heavy-duty cleaner even though it contains no harsh chemicals or caustic fumes.
2. Easy-Off Professional Fume Free Oven Cleaner
Are you ready to get to work on those baked-on food particles? The Easy-Off Professional Max Oven Cleaner is a name brand that most people are already familiar with. This is just another product in a lineup of great items that can clean your kitchen until it sparkles.
This cleaner uses cold-oven technology to break through tough grease without using harsh chemicals like lye. This product is so safe that you do not even need to wear protective gloves when working with it. The lemon scent is appealing and can make your entire kitchen smell fresh.
You can use Easy Off for one-off stains as they crop up or do a thorough cleaning of the oven regularly. It is an affordable solution that can be used either way.
3. Green Gobbler Heavy-Duty Oven, Grill, BBQ, and Range Hood Cleaner
The Green Gobbler Heavy-Duty Oven cleaner is a multipurpose gem that will save you from purchasing dozens of cleaners for every aspect of your kitchen. It can be used on everything from your self-cleaning oven to the outdoor grill to your range hood. The biodegradable formula is safe for all sorts of surfaces.
This bottle of cleaner does not have any toxic fumes, but it does have a high pH content. While they advertise that it is non-corrosive to the skin, it is still advisable that you wear gloves while working with any type of degreaser cleaner.
The high pH content allows this cleaner to cut through oil and grease as well as baked-on debris. The foaming formula is designed to cling to the surface where you spray it, even vertical surfaces. You should be able to use this with any typical spray bottle that you have lying around the house.
The only downside to the Green Gobbler is the price. Compared to some of the other options on this list of options for the best cleaner for self-cleaning ovens, it is a little more expensive.
4. Delta Carbona Biodegradable Oven Cleaner
No products found.One of the biggest things to avoid when searching for the best oven cleaner for self-cleaning ovens is harsh chemicals. Many of the more popular products contain harsh ingredients that can ruin the finish of your oven. The No products found. offers a biodegradable earth-friendly option that can make quick work of any bubble-overs or spills.
This bottle contains a no-drop gel that will work just as effectively as the more popular aerosol cans listed on our ranking.
Another main benefit to this particular cleaner is that it is fume-free. Particularly because ovens are a low ventilation area, this can be a great benefit to allow you to breathe more easily while you quickly wipe up those pesky messes in your oven.
5. Mr. Muscle Oven and Grill Cleaner
No products found.If you want a great oven cleaner that can also work on many other surfaces, you might want to take another look at the No products found.. It contains a professional formula that packs a powerful punch on stubborn stains inside your oven. However, it can also be used in other areas of the kitchen including:
- Broilers
- Ventilating hoods
- Splash panels
- Steam tabletops
- Pots, pans, fryers, and griddles
This unscented formula is great for kitchens that need an all-around deep cleaning with a professional grade product.
6. Astonish Oven and Cookware Cleaner
Approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute, Astonish Oven and Cookware Cleaner is another biodegradable option for cleaning your self-cleaning oven. In addition to being biodegradable, it is also approved by the Vegetarian Society and is an animal cruelty-free product.
This product is truly an all-in-one type of cleaner. It can be used on the interior of your self-cleaning oven, your pans, cookware, and stovetops. Many people also use it to keep their glass, ceramic, and stainless steel surfaces sparkling as well. Get creative and use this tub of cleaner in your bathroom as well as your kitchen.
It is a little different to use this product compared to many others on the market. This is an actual paste instead of a spray can. All you need to do is scoop some out of the tub and spread it on the affected areas. Rub it in using a damp sponge. Because of how safe this product is, you don’t even have to wear gloves to use it!
7. Method Heavy Duty Degreaser
Do you have just a few spots inside of your oven that need touching up? If so, then the Method Heavy Duty Degreaser might be the right fit for you. When the oven is not in self-cleaning mode, you can use this spray bottle to cut through your everyday messes.
It is a naturally-derived, plant-based formula that can eat away quickly at common kitchen messes. This spray is designed to strip away grease, oil, burnt-on food, and more. One of the most appealing features of the Method cleaner is its aroma. Using natural essential oils, it has a light lemongrass fragrance that will leave your kitchen smelling as clean as it looks.
8. Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
No products found.Last but not least, we would be remiss to give you a list of the best oven cleaner for self-cleaning oven options without No products found.. It is a simple and highly effective ingredient that comes with no risk at all to you. Baking soda has no smell and no fumes that could potentially give you a headache.
Prepare this all-natural ingredient into a paste similar to that of the Astonish Oven and Cookware cleaner with like results for a much lower price.
In a small bowl, combine this baking soda with enough water to create a thick paste. Ladle that paste onto the stubborn stains inside your self-cleaning oven and scrub away. You may allow that paste to soak in for fifteen minutes or so before washing the area clean.
The reason this works so effectively is that baking soda can absorb the grease from the sides of the oven. You are correcting the problem directly at the source. This is an inexpensive way to safely and effectively correct a dirty oven.
Choosing the Best Oven Cleaner for Self-Cleaning Ovens
You have plenty of choices when it comes to choosing the very best cleaner for a self-cleaning oven. If you have used any of the above on your appliance without realizing that your unit was self-cleaning, then you have nothing to worry about. These are all perfectly safe to use on your oven to tackle dried up food, burnt pieces of lasagna, and grease or oil splatters. Remember to use them sparingly to preserve your oven!
FAQ
Can I use cleaner on a self-cleaning oven?
Yes, it is safe to occasionally use cleaner on a self-cleaning oven.
How do you clean a self-cleaning oven?
You can either allow the self-cleaning cycle to run and then wipe down the interior or use a commercial product to clean the liner of the oven.
What is the best oven cleaner?
There are many name brands that are great for cleaning self-cleaning ovens. Consider Easy Off or Krud Kutter as two major household name brands. However, Arm and Hammer baking soda works well also.
Last update on 2024-09-27 at 16:25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
