Cleaning your oven – a practical guide for your kitchen
Keeping your oven clean ensures good hygiene, makes cooking more enjoyable, and extends the life of your appliance. Regular cleaning will save you energy in the long run and prevent unpleasant odours and smoke. Read on for inspiring tips, clever methods and sustainable home remedies to help you keep your oven clean with ease.
Why is it important to clean the oven?
A dirty oven can lead to smoke and uneven heat distribution, and can even pose a fire risk. Cleaning your oven improves safety and ensures:
- Better hygiene when cooking
- Better-tasting food
- Less hassle in everyday life
How often should you clean your oven?
Depending on how often you use it, we recommend giving your oven a thorough clean at least once a month. The most important tip for extending the time between cleans is to remove any dirt straight away after baking, as this prevents burnt-on residue from forming inside the oven. Those who use the oven rack and baking tray frequently will benefit most from regular cleaning – especially if they don't want their delicious cake to smell of pizza!
Why is it important to clean the oven?
A dirty oven can lead to smoke and uneven heat distribution, and can even pose a fire risk. Cleaning your oven improves safety and ensures:
- Better hygiene when cooking
- Better-tasting food
- Less hassle in everyday life
How often should you clean your oven?
Depending on how often you use it, we recommend giving your oven a thorough clean at least once a month. The most important tip for extending the time between cleans is to remove any dirt straight away after baking, as this prevents burnt-on residue from forming inside the oven. Those who use the oven rack and baking tray frequently will benefit most from regular cleaning – especially if they don't want their delicious cake to smell of pizza!
Step-by-step: How to clean your oven properly
The most important tip is to clean the oven straight after use, even if it can be a bit of a nuisance at times. This will save you a lot of hassle and soon become second nature. Here’s how to do it:
- Leave the oven to cool down, then take out the rack and trays. Remove any loose dirt with kitchen paper.
- Choose one of the following methods: household remedies, a special oven cleaner or pyrolysis.
- Apply the chosen cleaner, leave it to work, then wipe down with a cloth. Rinse the surfaces with water.
- Wipe them dry and leave them to dry thoroughly, preferably with the oven door open.
Step-by-step: How to clean your oven properly
The most important tip is to clean the oven straight after use, even if it can be a bit of a nuisance at times. This will save you a lot of hassle and soon become second nature. Here’s how to do it:
- Leave the oven to cool down, then take out the rack and trays. Remove any loose dirt with kitchen paper.
- Choose one of the following methods: household remedies, a special oven cleaner or pyrolysis.
- Apply the chosen cleaner, leave it to work, then wipe down with a cloth. Rinse the surfaces with water.
- Wipe them dry and leave them to dry thoroughly, preferably with the oven door open.
How to clean a heavily soiled oven
If the oven has been used intensively or if you haven’t cleaned it after every use, it may be quite dirty. To clean a heavily soiled oven, make a paste using baking powder, baking soda or soda ash and leave it to work for several hours.Oven spray or a special cleaner designed for heavily burnt-on food can help with particularly stubborn crusts. Thoroughly remove all residues with warm water; repeat the process if necessary.
Home remedies for cleaning the oven
We have cleaning and specialist products for your oven.
Are home remedies not effective enough? Try specialised products that are particularly effective against stubborn grime.
- Oven sprays and specialist oven cleaners work quickly and reliably. Leave the cleaner to work, then rinse thoroughly. Wear gloves when using it. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Dishwasher tablets used as a paste can help clean the oven and tackle extremely burnt-on food.
- Always rinse the oven thoroughly and wipe it down after cleaning to remove any residue.
Pyrolysis: A self-cleaning oven does most of the work for you
The built-in oven's pyrolysis process typically burns away residues at 500°C. Once the cycle is complete, all that remains is ash, which can be easily wiped away. Pyrolytic self-cleaning offers maximum convenience, taking care of most oven maintenance for you. Please follow the specific care instructions for your self-cleaning built-in oven.
Brilliantly clean glass and windows
The oven door is your gateway to delicious cakes, breads and roasts. Keeping it clean is easy:
- Clean the door with lukewarm water and mild washing-up liquid, or use a bicarbonate of soda paste if necessary.
- Cleaning the oven door is most effective when it has been removed – instructions on how to do this can usually be found in your oven’s manual, or you can ask a professional. Our kitchen experts will be happy to advise you.
Important: Do not use abrasive cleaners or steel wool to avoid scratches.
Brilliantly clean glass and windows
The oven door is your gateway to delicious cakes, breads and roasts. Keeping it clean is easy:
- Clean the door with lukewarm water and mild washing-up liquid, or use a bicarbonate of soda paste if necessary.
- Cleaning the oven door is most effective when it has been removed – instructions on how to do this can usually be found in your oven’s manual, or you can ask a professional. Our kitchen experts will be happy to advise you.
Important: Do not use abrasive cleaners or steel wool to avoid scratches.
Cleaning oven racks and baking trays made easy
If pizza toppings or gravy from a roast have dripped onto the oven rack or baking tray, simply clean it up. These tips will help you, and they’ll also come in handy when cleaning the rack of your IKEA barbecue.
- Soak it overnight in soapy water with vinegar. T
- reat with a paste of baking soda or baking powder, then rinse off.
- Tip: You can also clean the oven rack in the dishwasher, provided it fits.
Cleaning oven racks and baking trays made easy
If pizza toppings or gravy from a roast have dripped onto the oven rack or baking tray, simply clean it up. These tips will help you, and they’ll also come in handy when cleaning the rack of your IKEA barbecue.
- Soak it overnight in soapy water with vinegar. T
- reat with a paste of baking soda or baking powder, then rinse off.
- Tip: You can also clean the oven rack in the dishwasher, provided it fits.
Removing burnt-on food from the oven and baking compartment
When cleaning an oven, stubborn burnt-on food on the walls, glass door and inside the baking compartment is often an issue. How can you tackle this effectively and efficiently? Make a paste with baking powder or bicarbonate of soda, apply it to the affected areas, leave it to work, then wipe several times to clean the oven. For extreme cases where home remedies are ineffective, special oven cleaners are suitable for stubborn residue.
Ideas and tips for more sustainable living
Discover IKEA ovens that are so easy to clean and practical
Would you like an oven that makes life in the kitchen easier? Discover our ovens with easy-care surfaces and built-in self-cleaning functions. If you have any questions, our team at your local IKEA store would be happy to help. You'll also find lots of other practical kitchen appliances there and online, from energy-efficient fridges and dishwashers to hobs and extractor hoods.
Discover IKEA ovens that are so easy to clean and practical
Would you like an oven that makes life in the kitchen easier? Discover our ovens with easy-care surfaces and built-in self-cleaning functions. If you have any questions, our team at your local IKEA store would be happy to help. You'll also find lots of other practical kitchen appliances there and online, from energy-efficient fridges and dishwashers to hobs and extractor hoods.
