How to clean the bottom of an oven

How often do you clean your oven? The long-term benefit of regular oven cleaning is much easier than trying to clean the bottom of the oven when you just can’t bear to look inside. But even if you’ve neglected your oven, the right tools and materials and a little bit of know-how will cut down on the time and effort involved in returning your cooker to cleanliness.

This post is for you if:

• You want to know the best way to clean your oven bottom;
• Curious about what is the easiest way to clean the bottom of an oven;
• Wondering what to use to clean an oven;

What do you need to clean the bottom of an oven

Before you start, gather together the tools and materials needed for deep oven cleaning:

Tools

• Protective sheets or newspaper
• Plastic or silicone spatula
• Rubbish bags
• Rubber gloves
• Safety goggles
• Paper towels

Materials

• Detergent
• Specialist oven cleaner (optional)
• Baking soda
• Hot water
• A spray bottle
• White vinegar

How to clean an oven bottom

Cleaning the bottom of an oven can be daunting, but with the right approach, it can be accomplished effectively. Here’s how to clean your oven’s bottom step-by-step:

1. You must wait until your oven has cooled down completely before cleaning it. Otherwise, you could burn yourself.
2. Take out the racks from the oven and set them aside.
3. Using a broom or brush, sweep away any loose debris from the bottom of the oven, such as crumbs or food particles. Large debris can also be removed with a vacuum cleaner.
4. Make a cleaning solution by mixing warm water with a mild detergent or baking soda. In case of a particularly dirty oven, you can also use a commercial oven cleaner.
5. Apply the cleaning solution to the oven bottom with a sponge or rag. Cover all the bottom areas.
6. The cleaning solution should sit for at least 15-20 minutes or as the product label directs. It will penetrate and loosen any tough stains or grease this way.
7. Use a scrub brush or an abrasive sponge to scrub the bottom of the oven, paying special attention to stubborn stains.
8. To remove any remaining cleaning solution, rinse the bottom of the oven thoroughly with clean water after you’ve scrubbed it. After that, wipe the oven bottom clean with a rag.
9. After the bottom of the oven has dried, replace the oven racks.

Following these steps should help you clean your oven’s bottom effectively.

How to clean an oven bottom with vinegar

Cleaning an oven bottom with vinegar is an effective and natural way to get rid of grease and grime. Here are the steps to clean an oven bottom with vinegar:

1. As with baking soda, start by putting on your protective equipment, spreading protective covers on your kitchen floor, and removing loose debris from the oven.
2. At this stage, you’ll need to put a single rack back into the bottom of the oven and switch it on. Fill a large metal pan with hot water and add half a cup of white vinegar. Put the pan in the oven and heat the oven to 180 degrees C. Let the water bubble and steam until the vinegar has had a chance to coat all the surfaces, that’s likely to take around 30 minutes to an hour.
3. Turn the oven off, open it and spray down the sides with half and half vinegar and water mix. Be careful as you do this, the oven will still be hot. Close the oven and let the mix do its work for a few hours.
4. Once the oven is fully cooled, you can open it up and wipe it out. If there are any stubborn marks remaining, spray with more vinegar or scrub with vinegar and soda paste. One advantage of this method is that the vinegar steam will also break down grease on the oven glass door.

How to clean a self-cleaning oven bottom

Cleaning a self-cleaning oven bottom is a relatively easy process. There are, however, a few things you should be aware of. It’s important to note that you should never use any abrasive cleaners or tools to clean a self-cleaning oven, as this can damage the surface. Here are the steps to clean a self-cleaning oven bottom:

• Don’t use the self-clean feature if there’s debris on the bottom of the oven. The oven cleans by heating to a very high temperature, and if there’s lots of accumulated grease, you’ll have a smoky kitchen at best. At worst, you could start a fire.
• Wipe down the inside of self-cleaning ovens regularly but don’t use harsh chemicals that could damage the self-cleaning coating. Check your owner’s manual to see what products you can safely use on your self-cleaning oven.
• Since the cleaning feature works by burning off dirt make sure the house is well-ventilated. Pets that can be affected by the fumes from self-cleaning should be removed from your home.
• Declare the kitchen out-of-bounds for children or any vulnerable people. The oven will get MUCH hotter than normal, and you don’t want anyone to get burnt.
• Try to keep self-cleaning cycles to a minimum. Some people believe that the very high temperatures required to achieve cleaning could shorten the life of the oven.
• Resist the temptation to use the self-cleaning feature before a house party or any event where you’re relying on your oven. Consider booking an oven repair service if your appliance fails after cooking right before Christmas, so you can prepare those tasty meals quickly.

Is it worth getting an oven liner?

Using a non-stick oven liner is a great way to protect the bottom of your oven from spills and drips, making it easier to clean. You can buy oven liners that can be fitted to your oven base. Some are designed to be used a few times and then disposed of, while others can be cleaned, maybe even in the dishwasher.

The simplest liners are made of aluminium and are generally intended to be discarded when they get dirty. Don’t be tempted to just use baking foil though it’s too thin.

Alternatively, opt for a liner made of food-grade silicone, these can tolerate high temperatures but do check their rating before cooking at the very top of your oven’s range.

If you have a gas oven or your heating elements are in the base of the oven you’ll need to use liners on the bottom shelf or rack as they won’t withstand naked flames or direct contact with the elements. Getting an oven liner is definitely worth it if you want to protect the bottom of your oven from spills and drips and make cleaning your oven much easier.

Book a professional oven cleaning company

So now you know how to clean your oven. But you may decide you don’t want to. That’s perfectly fine as there are professional cleaners that will do the job for you.

Specialist oven cleaners use eco-friendly cleaners and bring tanks to clean racks, trays and other removable components while tackling the main body of the oven. They’ll take the oven apart, clean everything, put the oven back together, test it and make sure they leave your kitchen clean before they leave. Book professional oven cleaning today and save yourself the hassle!

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How did you clean the bottom of your oven? Was it successful? Let us know what works for you and what does not in the comment section down below!

Image source: Shutterstock / AliaksaB