How to Steam Clean an Oven

Steam cleaning an oven is one of the most effective ways to remove burnt-on food and grease. After all, who doesn’t want to cook in a squeaky clean stove?

But learning how to steam clean an oven is an entirely different thing. Although it’s considered to be the easiest and safest way to clean your oven, steam cleaning can be done in a plethora of ways. Not to mention the hundreds of cleaning products you can choose from.

From using the self steam clean function on your oven to placing a bowl of vinegar and turning up the heat, we’ll go through the best and most effective ways to get rid of unpleasant smells, smoke, and food residue.

So, if:

• You just moved in, and the oven needs a good clean;
• You’ve bought a new stove and want to keep it sparkling;
• Or your old, trusty cooker needs a deep clean.

Then, read on.

How to use the self steam cleaning option your oven has

Probably one of the easiest ways to clean your oven using steam is to turn on the steam cleaning function. A lot of the newer models have it. On SMEG ovens, you can also find it as a “Vapor Clean” setting.

To make sure that you’ll get the best results with the steam clean option, make sure to read the manual that came with your appliance and follow the instructions. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use the self steam cleaning option on most ovens:

1. Remove all internal parts of the oven, such as the racks and the foil. Let them soak while the steam cleaning cycle runs, and then clean them by hand. 
2. Pour some water into an oven-safe bowl and place it inside the appliance. 
3. Flip the self-cleaning switch. Depending on the oven, the steaming can last from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Check with the manufacturer’s instructions. 
   • Don’t worry if you see smoke. Self-steaming ovens are designed to reach very high temperatures to scorch the grease and dirt. 
4. Let the oven cool down and use a damp cloth to wipe away any debris and ashes. 
5. Clean the outside of your oven. This part won’t be affected by the self steam cleaning. Use a damp cloth and any detergent of your choice to remove any dirt.

Using a steam cleaner to clean your oven

Steam cleaners are excellent tools for cleaning stuck-on dirt and debris. Luckily, you can use them in your oven. Frankly, it is a quite simple process. Follow those three easy steps and bring back the original shine of your stove.

1. Preparational work: Allow some time for your steam cleaner to heat up. In the meantime, you can prepare your oven for the cleaning. Empty the oven of all racks and the foil. Use a damp cloth to remove any loose debris.
2. Steam clean: Begin from the inner side of the oven and work your way towards the front. Leave the inside part to stir while you are working on the open oven door. Once the door has been steam cleaned, wipe it with a clean cloth.
3. Repeat the process: Go over the inside of your oven with the steam cleaner again, following with a clean cloth and wipe away any melted grease and debris left behind. For the stubborn stains, hold the steam cleaner a few extra seconds before you wipe.

Steam cleaning your oven with vinegar, water, and baking soda

White vinegar and baking soda are long-time proven home remedies for achieving brilliant cleanliness. Easy to get, those ingredients have the ability to break down the bacteria and odours that come from burnt-on food. Here’s how to steam clean an oven with vinegar and baking soda:

1. Remove the oven racks and let them soak in hot soapy water. Vacuum or wipe away any loose debris from the inside. Put back one of the racks in the centre of the oven. 
2. Preheat the oven to a high temperature. Meanwhile, mix equal amounts of vinegar and water. 
3. Place the solution in the oven and leave it for more than 20 minutes, but no longer than an hour. 
4. Turn the heat off, let the appliance cool down and wipe the residue with a clean, dry cloth.

If the oven hasn’t been cleaned in a while and is visibly in bad shape, continue with the following steps:

1. Make a cleaning paste by combining 120ml (4oz) of vinegar, 150ml (5oz) of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
2. Apply the paste on a sponge and scrub any remaining stains.
3. Rinse the sponge and wipe the oven clean. Finally, dry with a soft cloth.

Cleaning oven with ammonia steam

Another way to get your oven clean without the use of toxic chemicals is by ammonia steam cleaning. Ammonia is cheap and easy to find, and although there might be still some stuck-on stains left after steam cleaning with ammonia, there won’t be anything little elbow grease can’t get rid of.

Here is how to steam clean an oven using ammonia:

1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees, then turn it off.
2. Fill an oven-safe bowl with 1 cup of ammonia and place it on the top rack. Fill another bowl with boiling water and put it on the lower rack.
3. Close the oven and let the fumes do their magic. Let it stay overnight or for 8-12 hours—open windows for good ventilation.
4. On the next day, wipe clean with a damp cloth or sponge.

Book a professional oven cleaning expert!

Let’s be honest, DIY-ing can only get you so far. So, if you want to ensure your oven serves you delicious meals for a long time to come, call a professional to do the job.

When you book with Fantastic Club, you get preferential rates. Not only will you get a squeaky clean oven, but a professional oven cleaner will clean the seals between the glass doors and even change the light bulb. Not to mention that you can combine your oven cleaning with extra appliances, so why not treat your kitchen, right?

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Have you tried steam cleaning your oven? Let us know in the comment section below!

Image source: Shutterstock / Vershinin89