What is the best way to clean a filthy crusted oven bottom?

Question

I dont know what chemicals/ scrubbing pads are safe to use in an oven. I dont want to cause an explosion or kill our noses by smell if I leave trace amounts of chemicals on the bottom surface prior to heating it up when I'm ready to use it again.

Answer 1

Easy-Off ovencleaner - fume free. Works great, but it does have fumes so make sure you have lots of ventilation. Take your racks out and put them in a large plastic trash bag. Spray them real good while they are in there. Close it up and put them out of the way. Before you go to bed spray the entire inside of the oven avoiding the lightbulb and electric heat element (if you have electric). Next morning, wearing rubber gloves, wipe out the whole oven. Takes a lot of rinsing of the sponge. If anything is remaining on the oven walls you can gently scrape it off at this point without damage. If you wipe it out real good you won't notice any smell next time you cook. If you do it will only happen once. Spray off the racks in your kitchen sink and replace.

Answer 2

remove all racks, grills, broiler pans, etc. wash them by hand in the sink with warm soapy water and nylon bristled brush. using steel wool or other metal cleaners will remove the finish and cause it to rust eventually

to loosen baked on deposits fill a glass bowl (make sure its glass) with 1/2 cup of full strength ammonia. put the bowl in the oven (make sure it is totally cooled), and let it stand over night. the fumes will release the bond between the crusty food and the oven interior. the next day open the door and let the fumes dissipate. then remove the bowl and wipe away the food particles with a damp cloth or sponge.


to remove food that did not come off after the ammonia treatment, use a non abrasive scrubber (stiff nylon brushes work well) and warm water. you could also use a plastic ice scraper like what people use on their windshields to scrape off the hard stuff.

Answer 3

A slurry of baking soda and simple green seems to work well for me. There's a balance between too wet and too dry. Spread the slurry over the affected areas, let it stand for a time, then scrub off with a sponge. Repeat if needed. Try not to scratch the enamel finish with things like steel wool or scotchbrite -- stuff will stick harder next time to the scratched areas. Remove the paste residue with a rinsed sponge. I like this better than using sodium hydroxide based cleaners because as far as I know, no toxic or irritating fumes are generated -- and, it works. Note, if you have one of the continuous self cleaning interior finishes, do not clean this way -- go strictly by your owner's manual in that case.

Answer 4

Just use Easy Off Oven Cleaner. Follow the instructions on the label. Another good one is Arm and Hammer Oven Cleaner - probably a little less harsh.

Answer 5

If its self cleaning turn knob to right to lock oven door then turn oven nub to cleaning and the temp will automatically pop up usually 300 degrees for 2 hrs; if its not self cleaning then use Easy off oven spray spray generously set oven temp for 200 degrees and set timer for 10 t0 20 minutes and then with a damp clean cloth wipe off , reapply if nessacary.

Answer 6

First things first. You're going to be able to get rid of most of it by turning the oven all the way up for about an hour or two. It'll most all turn to ash. The rest you should be able to remove with a little Easy-Off. They make it odor free now and it's at every grocery.

Answer 7

use a fume free oven cleaner it usually has a lemon scent that wont kill your noses and follow the instructions on the bottle.

Answer 8

You might try setting a hot wet soapy rag on it to soften everything up then go from there.
I know you don't want to use chemicals but, I use windex for a lot of cleaning.
Good luck.