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How to clean a glass oven door

Keep your oven cooking for longer with our door cleaning guide...

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From Built in ovens to Fan ovens, there’s lots of good reasons to have a nice, clean oven door. For one thing, you’ll be able to see how your roasts and bakes are getting along without peering through loads of baked on grease. And for another, cleaning your door glass can help your oven work better. A clean oven heats faster and maintains a better cooking temperature.

But getting that oven door glass clean can be frustrating. Even when you’ve given your door a decent wipe inside and out, there are still a few common culprits that really stand out - whether it’s those deep brown burn marks or drips and smears you can never seem to reach. The good news is that it’s perfectly possible to retun your oven door glass to its sparkling best. You just have to know a few tricks. And that’s where we come in.

Preparing for the clean

Before diving into cleaning your oven door, take some time to prepare your work area. Wipe away any loose food or debris surrounding the oven and gather your cleaning supplies.

You will need:

  • Screwdriver. If you need to remove your door, check what screws it takes and get the matching screwdriver head.

  • A sponge, cloth and/or soft bristle brush. A microfibre cloth is important to help get a streak-free finish.

  • Window cleaning spray. Vinegar is a good alternative.

  • Protective sheeting or newspaper.

  • Marigolds. These are especially important if you’re using chemicals, but a good idea anyway if your glass doors are really filthy.

  • Degreaser. If you don’t want to use harsh chemicals, you can also try a natural acid (lemon juice or vinegar) and bicarb of soda.

Removing and cleaning the oven door

If your oven door is really filthy (and there’s dirt inside your oven door), you may need the remove the door completely. While it may seem daunting, it is quite simple and can be accomplished with just a few easy steps:

  • Find your oven hinge locks on both sides and gently release them with help from a flat headed screwdriver. (Not all ovens have hinges but most do.)

  • Close your door to a 45 degree angle. When you feel it stopping, it means you can lift it off its hinges. So give it a gentle pull and it should slide off.

  • Be really careful with your oven door. They can be heavy, so clear a path to your cleaning area and place your door down on protective sheeting to make sure it doesn’t get scratched.

  • Remove the screws around the inside of the oven door. Have a bowl ready to collect all of them. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of your oven door, so you can remember where everything goes.

  • Carefully lift and separate the different panes of the oven door. Some oven doors can have as many as three. Some doors also have extra screws that attach two inner panels together. So remove the screws there too.

Once you have the door off, it is important to clean it thoroughly to ensure that all dirt and grime is removed.

Cleaning between the glass panes

Cleaning between the glass panes of your oven door is important to maintain its appearance and ensure that it is operating efficiently. Removing that baked on grease doesn’t have to involve lots of scrubbing. You can loosen up the worst of it with a degreaser, wipe off and then dry with a tea towel. Follow instructions for commercial oven cleaners, or you can check out more natural options below.

To get a streak-free shine, you’ll next want to apply a window cleaning spray and buff with a microfibre cloth. If you need to scrub, use a soft haired brush. Never be tempted to use wire wool. You don’t want to scratch the glass.

Once you’ve done your cleaning, reverse the above steps to reassemble your oven door and slot it back into place.

Natural cleaning solutions

If you prefer to use natural cleaning solutions, there are several options that can be just as effective as commercial cleaners. These solutions are typically less harsh and can be more environmentally friendly as well.

Here's a bullet list of natural cleaning solutions for tackling oven doors:

  • Bicarbonate of soda and vinegar (or lemon juice): Mix equal parts of bicarb and water to create a paste. Apply the paste to the glass door and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spray the glass door, and wipe it clean with a sponge or cloth.

  • Salt and bicarb of soda: Mix salt and bicarb to create a paste. Apply the paste to the glass door and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, scrub the glass door with a non-abrasive sponge and rinse with water.

  • Castile soap is an olive oil based soap which you can find online or at speciailist shops. Mix castile soap and water in a spray bottle. Spray the glass door and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then, use a non-abrasive sponge to scrub the glass door and rinse with water.

  • Hydrogen peroxide and bicarb: Mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to create a paste. Apply the paste to the glass door and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, wipe it clean with a damp cloth.

Commercial cleaners and their safe usage

If you choose to use a commercial cleaner, it is important to read the label carefully and follow usage instructions. Some cleaners can be quite harsh and require special handling to avoid potential hazards. Just make sure to use them sparingly and in a well-ventilated room. It’s a good idea to wear protective clothing. And be extra careful to not get it on your skin or in your eyes.

A safer alternative is a bleach-free product like Bar Keeper’s Friend. It’s very effective and lifting baked on grease and is a lot more gentle than tougher chemical cleaners.

Maintaining a clean oven door

So, it’s clean. Satisfying isn’t it?

But how do you keep it clean? One way to do it is regular cleaning. Give it a wipe after every use, which should help anything getting baked in with repeated heating. You can also save yourself a lot of trouble by using oven proof dish covers to cut down on splattering food.

But let’s face it. Nobody likes cleaning an oven at the best of times. One brilliant solution is a self-cleaning oven. Modern ovens come with all kind of clever tech to do the dirty work for you. Take Pyrolytic cleaning, for example. With the push of a button, Pyrolytic ovens reduce food and grease to ash, meaning all you have to do is wipe everything away with a cloth. Simple.

We’ve recommended some great self-cleaning ovens below to save you time and trouble. But if you’ve already got your marigolds on, why not try cleaning your air fryer, toaster and other dirty kitchen appliances?

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