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Of all the tedious kitchen cleaning tasks, scrubbing the oven door glass is one of the biggest pains. A fresh-baked lasagna with extra cheese on top may taste delicious, but with it you’ll have greasy splatters all over your oven door. Over time, the glass on the door can get cloudy, dirty, and sticky, making it harder to keep an eye on whatever you’re baking and creating an eyesore in your kitchen. The good news is that there are several effective ways to clean the oven door glass. We’ve outlined the best cleaning methods below, so you can make your oven like new again (and actually see what you’re cooking).
How to Clean Oven Door Glass With Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar can be used for so many cleaning tasks, including cleaning your oven door glass. They are eco-friendly and effective, helping you eliminate unwanted grease streaks. However, they shouldn’t be mixed together; instead, use them separately.
Follow these steps to properly clean your oven door glass with baking soda and vinegar.
- Remove any excess grease and food debris from the glass using a cooktop scraper. This will ensure the baking soda penetrates deeply and is more effective.
- Make a baking soda paste. Using a small bowl, mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/8 cup of water.
- Apply the baking soda batter across the glass.
- Scrub the surface thoroughly and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Use the cooktop scraper to remove the excess paste from the glass.
- Wipe the oven glass door using a wet microfiber cloth.
- Mix white vinegar with water equally. Half of a cup should be more than enough.
- Pour the mixture into an empty spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture on the oven door glass and let it sit for a minute.
- Clean the door using paper towels or a microfiber cloth. Continue this step until no food or grease residue is left.
How to Clean Oven Door Glass With Dish Soap
Cleaning your oven door glass using dish soap is a safe and straightforward process. Wet a soft-bristled sponge and add some dish soap. Start scrubbing the glass, moving up and down and in circles. Next, using wet paper towels or a clean microfiber cloth, remove any foam buildup from the glass until it is completely gone. Next, buff the glass using dry paper towels or a microfiber cloth.
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How to Clean Oven Door Glass With Vinegar
Vinegar is a great way to clean the oven door glass without using any traditional cleaning products. First, combine equal parts of white vinegar and water. Place this mixture in an empty spray bottle. Apply the mixture to the oven door glass and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Wipe the door down using paper towels or a microfiber cloth. Continue wiping until no food or grease residue is left.
For heavy-duty stains, you can use a 30-percent concentrate vinegar formula, which is designed specifically for cleaning purposes, not consumption. For the best results, you can apply it directly without mixing it with water.
How to Clean Oven Door Glass With Store-Bought Oven Cleaner
There are many store-bought oven cleaners to choose from. Most of them have similar cleaning instructions.
- Spray/apply the oven cleaner evenly and let it sit for up to 10 minutes. Follow the specific timing of the product you are using.
- Clean the glass surface using a non-abrasive sponge or paper towels.
- Dampen clean paper towels and wipe away any residue.
Regardless of the product you use, make sure to read the instructions before using it.
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Tips for Cleaning a Glass Oven Door
Wondering how to clean a glass oven door like a pro? These tips will help you keep your oven door window looking spotless.
- The oven should be completely cooled off before you get to work. Cleaning a warm or hot oven can be harmful and dangerous.
- Use soft materials when wiping the surface. Paper towels, non-abrasive and soft-bristled sponges, and microfiber cloths are all safe to use.
- Never mix baking soda and vinegar together. Doing so cancels each other’s cleaning benefits. Always use them separately.
- Create a cleaning schedule if you bake several times a month. Cleaning the oven once a month should do the trick. But if you don’t bake that often, then once every few months should be enough.
- Read your oven’s operational manual. That’s where you’ll find everything you need to know about caring for the oven door glass.
How to Clean Between the Oven Glass Without Disassembling the Door
This is very tricky, but here’s a DIY hack for cleaning in between your oven’s glass door without taking it apart. First of all, how the heck does the glass door even get dirty in that in-between area? Well, at the bottom of the oven door, there is a gap between the glass panels that facilitates air flow and prevents the glass door from overheating. Once you find that gap, you’ll be able to start cleaning:
- Find something thin, long, and flexible you can use to reach in between the gap — something like these extendable barbecue skewers should do the trick or you could take apart an old wire hanger and stretch it out to use as a cleaning tool. Take your cleaning tool of choice and wrap a microfiber cloth around it, ensuring one end is completely covered, securing it tightly in place, making sure there’s no exposed metal to avoid scratching the glass.
- Open the warming drawer all the way. Yes, the one that most people use to store pans inside.
- Create a white vinegar and water mixture (use the same amount of each ingredient; half a cup of each should be enough to get started) and pour the mixture into an empty spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the microfiber cloth.
- Insert the stick in the opening between the glass panels.
- Move the sick up and down and in a circular motion to wipe the glass.
- Remove your DIY cleaning tool and repeat steps three to five as needed.
This trick will work only if your door isn’t that dirty; if your oven is in bad shape, you’ll have to disassemble the door to clean it properly.
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Won’t a self-cleaning oven clean its glass door?
No. A self-cleaning oven uses the heat to soften and break down food residue within the baking area. However, because the oven door ventilation system doesn’t allow the door to get too hot, the self-cleaning system won’t clean the glass door.
How do you get burnt and brown stains off a glass oven door?
A baking soda paste can remove burnt and brown stains from your glass oven door. Mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/8 cup of water, apply the paste directly to the glass, and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Then, using a wet microfiber cloth or paper towels, you can start removing the remaining paste. Note: For tough stains, you may need to repeat these steps. Pat down dry with paper towels or a clean microfiber cloth.
Can you use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on a glass oven door?
Yes, a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is an all-purpose cleaning product that can be used to clean glass over doors. All you need to do is wet the sponge, remove the water, and start “erasing” those stains.
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Do any natural cleaners work better than chemical cleaners?
Natural cleaners can effectively clean dirt, grease stains, and grime. They also help with removing unwanted odors and are better for the environment and your health. Natural cleaners, such as baking soda, white vinegar, and lemon juice, are some of the most common natural cleaners used in household cleaning.
Can you use vinegar to clean a glass oven door?
Yes, you can use vinegar to clean your glass door. You just need to dilute the vinegar with equal amounts of water. Spray the water-vinegar solution, let it sit, and wipe it down. For tough stains, use undiluted vinegar or use a higher-concentration, cleaning-grade formulated vinegar.
How often should you clean oven door glass?
Although there is no specific schedule to follow to clean your glass oven door, you should aim to clean it at least once a month. If you bake a few times a week, cleaning your glass door at least twice a month is recommended to avoid a level of grease and stain buildup that’s hard to remove.