Finally, get your oven sparkling clean with this step by step tutorial for how to clean oven glass, including those stubborn interior stains!
How to Clean Oven Glass?
You know those nagging to-do list things that never seem to get done? Motivating to clean oven glass has always been one of those things for me. We just moved into our home six months ago so my glass wasn't too bad but it was bad enough that I noticed it every time I opened the oven (and I may or may not have hung multiple tea towels on the handle to cover it up from the outside!)
Because this is one of the cleaning questions I get asked the most I wanted to share my full step by step tutorial showing how to clean oven glass with you today.
Cleaning Oven Glass Tutorial
For tackling the entire oven, see this tutorial on how to clean your oven.
Items Needed:
- white vinegar or other glass cleaner
- ½ cup baking soda
- scouring pad
- paper towel
Directions for getting oven glass clean:
- Spray outside glass with vinegar and wipe down with paper towels.
- Clean inside of the oven glass with a scouring pad using the "hack" below.
- Sprinkle inside oven glass liberally with baking soda.
- Use a damp scouring pad to create a paste and rub into the oven glass.
- Leave the paste up to twenty minutes to allow dirt to loosen.
- Wipe oven glass with a damp paper towel to remove paste.
Here is what I was working with (don't judge!)
I held the tea towel behind it so that you could see the grime. Pretty gross, right? I wiped down the exterior with white vinegar and that surface came clean easily. Next, I wanted to clean the interior of the glass-this is one that challenges a lot of people. There are two ways you could go about it depending on your commitment level.
Cleaning Between Oven Glass Layers
Option 1: First, you'll see screws on the inside of the door-depending on the brand of oven you may need a special tool to open it which you can easily find at any hardware store. I recommend taking a picture of your screw and showing them at the store so they can direct you to the proper tool-I've seen star-shaped screws, square, etc.
*Update 2018-a reader comment below mentioned someone breaking their oven glass trying to remove it with the screw method, so I recommend trying the hack method first if possible to avoid undue risk!*
Option 2 (preferred): If you don't want to go through the trouble of opening it or if you're like me and your interior glass isn't terribly dirty you can go the "hack" route. Open the bottom drawer of your oven and feel along the bottom edge-there are openings along there.
Using a long wooden skewer-attach a scouring pad, wet rag, or sponge to the end and stick it up in there to clean it out. I used a damp natural scouring pad and it worked fine, but as I said I just moved into my home 6 months ago and mine was not very dirty.
Be careful if you do this method with a metal coat hanger, I've seen tutorials with them online that seem like they could easily scratch your glass if you aren't careful.
Cleaning inside the oven door
Next onto the interior of the oven door-this is where the worst of the gunk is baked on. But that's okay because we have the best cleaner out there-baking soda! Sprinkle liberally across the glass.
Use a wet scouring pad to create a paste and scrub the glass thoroughly-this takes a little elbow grease but I prefer that to stinky chemicals any day! If your oven glass is very dirty you can leave the paste on the door for twenty minutes. This will allow it time to work it's magic!
Finally, wipe the door clean with damp paper towels. Voila! A clean oven door!
See the difference?? (I held the towel under it again to see the contrast with the picture at the top of the post.)
before after
That's it-you're all done. It only took me about 10 minutes from start to finish and makes a world of difference in the glass!
Now you can brag to all your friends that you know how to clean between oven glass! You're a cleaning superstar!
You might also like these cleaning tips:
- Clean and Prevent Fingerprints on Stainless Steel
- How to Fake a Clean Home in 10 Minutes
- Clean Your Whole House in One Hour
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Sharon says
I use baking soda but use lemon juice and 1/2 a lemon as the scrubber… works like a charm
Anne says
Great, it works wonderfully. Can you clean the inside of the oven the same way? Just baking soda & water?
Thank you
Melissa Riker says
I have a full tutorial with options for cleaning the inside here: https://thehappierhomemaker.com/how-to-clean-your-oven/
Janette Sinclair says
My oven door is "vertical" not "horizontal". I will try the paste method, but most will probably fall off. Any other tips please?
Shirley says
I used the baking soda and it worked like a charm. I had a stroke and my hand shake so I spill pies going into the oven. Any hints to help me on how I c an get a messy pie into the oven with no spills ?
Melissa Riker says
Hi Shirley, I usually place my pies on a baking sheet when I put them in the oven in case of any overflow or spills!
Lynn says
Try placing pie on a cookie sheet before placing in oven. That way, if it spills, it won't end up on the oven door or oven interior.
Cindie Winquist says
The cookie sheet idea works for me. However, I place a sheet of parchment paper on a heavy cookie sheet or pizza pan, then place my pie on it. The paper catches the drips of pies that bubble over, keeping both the oven and the cookie sheet clean.
Barbie Antonides says
Hello Shirley
I also had a stroke so I understand completely. Try using a short stool & slide it as close the the oven as possible. An other idea for bubbling over pies, buy a box of "Copper BBQ Grill Mats" for the oven. There are many types out there & I'm sure they're just as good, but I went with the copper ones. Since my box contained two, one for the BBQ of course! They're also good under any type of baking sheet, dish or casserole for a little extra protection from burning the bottom.
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Sherry Pearson says
I spilled some greasy liquid on top of the stove and some if ran between the door and the glass. Do I take the door off to get to the inside of that window.?
KATHLEEN BLIEK says
I had this same question. A guest spilled "stuff" down the vent of my oven door between the glass. Should I take the door apart?
Danny says
Be cautious about the scouring pad. I used a scotch before pad and it scratched my glass very badly.
Melissa says
Thanks for the tip Danny!
Danny says
Scotch bright not scotch before
Glenda says
Hey Melissa, great I will be trying this. Can I do the same for the rest of the oven.
Scott says
Wow! I used a plain sponge and finished the job in 10 minutes. Thanks for the tip.
Melissa says
So glad it helped Scott! ~Melissa
Nancy says
Cleaning the oven glass was the miracle I was looking for just using baking soda. WOW! It looks like new!
Melissa says
Yay! I'm so glad it helped Nancy! ~Melissa
Karry says
This is a very nice way to clean an oven without using chemicals. I'm going to do this today and see how it goes. Thanks
Melissa says
You're very welcome! ~Melissa
Alyson says
I have pinned several "recipes" for cleaning the oven door. But they all seemed very messy so I never got around to trying them. I tried the baking soda and scrubbing sponge and it work like an absolute charm! I have to say I am seriously impressed that something so simple could work so well! Thanks for the tip, I feel like I need to announce this from the rooftops! I really was so intimidated by cleaning my messy oven door and now it looks brand-new!
Melissa says
I'm glad it worked for you Alyson! ~Melissa