Tools and Materials
Wear eye protection and gloves when working with cleaning chemicals. Check to ensure the cleaner is suitable for the oven rack. Follow usage and safety instructions and make sure you have good ventilation.
Cleaning Oven Racks
Food spatters and grime can build up and harden with time. You can spot-clean your oven rack with every use to prevent this build-up. On top of this, regular deep cleaning can keep your oven racks grime-free.
How Often Should You Clean
It is advisable to clean your oven thoroughly at least once every three months. The best way to clean your oven racks is to maintain a regular cleaning regime. You may change how frequently you clean the racks based on how often you use the oven.
If there is noticeable grease and grime on the racks, wipe them down after each use. It will prevent grease from building up between deep cleaning sessions. Make sure to wait until the rack cools down before doing this.
How To Clean With a Commercial Oven Cleaner
Commercial oven cleaners are specifically designed to clean racks and grills thoroughly. In 10-20 minutes, a good oven cleaner should remove all the stains from your oven rack. These cleaners however, can sometimes discolor your rack. So make sure to test the cleaner on a small area first.
Always wear cleaning gloves and splashproof eye protection when using harsh chemicals like oven cleaner or ammonia.
Scrub
- Remove racks from the oven and place them on your countertop or sink.
- Shake the can well and spray the cleaner evenly over the racks, ensuring full coverage.
- Allow them to sit for the time specified on the product (usually 15-30 minutes).
- Pay more attention to areas with tough grease.
- Use a non-abrasive scrubber or an old toothbrush to work on tough spots. For tight spaces, the toothbrush is effective.
- Rinse the racks thoroughly with water.
- It’s advisable to follow the specific instructions for your oven cleaner product, as different brands may have different methods.
Rinse and dry
- Rinse off thoroughly after cleaning and allow to air dry on a counter.
- You can also hand-dry them with a dish towel or microfiber cloth before returning them to your oven.
For particularly stubborn baked-on grime, crumple a sheet of aluminum foil and scrub the dirty areas. The foil’s abrasive texture can help remove tough residue.
Don’t lay them flat because water might collect in crevices and take longer to dry.
How to Clean With Ammonia
Ammonia is a powerful cleaning agent. To make an ammonia solution, mix equal parts of ammonia and water in a heat-safe container or bucket. The ratio is typically 1 cup of ammonia per 1 cup of water, but always check and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You can double the quantities depending on the size of your oven racks.
This solution can cut through tough grease and grime. It loosens baked-on food particles, which means less scrubbing and a faster clean.
Remove, Soak, Scrub and Clean
This method requires submerging the oven rack in household ammonia. You will need at least 2 cups of ammonia to submerge completely. If you are wary of using ammonia, you can try the vinegar and baking soda method mentioned below.
- Remove all the racks from the oven.
- Place the racks in a large plastic bag or trash bag.
- Slowly pour the household ammonia solution into the bag, ensuring that the racks are completely submerged.
- Seal the bag tightly with rubber bands or ties.
- Flatten the bag so the ammonia can reach all the corners of the racks.
- Leave the sealed bag in a well-ventilated area, such as a garage or outdoors. The ammonia fumes will work to loosen and dissolve the baked-on grime and grease over time.
- Allow them to soak for at least several hours, or overnight for best results.
After cleaning oven racks with ammonia, follow these steps:
- Remove the racks from the ammonia solution.
- Lay them on a plastic drop cloth or place them in a bathtub or large sink.
- Use a stiff-bristled nylon scrub brush or a melamine eraser to remove residue from both sides of the racks.
- Rinse the racks on both sides or fill the bathtub with enough water to submerge and rinse the racks.
- Wipe the racks dry with a microfiber cloth and reinstall them in the oven.
The fumes will be strong, so open the bag away from your face. Remember to wear cleaning gloves and protective eyewear while doing this.
How to Clean With Vinegar and Baking SodaBaking Soda
Using a vinegar and baking soda solution is an easy and quick way to clean your oven racks.
Remove, spray and rinse
Remove
- As usual, take all the racks out.
- Place the racks on a flat surface like countertops, bathtubs or sinks. This will prevent any spills on the floor.
Spray
- Make a paste by mixing vinegar and baking soda together. The ratio can vary, but a good starting point is 1 cup of vinegar to 1/2 cup of baking soda. Mix the two ingredients until you get a thick, spreadable paste.
- Using a cleaning brush, sponge or your hands (with cleaning gloves), carefully apply the foaming vinegar and baking soda paste to both sides of the oven racks.
- Ensure that you cover the entire surface, including any crevices or hard-to-reach areas.
Soak
- Let the foaming mixture settle for a few minutes. The vinegar’s acidity will help break down the baked-on grease and grime.
- Submerge the racks in a large container or bathtub filled with hot water. This will help further loosen the grime and make it easier to scrub off.
- Let the racks soak for 8 to 10 hours or even overnight if possible. This soaking time will allow the paste to continue working on the tough stains.
Remember to wear cleaning gloves and splash proof eyewear while creating this solution.
Final Touches
After the soaking, you can begin scrubbing the racks. Use a non-abrasive sponge or brush. The baking soda paste should have loosened most of the grime, making it easier to remove. Rinse the racks thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining residue from the vinegar and baking soda paste.
Finally, dry the racks with a clean cloth or paper towel. You can now reinstall them back in the oven.