The 5 Best Oven Cleaners

Introduction

Keeping your oven clean can be a tedious and time-consuming task. Baked-on grease and food splatters can be extremely difficult to remove. However, with the right oven cleaner, you can cut through the mess and restore your oven to a like-new condition.

In this article, we will discuss the 5 best oven cleaners currently available. We evaluated dozens of products and narrowed it down to the top options based on effectiveness, safety, price, customer reviews and other factors. Whether you have a self-cleaning oven or a regular model, these oven cleaners will help tackle even the most stubborn messes.

How to Choose the Best Oven Cleaner

When selecting an oven cleaner, here are some key factors to consider:

Type of Oven – Is it a self-cleaning oven or a regular one? Self-cleaning oven cleaners are specially formulated for high heat cleaning cycles. Regular oven cleaners are for manual cleaning.
Type of Mess – Baked-on food and grease require a more heavy-duty oven cleaner. Light messes may only need a mild formula.
Ingredient Safety – Avoid harsh chemicals like lye around food surfaces. Look for plant-based and biodegradable formulas.
Fume Levels – Some cleaners produce nasty odors during use. Opt for low-fume or fume-free products.
Ease of Use – Sprays, gels and wipes all have different applications. Choose one that fits your preferences.
Price – Natural and specialty cleaners tend to cost more. But the trade-off is they are often safer and more effective.

By keeping these factors in mind, you can select the right oven cleaner for the job. Next we’ll share our top picks.

1. Easy-Off Professional Fume Free Max Oven Cleaner

Type: Aerosol Spray
Key Features:
Uses sodium hydroxide (lye) to cut through baked-on grease
Special nozzle for targeted cleaning
Fume-free formula
Clings to surfaces for maximum dwell time
Overview: If you’ve got some serious oven grime, Easy-Off Professional Fume Free is one of the best oven cleaners for cutting through it. The formula clings to surfaces for up to 24 hours of cleaning action. Just spray, let sit, then wipe away grease and burnt food residue with less elbow grease required. It’s powerful on messes, while being fume-free and safe on self-cleaning oven surfaces.

2. Mr. Muscle Oven and Grill Cleaner Spray

Type: Aerosol Spray
Key Features:
Foaming spray action
Sodium hydroxide-free formula
Works in just 10 minutes
Fresh scent
Overview: This foaming oven cleaner from Mr. Muscle works fast to break down grease and carbonized food deposits. The formula is free of lye and other harsh caustics. It uses surfactants and degreasing agents to penetrate messes. Spray it on a cool oven, wait 10 minutes, then wipe clean. The foam clings well to vertical surfaces. It even works great on grill grates. The light citrus scent leaves behind a fresh aroma instead of chemical fumes.

3. Carbona 2-In-1 Oven Rack and Grill Cleaner Kit

Type: Disposable Wipes & Bag System
Key Features:
Wipes infused with cleaning solution
Dissolvable bag for soaking oven racks
No scrubbing required
Lifts grease and restores shine
Overview: Carbona makes oven cleaning easy with this 2-in-1 kit. It contains both wipes and a dissolving bag. Use the wipes to quickly clean oven surfaces without scrubbing. For oven racks and grates, place them in the bag and add water to submerge. After several hours, remove them and watch the grease wipe right off. The wipes use Oxi acid to cut through grime. And the bag contains sodium percarbonate to lift tough baked-on residue from racks. No strong fumes or harsh chemicals are used.

4. Pink Solution Paste Oven Cleaner

Type: Gel Paste
Key Features:
Thick clinging gel formula
Naturally derived ingredients
Light mineral oil base
Plant-powered degreasing agents
Overview: Pink Solution is a plant-powered oven cleaning paste. It uses the cleaning strength of sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate to break down grease and debris without harsh chemicals. The thick gel formula clings to surfaces and penetrates pores with natural degreasers like Castor oil. Just apply a thick coat to a cool oven, wait 30 minutes to overnight, then wipe clean. It’s an excellent alternative to caustic oven cleaners. The Pink Solution can even be used for cooktops, microwaves, pots and pans.

5. AmmoFoam Heavy Duty Degreaser Spray

Type: Foaming Aerosol Spray
Key Features:
Ultra-clinging foam
Degreases without caustic chemicals
Plant-based surfactants
Fresh lemon scent
Overview: AmmoFoam relies on the natural cleaning power of plants instead of toxic chemicals. It’s formulated with coconut-derived surfactants to lift grease from oven surfaces. The ultra-clinging foam seeps into hardened food splatters and burnt-on grease. Just apply to a cool oven, let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then wipe clean. No harsh fumes are produced and it rinses away easily. AmmoFoam can be used all around the kitchen on appliances, cookware, vent hoods and more. The lemony scent provides a clean, refreshing aroma.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oven Cleaners

What is the best oven cleaner for burnt on grease?

For badly burned-on grease and food residue, Easy-Off Professional Fume Free Max Oven Cleaner is the best oven cleaner. It uses sodium hydroxide (lye) to penetrate and dissolve the toughest baked-on messes. Just be sure to only use it in a cool oven and avoid contact with skin or eyes.

How do you naturally clean an oven?

To naturally clean an oven avoid harsh chemical cleaners. Use a baking soda paste with just enough water to scrub away mild grime. For tougher messes, try a plant-based paste cleaner like Pink Solution. Mix baking soda and vinegar to bubbles away debris. Steaming can also help soften residue before scrubbing.

What removes burnt on grease from oven racks?

The best way to remove burnt-on grease from oven racks is soaking them in a hot water bath with an oxygenated cleaner like sodium percarbonate. Kits like Carbona 2-in-1 provide a dissolving bag and powder to make rack cleaning easy. For spot treating, an abrasive scrubbing pad can help remove the softened grease.

What should you not use to clean an oven?

Avoid the following cleaners when tackling oven messes:

Chlorine bleach – can react with oven residues creating toxic fumes
Metal scouring pads – can scratch oven surfaces
High acid cleaners – can damage porcelain enamel
Commercial oven cleaners – leave behind nasty chemical residues

Stick to pastes, gels, wipes and plant-based cleaners as safer options. Never mix bleach and ammonia – it produces a lethal gas.

Should self cleaning ovens be cleaned regularly?

Self-cleaning ovens still need occasional manual cleaning. Run the high-heat self-cleaning cycle once an oven has light to moderate grime buildup. In between cycles, clean up spills right away. Use warm water and baking soda to scrub light messes. Wipe down surfaces to prevent grease accumulation. A clean oven prevents odors and smoking.

How do you clean an oven without chemicals?

A few ways to clean an oven without chemicals include:

Baking soda paste – Sprinkle baking soda and add just enough water to form a spreadable paste. Apply and let sit before scrubbing.
Steam – Place a bowl of water in the oven and run on high heat to loosen debris for wiping out.
Vinegar – Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spritz oven surfaces, let sit briefly, then scrub with a cloth.
Ammonia – Place ammonia-soaked rags in the cold oven overnight. The fumes will help loosen burnt-on grease.
Elbow grease – For mild grime, some recipes call for scrubbing with salt, lemon juice or a copper scrubby. It takes more effort but avoids chemicals.

Conclusion

Cleaning an oven thoroughly doesn’t need to involve spending a whole day scrubbing and dealing with harsh chemical fumes. By using one of the top oven cleaners we recommended, you can tackle grease and food spills much more easily and safely.

The key is selecting an oven cleaner tailored to your needs. Whether you want fast-acting wipes, an extra-strong spray for burnt-on deposits, or a plant-based gel to avoid chemicals, there are great options for every situation. Keep your oven looking like new with regular cleaning.

Next time you notice greasy buildup or splattered food residue, reach for one of these excellent oven cleaners to restore its cleanliness. No more dreading tackling a dirty oven! With the right product, it can be quick, easy and fume-free.