The Proper Way To Clean Oven Glass

If you're like most of us, your oven does not get anywhere near the TLC it should. Here's a hint: Regular cleaning should be the rule, not the exception. But even if you do maintain your oven properly, the glass door may present a challenge since self-cleaning cycles will incinerate anything within the reach of heat but won't always address the grease that cakes up on glass. The problem is literally multi-layered: Oven doors typically have two panes of glass, with only the innermost and outermost panes accessible. Most cleaning methods only reach one side of each pane, which leaves the internal spaces just as dirty as they began.

But if your spattered oven glass door is getting you down, take heart — cleaning all the glass is easier than you think, and doesn't even require specialized cleaners. 

It's best to start with the low-hanging fruit and clean the surfaces. First, remove any obvious bits and pieces from both the inside and outside surfaces of the glass door. The outside door doesn't need much effort to clean since it rarely gets the abuse the inside receives — wiping it down with a simple 50-50 solution of vinegar and water and a soft cloth should do the trick. The inside part of the door takes more of a beating, so you'll need to get your hands dirty. Take a half cup of baking soda and mix it with water until it forms a paste, then add a small squirt of dish soap and plaster the mixture over the door.

Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub gently. When you've cleaned the inside part thoroughly, you can use paper towels or microfiber cloth to get rid of any streaks.

Next, you can get on with the hard part — the inside panes. This requires removing the glass from the door, which is not difficult, but must be done carefully. One way to be safe is to let the bottom of the door rest on your legs while you unscrew it from the top so that your lower body buffers the door in case it suddenly drops. You can lay the glass on a table — ideally, on top of some old blankets or towels — and get to work. This part is the hardest, but also the most satisfying, since you can bust out your vacuum and get into all the nooks and crannies that are usually beyond reach. After you've gotten all the crumbs out, you can apply the same cleaning paste you used for the inside of the door to both interior layers of the glass before scrubbing and buffing. 

A few important reminders to avoid common oven-cleaning blunders: Never try to clean the glass while it's hot, since that's both dangerous and less effective. If you're cleaning the glass door, you might want to make it an overnight affair and clean the rest of the oven with some help from TikTok. But most of all, never underestimate the thrill of being able to look straight through your oven glass without anything blocking your view. Spots, begone.