The Best Oven Cleaners of 2024
Updated: Feb. 01, 2024
Have a dirty oven but don't have time for self-clean? Here are the best oven cleaners as chosen by professional cooks.
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When it comes to cleaning the oven, most of us rely on self-clean. No shame in that! It makes getting rid of stubborn messes—like burnt-on cheese from our latest frozen pizza—a breeze. Sometimes, though, that self-clean feature just isn’t good enough to get stubborn messes gone. That’s when you know it’s time to enlist the help of an oven cleaner.
But do you really know which oven cleaner is best? Our Test Kitchen is taking the guesswork out of shopping for you. We grabbed as many oven cleaners as possible and tested them in our very own Test Kitchen ovens. Find out which ones we loved for cleaning up our ovens at Taste of Home HQ and in our own homes.
How We Found the Best Oven Cleaner
Our Test Kitchen stays busy testing recipes submitted by readers. Monday through Friday, you’ll find our talented team stirring up everything from bacon (yep, you can make it in the oven) to lasagna to pecan pie. With recipes like these, you know the ovens get messy—though the mess is 100% worth it!
So our team gathered every oven cleaner they could find, from traditional aerosol cleaners to more natural options in spray bottles. Each was used to clean our many ovens and judged according to these criteria:
- Scent:Â Don’t underestimate the importance of scent in cleaning products, particularly sprays. Our Test Kitchen was looking for an oven cleaner that didn’t overwhelm the room with fumes yet still smelled clean.
- Cleaning power:Â A good oven cleaner should be able to lift up stubborn messes like grease, baked-on grime and sticky spots.
The Best Oven Cleaner Brands
In the end, two oven cleaners got our Test Kitchen’s stamp of approval. Check out our top picks: the ones we call Test Kitchen-Preferred.
Easy-Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner
Our Test Kitchen’s ovens were no match for Easy-Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner. This spray-on oven cleaner had them looking spic and span and ready to try out your recipes (you can submit your recipes right here!). After giving the oven a spray, we were able to wipe away all the grease using just a regular kitchen scrubber.
This product’s cleaning power became obvious to our cooks when they tried the overnight cleaning method recommended on the package: Spray the oven with Easy-Off and let it set overnight. In the morning, we were able to wipe away stubborn burnt-on foods and grease with a damp rag.
The only drawback here: Easy-Off isn’t as fume-free as it claims. We recommend opening a window and working quickly! For an occasional deep clean, we think this is worth it.
Great Value Oven Cleaner
You can also get a good clean with Walmart’s Great Value Oven Cleaner. This product got rid of grease, gunk and all the dirty messes in our Test Kitchen.
This Walmart oven cleaner works very similarly to Easy-Off but costs about a dollar less. The only notable difference was that this brand left a few streaks, so be sure to wipe with a clean cloth when you’re finished—never a bad idea with chemical cleaners!
The Bottom Line
When it comes to oven cleaners, our testers recommend traditional cleaners (the ones that come in a spray can). We tried options in squirt bottles and multipurpose stovetop/oven cleaners, but they just couldn’t cut through our tough messes—and sometimes made the mess worse!
We recommend that you stick with these classic cleaners when you really need to go above and beyond self-clean. Yes, they can have an unpleasant odor (even though they say fume-free), but if you work quickly and open a window or turn on a fan, you should be just fine. The sparkling-clean oven will be worth it!
And don’t stop with just the inside of the oven. Get our best stovetop cleaners, and also learn how to get rid of grease on a glass stovetop. Learning these grease-fighting techniques is a great way to keep your kitchen feeling fresh.
Oven Cleaner FAQs
Need more details on how to use oven cleaner for the squeakiest clean? We’ve got you covered!
How do you clean an oven with oven cleaner?
Spray on oven cleaner can be used for an all-over clean or to spot-treat extra dirty areas.
To use oven cleaner, spray the interior of the oven (racks included if you’d like) or the offending areas. Be sure to hold the can at a 45º angle. Close the oven door and let it sit anywhere from 90 minutes to overnight.
After allowing the cleaner to penetrate the stains, wipe away the foam and debris with a sponge or rag. Be sure to wear gloves while you work and turn on the exhaust fan in your kitchen.
Can you use oven cleaner on a self-cleaning oven?
Yes, you can use oven cleaner on a self-cleaning oven. The self-cleaning option on these ovens is a great way to give your oven a regular clean without any effort. When you have stubborn stains or grease inside your oven, though, that’s when you can pull out a good can of oven cleaner.
One important note: Do not use oven cleaner and the self-clean function at the same time.
Can you use oven cleaner on a stovetop?
Oven cleaner is an aggressive cleaner and is not suitable for all stovetops. Instead, use a dedicated stovetop cleaner for this chore.
If you have a glass cooktop, you can check out these tested methods for cleaning a glass range. For metal stovetop grates, check out this technique.
Is oven cleaner toxic?
Like many heavy-duty cleaning products, oven cleaner is toxic, according to Poison Control. If you get oven cleaner on your skin, be sure to wash the affected area thoroughly.
How long should you wait to use the oven after using oven cleaner?
After using oven cleaner, wipe the surface with a clean, damp cloth. When you’re ready to bake something, our Test Kitchen recommends turning the oven to 300ºF and letting it heat for 15 to 30 minutes. Be sure to turn on your kitchen exhaust fan to eliminate any remaining fumes. Once you’ve completed this extra step, your oven is safe to use.
Check Out More Test Kitchen-Preferred Products
Our Test Kitchen is constantly testing kitchen gadgets, cleaning gear and food looking for brands that deserve the right to be called Test-Kitchen Preferred.
Originally Published: March 08, 2019
