The best homemade oven cleaner is a simple paste of bicarbonate of soda and water. Spread it over the inside of the oven, keeping it off the heating element and fan, leave it overnight, then wipe it away and spray with white vinegar to fizz off the last of the grime. It is cheap, low-fume and genuinely effective on everyday grease. Only very heavy, burnt-on carbon tends to need a stronger shop-bought cleaner.
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The homemade oven cleaner recipe
You need just two things, plus water: bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar. The bicarb paste softens and lifts baked-on grease over several hours, and the vinegar reacts with any leftover residue to help you wipe it clean. It is the same approach the big oven-cleaning firms recommend for a natural clean.
What you will need
- About 150g (roughly half a cup) of bicarbonate of soda
- A few tablespoons of water, to make a paste
- White vinegar in a spray bottle
- Rubber gloves and a non-scratch pad or cloth
How to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar
- Take the racks out (clean those separately, see below).
- Mix the bicarbonate of soda with a little water to a spreadable paste, about the consistency of pancake batter.
- Wearing gloves, smear the paste over the inside of the oven, the back, sides, floor and door glass. Keep it off the heating element, the fan and any gas openings.
- Leave it overnight, or for around 12 hours. The paste will turn brown as it lifts the grease.
- Wipe out as much paste as you can with a damp cloth. A plastic scraper helps on stubborn bits.
- Spray white vinegar over any remaining paste. It will foam gently, loosening the last residue.
- Wipe everything clean with a damp cloth, then dry. Refit the racks once the oven is clean and dry.
For the door specifically, our guide to cleaning oven glass without scratching has extra detail, and there is a fuller walkthrough in our main how to clean an oven guide.
How to clean the oven racks
Racks are easier to do out of the oven. Two homemade options work well.
- Paste method: coat the racks in the same bicarb paste, leave for about 4 hours, then scrub and rinse.
- Soak method: lay the racks in a bath or a large bin bag with hot water and a scoop of biological washing powder, leave overnight, then rinse. Line the bath with old towels to protect it.
Our dedicated guide to cleaning oven racks compares five methods, including the dishwasher-tablet trick.
Homemade vs shop-bought oven cleaner
Homemade is not always the right choice. Here is how the two compare, so you can pick per job.
| Homemade (bicarb + vinegar) | Shop-bought (caustic) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Very low | Higher per clean |
| Fumes | Low odour | Strong, ventilate well |
| Speed | Overnight | 1 to 4 hours |
| Heavy burnt carbon | May need repeating | Fastest and most powerful |
| Best for | Everyday grease, regular upkeep | Neglected, heavily baked-on ovens |
If your oven is badly neglected, a dedicated oven cleaner such as a caustic paste or bag kit will shift thick carbon faster than bicarb can. Prefer a gentler natural route? Our guide to cleaning an oven with lemon is another low-fume option.
Safety and what to avoid
⚠️ Warning: Never smear paste or spray cleaner onto the heating element, the fan, or gas burner openings, and do not use bicarb paste on a self-cleaning (pyrolytic) or catalytic-lined oven, as it can damage the special coating. Ventilate the room, wear gloves, and if you use a caustic shop-bought cleaner, follow its label exactly and keep it off skin and eyes.
- Keep the paste off the element, fan and gas openings.
- Do not use homemade paste on self-clean or catalytic liners; wipe those with a damp cloth only.
- Never mix a caustic oven cleaner with other chemicals.
- Rinse well, so no residue smokes the next time you cook.
Two cupboard staples do most of the work, with a shop-bought cleaner on standby for the worst jobs.
Myths vs facts
| Claim | The reality |
|---|---|
| Baking soda and vinegar together make a powerful cleaner | They mostly neutralise each other. The bicarb paste does the cleaning; the vinegar just helps lift the last residue. |
| Homemade cleaner works instantly | No. The paste needs to sit, ideally overnight, to soften baked-on grease. |
| You can slap the paste anywhere in the oven | Keep it off the element, fan and self-clean coatings, which it can damage. |
| Homemade always beats shop-bought | For everyday grease, yes. For thick, neglected carbon, a caustic cleaner is faster. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best homemade oven cleaner?
A paste of bicarbonate of soda and water. Spread it over the oven interior (avoiding the element and fan), leave overnight, wipe off, then spray with white vinegar to fizz away the last residue. It is cheap, low-fume and works well on everyday grease.
How do you clean an oven with baking soda and vinegar?
Make a bicarb-and-water paste, smear it over the inside of the cool oven, and leave it overnight. Wipe out the browned paste, then spray white vinegar over any remaining residue so it foams, and wipe clean. Do the racks separately.
How long do you leave baking soda in the oven?
Ideally overnight, or around 12 hours. That long soak is what lets the paste soften and lift baked-on grease. For racks, about 4 hours with the paste, or overnight if you soak them.
Does baking soda and vinegar really clean an oven?
Yes, but it is the bicarbonate of soda doing the work. It is a mild abrasive and grease-lifter. The vinegar mainly reacts with leftover bicarb to help you wipe off the residue, rather than adding much cleaning power itself.
Is homemade oven cleaner as good as shop-bought?
For everyday grease and regular upkeep, yes, and it is far cheaper and lower-fume. For a badly neglected oven with thick burnt-on carbon, a caustic shop-bought cleaner will shift it faster. Many people use bicarb regularly and keep a shop-bought cleaner for the occasional deep clean.
Can I use baking soda paste on a self-cleaning oven?
No. Do not use bicarb paste or chemical cleaners on the special coating inside a self-cleaning (pyrolytic) or catalytic-lined oven, as it can damage it. Wipe those liners with a damp cloth only, and run the oven cleaning cycle as the manual describes.
Why should I keep the paste off the heating element?
The element and fan are not meant to be coated in paste or cleaner. Residue can bake on, smoke, or damage the parts. Keep cleaner to the walls, floor and door glass, and simply avoid the element, fan and gas openings.
How often should I clean my oven?
Wipe up spills as they happen, and give the oven a proper clean every one to three months depending on use. Regular light cleaning with the bicarb method stops grease building into the thick carbon that needs harsher cleaners.
