It’s one of the jobs that everyone puts off. Because it takes time and effort, cleaning the oven is a thankless task but can be made easier when you use a quality oven cleaner. This is where you need to make a sensible purchase though as some can be difficult to use, whilst others are close too dangerous.
The better oven cleaners make the process simple and safe and will be easy to use. How do you tell a good product from a bad one? We have created a list of the best products to take the pain out of researching and you should find that any of the following does a great job of making your oven sparkle.
Quick Summary of Best Oven Cleaners
Easy Off Professional Fume Free Max Oven Cleaner
Professional grade and fume-free are two of the things you want to see on the label of an oven cleaner and when it comes to reputable brands, you also want to see Easy Off. Their popular oven cleaner is tough on baked-on spills and is ideal for larger jobs as well as everyday uses like spot cleaning. There is no need for protective gloves which says a lot about the safety of this product and with a pleasant lemon scent, it can be used on ovens and grills without the risk of harmful fumes. It is one of the easiest products to use thanks to the spray on and leave before wiping without having to scrub intensely to lift old stains. An all-round impressive oven cleaner that makes a daunting task easy.
- No need for protective gloves
- Lemon scent
- Can be used for spot cleaning
- Easy to wipe off without scrubbing
- Fume free but still have to open windows
Puracy Natural All Purpose Cleaner
The words natural and oven cleaner don’t often go hand in hand but this product from Puracy only enhances their impressive reputation. The New York Times voted it the best all-purpose cleaner so it is no surprise that it was created by Drs. We like that it cleans any surface without leaving streaks and the plant-based formula is tough on various stains such as oil, grease, soda, tree sap, grime, lipstick, and a lot more. You can use it on pretty much any hard surface so ovens, hardwood floors, kitchen tops, painted surfaces are just a few of the areas you can spray this 25 oz bottle on. The non-toxic formula is safe to use in households with children and pets and is hypoallergenic and made in the USA. You get around 250 applications per bottle but a lot of people opt for this 2-pack to make sure they always have some to hand.
- Natural non-toxic formula
- Tough on grease, oil, and various stains
- NY Times voted it the best all-purpose cleaner
- Made in the USA
- Not as effective on glass
Astonish️ Oven & Cookware Cleaner 150g
This effective oven cleaner offers good value at the price and is available in larger packs for those who like to clean their oven regularly, and wish to save money. It is great for general use as not only is it tough on oven stains but it can also clean and brighten bathtubs, pans, chrome, metal, glass or ceramic stoves, shower doors, and a lot more. A lot of people are pleased to find that it is biodegradable and non-toxic so it is not harsh on the skin and is cruelty-free. It comes as an easy to use paste that is tough on old stains so be sure to keep the container is closed tight or risk the rest of the tub drying out.
- Good value
- Tough on stains and works on a multitude of surfaces
- Cruelty free
- Does require some scrubbing
Green Gobbler Heavy Duty Oven, Grill, BBQ & Range Hood Cleaner
What you want from an oven cleaner is a product that is safe to use. Green Gobbler has created this versatile product so that it does not create toxic fumes. Another box you want these products to tick is that they ensure you have minimal input and there is nowhere near as much scrubbing involved with this formula. It has a high ph content but one that is non-corrosive to skin. It clings to vertical surfaces so it is fine to spray it on the walls of your oven and stays there for a long time to work its magic. We like it because you don’t have to buy a separate formula for your grills, smokehouse, range hood, and other food prep equipment and it is tough on grease, oil, fats, soot, and more.
- Non-corrosive to skin
- No toxic fumes
- Clings to vehicle surfaces
- Not as tough on carbon
TriNova Premium Cooktop Cleaner and Scrubbing Pads
TriNova has thrown in some scrubbing pads with this purchase but the formula is so effective, you won’t need to do a lot of hard scrubbing. The non-abrasive polish is great for leaving the surface with a shine and gets rid of residue. It is tailored to woads using on the cooktop but can be used to get rid of burnt-on grease. One of the better products for getting rid of grease on glass and ceramic it doesn’t have an unpleasant smell which makes the cleaning process more bearable. The streak-free formula leaves a pleasant, shiny finish that is hard to replicate with other brands.
- Pleasant scent
- Tough on burnt on grease
- Comes with scrubbing pads
- Tailored towards cooktops
Zep Heavy-Duty Oven and Grill Cleaner
Sometimes you just need a heavy-duty oven cleaner and that is what Zep is giving you with this product. The formula is strong so it is ideal for neglected ovens that have gone way past the light cleaning stage. It eliminates grease, carbon deposits, and baked-on foods with ease and can be used on ovens, grills, pans, stainless steel, and a lot more. Because you have to wear protective clothing to use it and make sure the room is well ventilated you aren’t getting a natural product here, far from it. However, when you need a solution for a dirty oven, it is an effective oven cleaner that doesn’t take long to use.
- Tough on a variety of stains and grease
- Strong formula
- Has a strong smell
Oven Cleaner Guide
It doesn’t matter how long you have left it, even a couple of weeks’ worth of grease can be near impossible to remove from your oven without an effective product. Those who put it off for months will need something that is particularly tough on stains and although you can pick up an oven cleaner from your local store, it can be hard to know which ones are effective.
This is why we have created the following guide. It helps to make sure you know exactly what a quality product looks like so when you use it, the formula will leave your oven looking its best.
What To Look For In An Oven Cleaner
No Toxic Fumes
Your safety is paramount. It doesn’t matter what type of product you use, no one in your home should be consuming toxic fumes. The best products are safe to use and although it is always advisable to use a cleaning product in a well-ventilated area, some products are just safer than others. Before you buy the strongest formula, make sure you understand how safe it is.
Easy To Remove
The easier the oven cleaner is to remove, the less you will have to work. Scrubbing off grease can be hard work but some formulas have an easy on easy off approach. The compromise might be in the ingredients as chemicals tend to be harsher on grease making it easier to remove.
Multi-Surface Formula
After you have cleaned your oven, you might have ideas for some of the other surfaces around your home. This is where you can save money on different cleaning products. There are plenty of oven cleaners that are fine to use on your outdoor grill, cooktop, shower door, ceramic tiles, bathtub and a lot of other surfaces.
Fast Cleaning
Although you’d rather wait for an oven cleaner to lift grease and stains that have to scrub for minutes at a time, it is always better if you aren’t having to open all your windows and keep everyone out the kitchen for 20 minutes. There are plenty of products that can be left for 5 – 10 minutes before you can clean them off.
Heavy-Duty Vs Gentle Oven Cleaners
Sometimes you just want to go with the strongest product possible to make the process easier. No one wants to have to use elbow grease to get rid of the real stuff. However, there is something to be said for the gentler cleaners and a lot of them are as tough on stubborn, aged stains as the heavy-duty counterparts. Here is what to expect from both:
Heavy-Duty Oven Cleaners
As the name suggests, you are more likely to encounter a long list of chemicals in the formula for these products. They are better suited to ovens that have been left a while between cleans and are hard on grime that has been baked on time and again.
Always read the safety precautions and instructions before using as you will need protective clothing including gloves but what you do get is a strong formula that does more of the lifting so you spend less time scrubbing.
Gentle Oven Cleaners
Some very effective oven cleaners don’t use chemicals that you can’t pronounce and they are well suited to those who are particularly sensitive to the harsher ingredients.
These are also good for homes with pets and young children although some are more natural than others. A lot of the time you will have to scrub a little harder and even apply two or three times but the benefit is in the safety.
How To Use An Oven Cleaner
This will vary depending on the brand you use as their instructions will differ depending on the strength of the formula and the application method. However, there are a few things to remember that tend to work for most brands.
Preparation
Before you apply the oven cleaner there are a few steps to remember. always remove the accessories from the oven such as the shelves. Most of the time, these are cleaned separately. Now you can use a paint scraper to lift any large burnt pieces of food from the base or sides of the oven and remove them before applying the cleaner.
Apply Cleaner
Adhering to the instructions and wearing the recommended protective clothing if necessary, this is where you will spray or wipe the cleaner onto the oven. Check what surfaces they can be used on as some advise you to avoid the heating element and door seals. Now leave it to work on the grease and stains for the stated time, there is no set period as each brand will differ in strength.
Scrub and Wipe
Using a brush, scrub and remove the grease and debris. This may or may not involve a bit of hard labor depending on the strength of the oven cleaner you use which will affect how long it takes. When you have lifted the grime it is time to wipe the surfaces down. Paper towels are ideal for this as they dry the area and make it easier to pick up debris.
Clean Up
The final stage is applying the glossy finish using a cloth to give it a shine. If the cleaner has done its job, it shouldn’t require a second application but the more natural products might. After this, you will want to soak the tools, gloves, and cloths used so they can be used again.
Are Oven Cleaners Safe?
This depends on the product. The more heavy-duty the product, the more precautions you will have to take to stay safe as chemicals can cause breathing difficulties and irritation if not used properly.
Some cleaners are completely safe to use but remember that with the more natural products you might have to apply more than once and require more scrubbing.
What Is The Best Oven Cleaner?
There is an oven cleaner for everyone’s preferences so if you want a natural product, you can use something like Puracy Natural All-Purpose Cleaner. As well as heavy-duty products there are those that are somewhere in between such as Easy Off Professional Fume Free Max Oven Cleaner.
This is what we consider to be the best oven cleaner because not only is is a fume-free product, you do not need to wear protective gloves when using it and it is effective on grease,