Have an oven rack disaster on your hands? Maybe you’re just curious about maintaining your oven’s pristine cleanliness. If you’re wondering how to clean oven racks, these tips are for you.
How Often Should You Clean Oven Racks?
No one likes a dirty, grimy oven. But how often are you really supposed to clean your racks? If you’re not sure, you’re not alone.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a simple and straightforward answer. The frequency with which you should clean oven racks depends on how and how much you use them.
With typical use, you should aim to clean your oven racks once every three to six months. Watch out for buildup, and clean more frequently if needed!
Safety Precautions
Cleaning your oven racks can potentially involve irritants to your skin and lungs. Yuck! That is why it’s so essential to take the proper safety precautions.
While you can choose more natural cleaning methods (more on these below), even these can be irritating. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
So what safety precautions should you be taking when it’s time to clean the racks in your oven? Here are some of the best recommendations we have.
Wear Rubber Gloves
First, you should always wear rubber gloves when cleaning your oven’s racks. This protects your skin from irritants that can cause rashes and dry skin.
Choose rubber gloves that are thick enough to avoid tearing during potentially vigorous scrubbing. There’s nothing worse than a rubber glove full of dirty water.
If you consistently wear rubber gloves while cleaning, you can prevent premature aging of the skin on your hands. And really, who doesn’t want that?
Ensure Proper Ventilation
Another potential hazard when cleaning your oven is the fumes from certain cleaning compounds. That’s why proper ventilation is so key to protecting your safety.
If you’re cleaning the racks in your home, make sure you have windows open in the room. You can also set up a fan for circulation.
Using cleaning solutions in a closed room without good circulation can lead to throat irritation and dizziness. We don’t know about you, but we’ll pass on that.
Wear a Mask if Using Chemicals
If you’re using commercial oven cleaner, it’s also a good idea to put on a mask. This provides extra protection against inhaling potentially harmful chemicals.
You can use a basic medical mask, or find one with a carbon filter. You can also wear eye protection if you’re concerned about eye irritation.
Again, this tip is especially useful if you’re using commercial or heavy cleaning products. But it can also be helpful if you choose a more natural route.
Where to Clean Oven Racks Safely
An often-overlooked question related to cleaning oven racks safely is: where? You might assume you can just clean them right where they are, in the oven.
But doing this is not only more difficult in the long run — it’s also not as effective and potentially dangerous. For one, you can’t get proper ventilation.
You also can’t effectively get into all those grooves, knicks, and crannies that might be hiding grime. So where should you clean your racks?
Outside
We recommend cleaning this component of your oven outside whenever possible. If you have a patio, porch, or yard, this is the perfect place for some scrubbing.
Cleaning the racks outside gives you all the ventilation you could possibly need. It also helps you avoid damaging the other surfaces in your kitchen.
The cleaning products used to scrub your oven racks can be harmful to granite countertops or tile floors. Outside, you don’t have to worry about collateral damage.
In the Bathtub
Many people don’t have access to an outdoor space where they can use cleaning products safely. A popular solution in this situation is to use a bathtub.
The bathtub is convenient because you have easy access to water for rinsing. Unfortunately, you could still run into issues with your cleaning products damaging the ceramic.
We suggest lining the bottom of your tub with towels to help prevent damage to the surface. You can also soak the racks this way.
In a Plastic Tote
One ingenious method is to use a large plastic tote instead of your beloved bathtub. Ideally, you’ll use one that can get a little bit damaged.
This method allows you to take your work outside or do it on the floor of the kitchen. Just make sure your tote is big enough.
The biggest benefit of this strategy is that it lets you soak your oven racks without worrying about damaging other surfaces. It also means easier cleanup afterward.
On the Floor
If all else fails, you can clean the racks on the floor or countertop in your kitchen. Just make sure to protect the surface as best you can.
Line the surface with a cushion of rags or towels. This helps keep the metal rack from trapping any cleaning solution against the surface.
And as already mentioned, you’ll need to make sure you have proper ventilation in the room. Remove pets and children, and give yourself plenty of time.
What to Use
Now let’s get into the nitty-gritty of cleaning those grimy oven racks. What exactly is the best cleaning solution for this situation?
People swear by different methods and solutions for this process. Some involve specialized cleaning solutions, while others use things you probably already have on hand.
For this cleaning task, you can choose household cleaning products you already have around. Alternatively, you could choose a natural approach or use specialized products.
Soak in Dish Detergent
Dish detergent is useful for just about everything. And this application is no different. If you have a bottle of dish soap, you’re ready to get started.
Even better is a pack of high-powered dish detergent pods. These are even more concentrated, so they can work faster and more effectively to remove tough grime.
Mix or dissolve three pods in boiling hot water. Put this water in your tub or tote, and soak the oven racks over 24 hours.
Scrub with Sudsy Dryer Sheets
An effective addition to the dish detergent method is to use dryer sheets. Dryer sheets actually help soften baked-on food and grease. Makes sense, right?
First, soak the dryer sheets in warm, soapy water for a few hours. After their sudsy soak, use the dryer sheets to vigorously scrub your oven racks.
This is especially useful as a follow-up method after soaking oven racks in soapy water overnight. It’s a real one-two punch for stubborn grease and grime.
Bar Keepers Friend
Bar Keepers Friend is a powdered cleaning product made from oxalic acid. This chemical component makes it a powerful tool for removing stuck-on oven messes.
To use this for your oven racks, mix the cleanser with water to create a paste. Then, use a sponge to scrub the racks using the paste.
Focus on areas with built-up grease and grime for a little extra elbow grease. After scrubbing the racks, rinse them well with clean water and let dry.
Commercial Oven Cleaner
Cleaning your oven racks with a commercial oven cleaner is a straightforward process that can easily yield sparkling results if executed correctly! No DIY skills required.
First, remove the racks from the oven and place them in a well-ventilated area. Spray the racks generously with the commercial cleaner, ensuring complete coverage.
Let the cleaner penetrate the grime for the recommended time, typically around 15-20 minutes. Then, scrub the racks with a sponge or brush, and rinse thoroughly.
Wrap and Soak Racks Aluminum Foil
A clever hack for cleaning oven racks involves wrapping them in aluminum foil before soaking them in soapy water. It might sound strange, but it works!
Just remove the racks from your oven, and wrap them in sheets of aluminum foil. Ensure that the racks are fully encased in the aluminum foil sheets.
Now place the wrapped oven racks in a tub, and place one dish soap capsule on top of each. Add warm water, and let the racks soak overnight.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
For a more natural method of cleaning oven racks, try using an old household standby: baking soda and vinegar. This effervescent combo works wonders on tough grime.
Place your racks in a bathtub or large container. Then, sprinkle baking soda generously over the racks, ensuring even coverage. Now pour on the vinegar.
A fizzy reaction should ensue, helping to loosen baked-on grime and grease. Soak the racks in this mixture for several hours or overnight. Then just scrub and rinse.
Essential Oil Paste
For a more fragrant take on the baking soda and vinegar method, try adding some essential oils to the mix. Orange essential oil, in particular, can help.
Orange essential oil contains antimicrobial terpenes, which are naturally occurring chemicals. These help clean stubborn, baked-on grime and debris and disinfect oven racks. Plus, it smells wonderful!
Create a paste using baking soda and vinegar, and add a few drops of orange essential oil. Apply the paste, and let it work its magic.
Trash Bag and Ammonia
For more difficult grime and grease, you can use ammonia to clean your oven racks. You’ll just need a cup of ammonia and a plastic garbage bag.
Place your oven racks inside the garbage bag, and pour in your cup of ammonia. Securely tie the bag closed, and place it outside in the sun.
Let it soak all day and overnight, and then remove the racks and rinse thoroughly with a garden hose. You should be left with sparkling oven racks!
Thoroughly Rinse with Clean Water
No matter what method you choose for cleaning your oven racks, it’s important to rinse your racks. Even if you use essential oils, this step is key.
Rinsing off your oven racks with clean water helps remove any lingering debris that might be hanging around. It’s important to make sure those are rinsed away.
The rinsing step also helps prevent the smells of any cleaning solution you used from leaching into your food. No one likes an ammonia-flavored apple pie!
Dry Racks Completely After Cleaning
After cleaning the racks, no matter which method you use, you’ll need to completely dry them or let them dry naturally before putting them back. Why?
Baking wet oven racks can lead to discoloration and cracking. So it’s essential to make sure they’re dry before you turn on the oven with them inside.
You can dry your oven racks using a lint-free cloth such as microfiber. An easier way is just to let your oven racks sit until they’re dry.
What About Self-Cleaning Ovens?
If you have a self-cleaning oven, you might be tempted to just leave the racks in during the clean cycle. But this isn’t the best idea.
An oven’s self-cleaning cycle uses super-high heat to turn debris into dust. As convenient as it might seem, this high heat isn’t safe for your oven racks.
Leaving the racks in your oven during a self-cleaning cycle can lead to discoloration and warping. It can also potentially damage your oven’s crucial components.
How To Keep Racks Sliding Smoothly
To ensure your oven racks slide smoothly, regular maintenance is key. Cleaning your oven racks using any of the tips above is your first step.
Next, you can apply a small amount of cooking oil or a silicone-based lubricant to the rack supports. Focus on the areas where the racks make contact.
Finally, reinsert the racks into the oven and slide them back and forth a few times to distribute the lubricant. It’s as easy as that!
How to Make Oven Racks Shiny Again
If you want your oven to look as good as new, including shimmering racks, cleaning is key. Your oven racks can’t shine if they’re covered in grime.
If, after using one of the methods above, your oven racks still aren’t glistening, try one of the other methods as a follow-up. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
After a thorough cleaning, use a non-abrasive cloth, such as microfiber, to polish the metal racks. Don’t use any commercial polishes, as these are hard to rinse off.
Avoid Steel Wool or Abrasive Cleaners
It might be tempting to get out your most abrasive steel wool to get off stubborn grease and grime. But this isn’t the best option.
Using these abrasive scrubbers can leave tiny, barely noticeable scratches on the metal. These scratches add up to create a dull look rather than a shiny luster.
Instead, try to loosen up tough grime and debris with one of the methods above. Soaking your oven racks is your best bet, and patience is key.
Tips To Keep Your Oven Racks Clean Longer
Don’t want to go through the strenuous process of deep-cleaning your oven racks every month or two? We certainly don’t blame you. We don’t, either.
Luckily, once your oven racks are glistening like new again, there are some easy ways to keep them clean for longer. Less mess, less stress.
Let’s take a look at some of these methods that will help you keep your oven racks looking like new. Future you will than you!
Use Baking Sheets and Mats
One of the easiest ways to protect your oven racks and keep them gleaming for months to come? Simply use a baking sheet or silicone mat.
Whenever you’re baking or broiling in the oven, place a metal baking sheet underneath your dish. This helps catch any spills before they muck up the rack.
You can even line the baking sheet with a silicone baking mat to make cleanup a breeze. Alternatively, a simple sheet of aluminum foil can work, too.
Aluminum Foil Wraps and Cooking Bags
Cooking grease and debris can’t dirty up your oven racks if it can’t reach them. That’s where cooking bags and aluminum foil come into play.
Cooking bags are an often-overlooked staple for keeping your oven clean. Simply place the dish inside, seal it up, and you’re ready to bake or roast.
Just covering your dish in aluminum foil is another way to achieve similar results. Make sure to close up any seams where grease and grime could escape.
Clean Up Spills Immediately
It can be tempting to just pull your dish out of the oven and go. But for a spotless oven, it’s essential to check for messes right away.
Leaving a mess in the oven to set in is your worst enemy if you want a clean oven. These messes bake on over time.
Instead, when you’re finished baking, roasting, or broiling, check for spills. Clean them up with a gentle cloth and some soapy hot water, then wipe with clean water.
Make Your Oven Shine Like New Again
Cleaning oven racks doesn’t have to be a struggle. In the quest for gleaming oven racks, patience and regular maintenance are your best friends and allies.
Getting those pesky stains and spills off may take several rounds of soaking and scrubbing. But in the end, your patience will pay off with a sparkling shine.
The best tool in your kit for keeping those oven racks shining is prevention and maintenance. Protect your oven racks, and clean up those spills right away!