The Clever Oven-Cleaning Trick That'll Be A Game-Changer For Your Kitchen

Cleaning the oven might be one of the most intimidating chores. For starters, the appliance is large and awkward to maneuver around. It's also easy to overlook it while tackling your kitchen cleaning checklist. Besides, when the oven door is closed and the light is turned off, who can even tell it's dirty inside? (Not us!) Still, regularly cleaning the oven is essential for removing food residue, which helps reduce the risk of oven fires. The habit will also keep your oven in good shape, potentially extending its lifespan. That's why it's so worth exploring easy and affordable oven cleaning hacks for a spotless appliance — starting with using a toothbrush!

It might sound strange, but toothbrushes will transform the way you clean your oven. Why? The bristles gently scrub debris off of the appliance's surfaces, which are made of porcelain or stainless steel. Traditional tools like steel wool and wire brushes are highly abrasive, so they're more likely to damage those materials, potentially making the surface harder to clean and more prone to rust and wear. What's more, the narrow shape of a toothbrush is useful for cleaning tight crevices in the oven that a larger cleaning brush couldn't reach. And since you probably already have an old toothbrush destined for the trash, this hack makes it easy to repurpose the item.

To clean the interior surfaces of your oven, start by removing the metal racks. Next, grab an old toothbrush and your go-to cleaning solution. Note that many oven cleaners contain harsh chemicals that could be harmful to your health and potentially the oven's liner, so you may want to use a natural cleaner instead. A safe option is a simple baking soda paste, which you can make with 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. For extra cleaning power, feel free to add vinegar or dish soap with a degreaser. Dip the old toothbrush in the paste, and scrub the inside of your oven, corners and all. Another option is to apply the paste and let it sit overnight before cleaning with the toothbrush.

As for the metal racks? While you could use steel wool and wire brushes for this part, a toothbrush will get the job done, especially in those tight joints where the wires meet and grime has a tendency to build up. To clean the racks, place them in the bathtub (or in an extra-large sink, if you have one), plug the drain, and fill it with hot water. Add a dishwasher tablet to the water, let the racks soak for several hours, and scrub them with your toothbrush. Rinse off the debris, and wipe them down with a sponge, if needed.

To take this hack even further, try making the ultimate cleaning device with two toothbrushes. Simply tie the toothbrushes together with the bristles facing each other. Place the toothbrushes around each wire of the rack so there's a toothbrush head on each side. When you slide the tool down the wire, it will clean both sides with ease. Pretty cool, right?