Get Baking Sheets Sparkling Clean With An Easy-To-Use Solution You Can DIY

Baking is all fun and games until it's time to clean up — something that's especially true when you're using baking sheets. No matter how hard you scrub, it seems they never get fully clean. Burnt-on food and grease is incredibly stubborn to remove, and many of us eventually accept that we've done all we can do and learn to live with the unsightly discoloration.

Before you give up, try this cleaning hack. Perhaps another way you never thought to use baking soda is by pairing it with white vinegar to save your baking sheets. When you put the ingredients together, they react into a fizzy substance, which can be applied to your baking sheets and help lift grime so it can be washed away with ease.

The process is inexpensive and requires very little hands-on work, but be warned it might not be good for every material. Your baking sheet's finish will determine whether or not you can use vinegar. Vinegar is a powerful cleaning agent, but don't forget it's also a harsh acid. It can react with certain materials like bare aluminum, corroding the surface and making the condition of the baking sheet even worse. For anything nonstick, double-check with the manufacturer before using this DIY since abrasive powders and scrubbers can damage the coating.

Making a cleaning solution with baking soda and vinegar is all about the order in which you combine the products. You'll start mixing water with baking soda to make a paste. Then, spread it onto the baking sheet. Let this sit for around 20 to 30 minutes before scrubbing the surface with a damp sponge. With the paste still on the baking sheet, spritz some white vinegar on top and let it fizz. Don't mix the two together beforehand, as the whole point is for the reaction to happen directly on top of the affected area. That is what's going to help lift the caked-on food residue. 

When everything looks clean, rinse the baking sheet and let it dry. It's worth noting that dark baked-on grease isn't the same as corrosion. If you spot actual rust, try this foolproof way to clean rusty baking sheets, since baking soda paste may not be enough to remove rust spots.