Preheat your oven to 80°C (175°F).

Simultaneously, bring a saucepan of water to boil.

Once your oven is warm, shut it off.

On the top oven rack, position your ovenproof dish filled with white vinegar. Place your saucepan with water on a lower rack. Close the oven door.

(Tip: Boiling vinegar water and using it directly works too!)

Now, let it work its magic overnight! The next steps are for the following day:

Open your oven, letting the vinegar steam clear. If it’s too strong, crack open a window.

Take out the saucepan and vinegar dish. Mix a bit of dish soap into the vinegar. Use this concoction to scrub down your oven’s insides. Rinse and wipe.

If you’re up for a slightly bubbly experience, sprinkle some baking soda on the oven surfaces before scrubbing with your vinegar-soaked sponge. Just remember, use them quickly together to get the best scrubbing power!

Why Does This Work?

Vinegar’s cleaning prowess combined with the warmth of your oven results in a steam that can soften and dissolve the most stubborn oven gunk.

Extra Tips: If vinegar isn’t on hand, lemon juice is a great alternative and leaves a fresh scent. To give your microwave a quick clean, heat up a bowl of vinegar or lemon-infused water inside.

Your oven does a lot for you, so show it some love with this gentle, green cleaning method!