How to Clean an Oven Naturally with Baking Soda and Vinegar | June 23, 2025

You’ve probably heard it before: An oven’s self-cleaning function can be super stinky. So stinky, in fact, I don’t recommend running it, well, ever. Just because there’s a better way. In advance of the holidays, it’s as good a time as any to talk about that better way to clean your oven.

I have a completely safe, natural, and effective method to get the job done — no harsh chemicals and no high-heat auto-cleaning with smoke detector funny business. It takes a little time and some elbow grease, but the payoff is well worth it. Plus, you most likely have everything you need to take on this project already in your cupboards.

How to Clean Your Oven Naturally
When I first moved into my house, the oven was coated with a suspicious black, sticky grime. It was as if someone had roasted a dozen whole chickens without using a pan. My first instinct was to run the auto-cleaning setting (which would have been a terrible idea, because our oven is more than 20 years-old). This basically turns up the heat to a point where anything left inside is burnt to a crisp, which you can then wipe out once it cools. It kind of works, but in some cases actually makes everything worse, and in our case set off the smoke detectors — most likely a red flag.

What’s the alternative? You can buy harsh chemicals that will eat through any remaining debris, but the fumes are strong enough to singe off your eyebrows. The accompanying dizziness probably isn’t worth it, either.

 

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