How to Steam Clean Your Oven
Few appliances in our homes get as dirty as our ovens. Not only do food splashes and drips get into the inside casing, but the heat bakes on these bits of food. Grease also cakes the sides. Little wonder that so many homeowners find cleaning the oven a nightmare. No other chore is likely eliciting so many groans. Ugh!
Even when you do get to work, to remove the layer of grease, baked-in cheese, and the dribbled remains of last week’s casserole, you must use the strongest hazardous chemicals. Over cleaners, like caustic soda, dichloromethane, and ethylene glycol, are serious stuff. The fumes alone are likely to leave you lightheaded.
Surely, there’s another way? There is.
Steam cleaning is one of the most effective ways to de-gunk your oven. You may have heard of steam cleaning a carpet or even clothes, but it also works well for ovens – and it’s simple.
Here’s how to steam clean your oven.
Be sure to consult your Sub-Zero & Wolf appliance manuals for specific instructions on how to maintain and clean your high-end appliances.
What is a steam clean oven?
In a nutshell, it’s precisely what it says: you use steam to loosen the soils and grime coating your oven, allowing you to wipe it clean without any hazardous chemicals. Thousands of homeowners swear by it as their go-to method to clean their oven – no matter how dirty it’s become.
Best of all, you can steam your oven again and again without any negative effects. So, if there’s a particularly stubborn bit of baked-on food, repeat the process for perfect results.
Does steam cleaning work?
Oven steam cleaning 100% works. For smaller messes and routine cleaning, steam cleaning is the best solution. For grime-laden ovens, a single steam clean may not be as effective. In such cases, repeating the process is advised to produce the best results.
Even if you do rely on hazardous chemicals, it’s well worth conducting a steam clean first to loosen up the dirt. You’ll find it easier to remove and need fewer chemicals.
How to steam clean an oven?
To steam clean your oven, you’ll need something to hold the water. We advise using a Dutch oven or some similar casserole dish. You’ll also need a cloth to wipe down the oven afterwards.
Supplies
- 2 cups distilled or filtered water
- White vinegar (optional)
- Baking soda or non-abrasive cleaner (optional)
- Cleaning rag
- Oven safe pot
- Sponge
Step 1: Remove everything from the oven.
Before starting, you’ll want to remove any racks, pots, or oven accessories you store inside your oven.
Step 2: Wipe the oven.
You may want to give the oven an initial wipe-over to loosen some of the dirt and remove the leftover crumbs inside. This stage is optional, however. The oven should be completely cool before wiping.
Step 3: Set your oven temperature
More modern ovens come with a specialized steam cleaning option. If so, you can simply press the clean steam button and go relax. Otherwise, you’ll want to turn the oven to 450 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Add the water
You can either pour the water directly onto the bottom of the oven (if a cavity is present) or place a pot containing around 2 cups of water into the oven. If you choose the latter option, return a rack to the oven for the pot – do not place the pot directly on the bottom. Place the rack in the lowest position.
It’s important to use filtered or distilled water for steam cleaning. Minerals deposits can occur otherwise. We advise reading the manufacturer’s recommendations whenever you steam clean your oven.
If the oven is extra dirty, you can add some white vinegar to the water for additional cleaning power. Leave the water in the oven for up to an hour for an effective clean.
Step 5: Wipe down once cool
After the cleaning is finished, remove the water from the oven. Allow the oven to cool, then wipe down the internal cavity. Use an old rag or sponge to clean up the grime.
If you’ve got some stubborn grime that still isn’t coming up, we advise using a water and baking soda solution with a sponge. That should break it down enough to remove.
Final thoughts
Steam cleaning works best when performed regularly. The longer you leave your oven, the more baked-in grime becomes – like a stain that’s left to soak in. Steam alone isn’t sufficient for all grime and stuck-on food. However, it’s always more effective than not doing so – trust us, we’ve seen a lot of dirty ovens.
Most of all, remember to check your oven’s instructions before performing a steam clean. You should always follow the manufacturer’s advice.
C&W Appliance Service can help service your appliances when you need it! Helping service the Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, San Marcos areas for 60 years. Call us at (855) 358-1496 or submit our online service request form for prompt service.
