Ovens are the kitchen appliances that are used the most. While cleaning the kitchen, in general, is one of the least favourite activities when it comes to house maintenance, cleaning the oven itself is probably even higher on the list.
If your oven has a glass door, with time, you will notice that stains and grease splatters occur, preventing you from being able to see how your favourite meals are cooking. There are numerous benefits to having a glass door on your oven. A solid glass oven door, or even a glass pane, looks sleek and modern, and it allows you to see what’s cooking in the oven without opening the door and letting heat escape. It becomes a disadvantage when a glass door or oven window becomes dirty from food splatters, baked-on grease, or finger smudges. Fortunately, this tempered glass, normally two layers thick, can be cleaned with a few household items.
Before cleaning your glass oven door it is best to check the manufacturer’s instructions. That way, you will be able to avoid damage and use the most suitable method for the particular oven model that you have. If you don’t have the handbook, look it up online. This is particularly important if you need to clean between the glass panels, which may require the removal and disassembly of the door. The warranty of the oven may be cancelled if the door is disassembled.
Cleaning a glass oven door the right way:
- Wipe away the spills
If splatters occur while you are cooking and the oven is hot, quickly wipe them away using a microfiber cloth or another rag. Make sure you do not attempt to clean the oven while it is still hot. Regular wiping of grease and food particles will ensure that your oven stays clean for longer. - Cleaning the glass
Wait until the oven is completely cool before cleaning the outside of the glass door. Dampen a lint-free microfiber cloth with a degreaser-containing all-purpose cleaner. With a wet cloth, wipe away food particles and smudges from the door. If there is baked-on food, use a small bit of baking soda, as a soft abrasive on the cloth. Using a wet microfiber towel to clean the door. Using a dry microfiber cloth, buff to a streak-free sheen. - Cleaning the inside of a glass oven door
If you spill food on the internal glass of a hot oven, sprinkle it with salt to help absorb the moisture. Wipe away the spill with a paper towel if it is safe to do so. If not, wait until the glass has cooled. Leave the cleaning of the glass door as the last step if you are cleaning your whole oven manually. - Cleaning tough grease and stains
If you don’t regularly clean your glass oven door, food splatters, grease and other baked-on grime may build up. To remove those, follow the steps below:- Combine baking soda and a few drops of water to make a paste. Allow at least 10 minutes for the paste to perform its magic on the glass.
- Apply the cleaning solution and carefully scrub the glass with a microfiber cloth or a non-abrasive sponge.
- Combine one part distilled white vinegar and four parts water in a solution.
- Rinse away the baking soda paste with a clean lint-free microfiber towel dipped in clean water.
- With a microfiber towel, dry and buff the glass to a streak-free sheen.
- Regular cleaning of glass oven doors
Use the same paste to regularly clean splatters from your glass door. You can also make a solution of water and a degreasing dishwashing liquid to remove built-up grease and other grime.
If the area between the two glasses is dirty, it is best to call a professional. Cleaning the mess there will require disassembling the door and the glass panel. Doing this by yourself may end up causing damage to your oven and terminating the warranty of your appliance.
A technician can assist you in disassembling the door without damaging the glass, the insulation, or the seal around the door. The technician can also offer advice on proper cleaning between the glass panels.
Make sure you clean splatters and spills as soon as they occur. Leaving them in the oven will cause greasy buildup which will be hard to get rid of. The frequency of oven cleaning is determined by how frequently and in what manner you use your oven, but the interior should be cleaned each time you use it. Unless you have spilled food on the door and it has leaked between the layers of glass through the vent apertures, cleaning between the layers of glass is typically not necessary. Cleaning methods for glass oven doors are also applicable to self-cleaning ovens, toaster ovens, tiny convection ovens, and microwaves.