Oven racks can be dirty and hard to clean. While they are difficult to clean, they’re not impossible. We’ll show you how to get your oven racks sparkling again by discussing the proper techniques for cleaning them in your own home.
Over the years, people have been using both store-bought and homemade products to clean their oven racks. The truth is, that oven racks can be tricky to restore. You must be careful when cleaning them because they can rust easily.
Cleaning your oven racks requires a little extra effort, but the reward is great because you’ll end up with clean, functional oven racks that will help you keep your kitchen looking nice and new.
How Often Should You Clean Oven Racks?
In terms of how often you should clean your oven racks, it depends. Once or twice a year is good for most homes, especially if major spills are cleaned up right away. It becomes less of a chore if the oven is wiped down after big spills or after cooking a large meal.
If you’re cooking most meals at home, it is recommended to clean the oven more often, like four to five times per year. Hensley also recommends wiping down racks immediately after cooking directly on the rack.
How to Clean Oven Racks?
How to Clean Oven Racks in Bathtub
- Lay an old towel in the bottom of the tub and place the oven racks on top. Add enough very hot water to cover the oven racks, then pour in up to 1/2 cup of dishwashing soap (or up to 3/4 cup laundry detergent). Let sit overnight.
- If you’re low on detergent but have ample supplies of baking soda, sprinkle it over the oven racks instead, then douse them with distilled white vinegar. Once the foaming stops, add very hot water to the tub, submerge the racks, and let sit overnight.
- In the morning, scrub the racks with an old dish towel to remove grease and grime. Use an old toothbrush to dislodge any stubborn baked-on mess. For really tough bits, add salt to the toothbrush to make the scrubbing more abrasive.
- Rinse the racks thoroughly before returning them to the oven.
How to Clean Oven Racks with Dryer Sheets & Dishwashing Liquid
- Place oven racks in a bathtub, washtub, or sink and fill with very hot water. Add a few squirts of dishwashing liquid to degrease the racks.
- Add a handful of dryer sheets and swirl. The water should become foamy. Tip: Used dryer sheets ought to work as well as fresh ones!
- After several hours or overnight, drain the water and wipe the racks with the dryer sheets. Any gunk that didn’t wash off in the bath will slide off easily, and the racks should shine like new.
- Rinse well and replace.
How to Clean an Oven Rack with Dishwasher Pods or Detergent
Put your dirty oven racks in the bathtub, cover them with hot water, then add 1 cup of powdered dishwasher detergent (or dishwasher pods) and agitate the water until the powder dissolves.
Let the racks soak overnight, then rinse and dry them in the morning. (For any remaining stubborn bits of gunk, use something abrasive like washing soda to remove the grease.)
How to Clean Oven Racks with Baking Soda & Vinegar
You can also take advantage of the fizzy reaction between baking soda and vinegar to clean oven racks. Just put the racks in your tub, sprinkle baking soda generously over them, then pour vinegar over the top. When the fizzing stops, cover the racks with hot water and leave them to soak overnight, then rinse clean in the morning.
How to Clean Oven Racks with Steel Wool & Soapy Water
This particular method has a couple of advantages — it’s safe for stainless steel racks, and there’s no overnight waiting period. It will likely require quite a bit of scrubbing though, depending on how dirty the racks are. Just head outside when it’s nice out, get the racks wet, and scrub them with steel wool dipped into soap water.
How to Clean Oven Racks with Ammonia
- Outside or in a ventilated area, place oven racks into a clean trash bag. Add 1 pint of ammonia. Tie the bag closed and let sit overnight.
- In the morning, ensure that the area is well-ventilated, as when you open the bag the ammonia fumes will be even stronger.
- Remove the racks and rinse thoroughly (no scrubbing should be necessary) with a garden hose or in the shower, then replace them in the oven.
How to Clean Oven Racks with Ready-to-Use Oven Cleaners
Clean Oven Racks with Bar Keepers Friend
Bar Keepers Friend cleaning power comes from oxalic acid, an organic compound found in many fruits and vegetables. Using this cleaning method doesn’t require soaking. This is the most effective method and requires very little time and elbow grease.
Bar Keepers Friend will not damage your other kitchen surfaces if it splashes, but I’d still recommend doing this in the tub with an old towel to protect the tub or do it outside.
- In a small bowl, make a paste with water and Bar Keepers Friend, the original powder-formula cleanser made of mineral abrasive, oxalic acid, surfactant, and a water-softening agent.
- Place oven racks in the kitchen sink and spray lightly with water.
- Using a scrubber sponge or pad, apply the paste and scour gently to remove grease, grime, and residue.
- Rinse the racks and replace them in your oven.
Easy-Off Oven Cleaner
Store-bought commercial oven cleaners like Easy-Off Oven Cleaner can help you get oven and grill racks deep cleaned, and they even have a “fume-free” formula now. Take the racks outside and set them on a drop cloth, a few plastic bags, or whatever you won’t mind throwing out. Spray the oven cleaner onto the racks according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then wipe clean with a rag.
FAQs
Can oven racks be self-cleaned?
It’s not recommended to leave the racks in self-cleaning oven during a self-clean cycle. Oven racks will typically discolor to a deep gray after self-cleaning. To keep the luster, the racks should cleaned with soap and water rather than cleaned in the oven’s self-cleaning cycle.
What is the easiest way to clean oven racks?
For standard cleaning, use a soapy sponge and hot water to wipe the racks. For stubborn messes, soak oven racks in hot water, dish soap, and a couple of scoops of baking soda. Let the racks soak in this mixture for 15 to 30 minutes before scrubbing clean with a soft sponge.
What is the best way to clean the baking rack?
For discolored oven racks, place racks in the sink, spritz them with white vinegar, and sprinkle baking soda all over them. Watch the mixture fizz, and let it sit for several minutes until the grease dissolves.
How to clean oven racks with aluminum foil?
Wrap your entire oven rack in aluminum foil, then set down a couple of dish towels in your bathtub. Put the oven racks in your bathtub and add a half cup of dish soap to your bathtub. Submerge the oven racks in hot water and let it soak for at least an hour. Unwrap the foil and remove the oven racks.
Remember to keep your kitchen well-ventilated and ensure that any kids and pets will be out of the way during cleaning, especially if you plan on using any commercial cleaners!
For more cleaning tips and tricks, check out our blog full of helpful DIYs and cleaning methods for around the house. Be sure to also check out all of the services that our professional house cleaners in Boston have to offer. We’re here to help you make sure your home stays happy and healthy all year long!
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