How To Clean A Glass Oven Door

I’m going to be honest: I don’t remember the last time I cleaned my oven . It’s one of those appliances that you just forget to clean until the pizza cheese melts to the bottom of the oven and you suddenly remember that you need to actually maintain the machine. This includes cleaning the glass oven door.

According to the experts, you can’t clean a glass oven door in the same manner you’d clean the rest of your oven. Below, we’ve gathered best practices and tips on how often to clean a glass oven door, how to actually clean it, and what not to do.

Dirty Glass Oven Door

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What You'll Need

  • Vinegar
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Baking soda
  • Dawn Dish Soap
  • Non-abrasive sponge
  • Optional: Stainless steel cleaner, such as Bar Keeper's Friend

How To Clean The Outside of a Glass Oven Door

To clean the outside of the glass oven door, San Angelo suggests using a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water and a microfiber cloth to wipe down the glass. “If your oven is stainless steel, you want to use a stainless steel cleaner like Bar Keeper's Friend to wipe down the stainless steel parts,” she explains.

How To Clean The Inside of a Glass Oven Door

Cleaning the inside of your oven glass is easy but may require some elbow grease. “I like to mix a 1/2 cup of baking soda and water to make a paste—I also add a few drops of Dawn dish soap,” says San Angelo. “The baking soda is abrasive and Dawn cuts grease. Spread it on the glass and let sit for 15 minutes.  Then take a non-abrasive sponge and scrub. Wipe with paper towels or microfiber cloth.”

If you find that the baking soda solution isn’t coming off as easily, Ruenz suggests creating a vinegar and water solution—one part distilled white vinegar to four parts water. “Dip a clean, lint-free cloth into the solution, and then rinse away the baking soda paste you used to scrub the surface clean,” she suggests. “Then dry and buff the glass with a clean microfiber cloth to add a streak-free shine. Routine wiping away food particles and smudges with a damp cloth will help avoid the tougher deep cleaning later on.”

Don’t forget that there is a space between the front of the oven door and the inside. “Your oven door basically has two glass panes with space in the middle,” explains San Angelo. “Sometimes that space can get dirty and grimy as well. Unfortunately, the only way to clean this part is to take the oven door off of the stove and clean it.”

How Often To Clean a Glass Oven Door

How often you clean your glass oven door really depends on how often you actually use your oven and how messy your meals are. “If you are diligent in wiping away spills immediately, the frequency in which you need to clean the door will greatly diminish,” explains Jessica Ruenz, Vice President of Maid Right .

Sara San Angelo, a professional home cleaner and founder of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady in Charleston, South Carolina, suggests cleaning the outside of your oven door when you clean your kitchen.  “The front of the oven door tends to get much dirtier than the outside with spills from cooking on the stovetop,” explains San Angelo. “Clean the inside of the door when you clean your oven, or if there are noticeable splatters on it.”

What Not To Do When Cleaning a Glass Oven Door

Never clean the glass while it is hot. “Let the oven cool down all the way before you clean the glass,” suggests San Angelo. Additionally, try not to use any harsh cleaners or a really abrasive solution that may damage the surface.

If you’re wondering whether the “self-cleaning” mode on your oven will clean the glass oven door, the answer is: it’s complicated. “The self-cleaning mode heats your oven up to 900 degrees and incinerates everything in the oven,” explains San Angelo. “This includes on the glass—you may still need to wipe the glass after the self-cleaning cycle is done, but always make sure your oven is fully cooled.”

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