According to Katie Cloyd, researcher and journalist, you can remove stubborn stains and debris from your oven using nothing but water and a few pantry ingredients. Martha Stewart published her findings, and am I glad she did!

Commercial oven cleaners are so harsh, time-consuming, expensive, and not that effective. So when I saw Katie’s suggestion, I was ready to give it a try. She explained, “…in place of harsh chemicals, you can use the power of steam to loosen stubborn grime and grease. Making it easier to wipe away residue, steam cleaning is an eco-friendly way to tackle tough stains and leave your oven sparkling clean.”

She wasn’t kidding! Steam is a game-changer for the whole kitchen, but especially the oven. It cuts through grease, sanitizes surfaces, and eliminates endless scrubbing.  In fact, in restaurant and other commercial kitchens, equipment is typically exclusively steam-cleaned. Harsh chemical cleaners leave behind fumes and are not food-safe. So using steam is always the best approach.

It's easy to execute and very effective. There are a few approaches, depending on your oven type and the equipment you have. But for simplicity’s sake, here’s the simplest method of all, using only a pan of boiling water.

All you do is place water inside the oven and heat it up. It’s a low-tech method that requires zero special equipment and works for any oven. You need an oven-safe dish, white vinegar, baking soda, a microfiber cloth or sponge, and water.

Start by removing all but the middle rack from your oven and wipe out any large food particles. Then place an oven-safe dish filled with water and ½ cup white vinegar on the middle rack.

Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C) and let the water boil for about 20-30 minutes. Turn off the oven and let it cool just until it’s safe to touch. Finish by wiping down the warm oven, removing softened grime with a microfiber cloth or sponge. For tough stains, scrub gently with a baking soda paste before wiping clean.

You can speed up the steam-cleaning process by bringing your water to a boil before you put it in the oven. Then add the vinegar just before you close the oven door.

By ditching harsh chemicals for simple steam, you can achieve a sparkling oven using only water, vinegar, and a little heat. This eco-friendly, cost-effective method cuts through stubborn grime, making deep cleaning a breeze for any kitchen.