
As someone who uses a gas oven regularly, it is often tiresome to clean the oven. But, not cleaning the oven will cause grime to build up so I have to do some cleaning every now and then.
To clean a gas oven, you can use store-bought oven cleaners or make your own using baking soda, water, and vinegar. Letting the cleaning solution sit in the oven will make it easy to scrub off the grease and grime and this will result in a clean oven. But, if you have a self-clean oven, it can do most of the work for you.
In this article, we will go over the step-by-step process of how to clean a gas oven. Whether you have a self-clean oven or you want to do the cleaning manually, we have the solution for you.
How Often Should You Clean Your Gas Oven

How often a gas oven should be cleaned will depend on how often you use your oven. But, if you see crusts inside your oven or grease in the oven door, it’s time to take out your cleaning supplies.
Whether you are using an electric or gas oven, it is recommended to deep-clean your oven every three to six months to keep it clean and functioning. If you use the oven regularly, of course, it needs to be cleaned more often as well. Bacteria can also be prevented from spreading to any food you will cook if you clean your gas oven often.
If leftover food particles are not cleaned off, they will heat up when the oven is in use and can release carbon-based fumes. This can affect the flavor of the food and can result in a smelly oven.
Also, if you will be cleaning your oven, make sure to clean the stovetop as well.
There are different ways to clean a gas oven. Most ovens have a self-clean function where you do not need to use any cleaners to clean your oven. There are also store-bought oven cleaners but, you can also make your own oven cleaner with just a few things that you can find in your home.
Oven Cleaning Supplies You Need

If you have a self-cleaning oven, it is advised to not use commercial oven cleaners as the chemicals can damage the oven’s interior and lining. However, you can use natural products such as baking soda, distilled vinegar, water, and even lemon to clean your oven.
Here are the other supplies needed to clean your gas oven manually:
– Rubber gloves
– Microfiber cloth
– Protective eyewear
– Your choice of oven cleaner (DIY or store-bought)
– Scrub sponge
– Trash bags
– Large basin (optional)
A baking soda paste is a popular choice for a DIY oven cleaner. To make a baking soda paste, you can mix half a quarter cup of baking soda with a couple of tablespoons of water. You can adjust the mixture depending on how much you will use.
How To Clean A Gas Oven

Use The Self-clean Function
As we said earlier, most ovens have a self-clean function. The Self-clean mode is the oven heating up to over 500 degrees Celsius, or over the normal cooking temperature. This burns off leftover food particles and greases inside the oven.
Using the self-clean function can take about 3 to 5 hours depending on how dirty your oven is. Do keep in mind that the temperature is high and it will get hot so make sure to keep your kitchen well-ventilated before running a self-clean cycle.
Here’s how to clean a gas oven using the self-clean function:
1. Remove all the racks, pans, and any cookware that is inside the oven. Make sure the stovetop is clear of any pans and plastic as well.
2. Remove any large chunks of loose food if possible and remove any aluminum foil, parchment paper, or silicone mats inside the oven.
3. Wipe any noticeable grease with soapy water and dry with a microfiber cloth.
4. Once your oven is completely empty and you have removed any large chunks of food and grease, close the oven door and run the self-clean cycle. Depending on the oven’s model, you simply have to press the self-clean button or you may have to turn a dial to switch it on. Most oven doors also lock automatically when it is in self-clean mode while some have a latch where you need to lock the door by yourself.
5. Select the clean time between 2 to 5 hours. Make sure to read your oven’s manual on how to adjust the self-clean time.
6. Wait until the self-clean cycle is done. Your oven might produce smoke and even smell, do not open the door when the oven is running a self-clean cycle. A well-ventilated area is important if you choose to self-clean your oven.
7. After the cycle is finished, the oven will cool down for up to two hours. After the cool-down period is over, the door will automatically unlock. You will have to disengage the latch if your oven does not lock and unlock automatically when in self-clean mode. Important: Do not open the oven door when it is in the cool-down period as it is not at a safe temperature yet to touch.
8. Once the cool-down period is over, carefully open the oven door (it might still be warm to the touch).
9. With a damp cloth, wipe away the white ashes that are inside your oven. These are the food particles that have been burned off by the high temperature. Be sure to wipe the oven door interior as well.
Use A Store-bought cleaner
There are oven cleaners that are sold specifically for oven use. These have chemical properties that can remove the grease and grime inside your oven.
While it is not advised to use commercial oven cleaners on a self-clean oven, some people prefer to use store-bought or DIY cleaners to clean their ovens instead of using the self-clean function.
If you prefer to use commercial oven cleaners, wear protective gear such as rubber gloves and protective eyewear to protect your skin from the chemicals. You also may opt to wear a face mask so as to not inhale the smell of the oven cleaner. It is also best to keep your windows open and keep your kitchen well-ventilated so the chemicals can air out.
Here’s how to clean a gas oven using store-bought cleaner:
1. Remove the oven racks and any cookware and set them in the sink.
2. Remove large chunks of food that are not stuck in the oven.
3. Spray the oven cleaner on the interior of the oven and make sure that you do not spray on the area where the gas comes through.
4. Let the oven cleaner sit inside the oven for about 15 to 30 minutes with the oven door closed.
5. While waiting, bring the oven racks and some trash bags outside. Spray the oven racks with the oven cleaner, put them inside the trash bags, and tie them shut. Leave the racks inside trash bags for 15 to 30 minutes.
6. After 15 to 30 minutes, open the oven door and wipe the interior of the oven where you sprayed the oven cleaner. You can use a damp microfiber cloth or a scrub sponge if there are stubborn food particles that are hard to remove. Make sure you are still wearing your protective gear at this point.
7. After cleaning the oven, take the oven racks out of the trash bags and rinse them under running water while scrubbing the remaining grime with a sponge.
8. Dry the oven racks with a clean microfiber cloth and put them back inside the oven.
Use A DIY Oven Cleaner with Baking Soda
We know store-bought cleaners contain chemicals that can be highly toxic. So, if you are not down to using commercial cleaners, DIY stuff will do the thing.
You will only need baking soda, water, and vinegar or lemon for your DIY oven cleaner. Lemon has citric acid which can be a great degreaser and vinegar poured on top of baking soda produces carbon dioxide gas which can help clean grime and stains effectively.
Here’s how to clean a gas oven using a homemade oven cleaner:
1. Make a baking soda mixture using a cup of baking soda and a couple of tablespoons of water to make a spreadable paste. Adjust the mixture as needed.
2. Remove the oven racks or any cookware from the oven.
3. Wearing rubber gloves, spread the baking soda mixture inside the oven and make sure to cover the sides, top, bottom, and back, as well as the door and the corners of the oven. You can use your gloved fingers or a pastry brush to spread the mixture.
4. Leave the baking soda mixture for 12 hours or overnight.
5. After spreading the baking soda paste in the oven, it’s time to clean the oven racks.
6. Place the oven racks in the sink, bathtub, or a large basin, depending on the size of your oven racks.
7. Sprinkle baking soda all over the racks then spray distilled vinegar or lemon on top. Once the vinegar gets in contact with the baking powder, it will foam up and sizzle. Wait for the foaming to stop.
8. Once the foaming stops, fill the sink, bathtub, or basin with water and let the racks soak in water for 12 hours or overnight.
9. After 12 hours, clean the oven with a damp microfiber cloth and use a scrub sponge for any stubborn grime and food chunks. If they do not come off, you can spray distilled vinegar on top of it and let them foam up. After it stops foaming, wipe the grime and food chunks off with a scrub sponge.
10. Once your oven is clean, take the racks off of the water, drain the dirty water, and scrub the racks until the grime is gone.
11. Dry the racks with a clean microfiber cloth and put them back inside the oven.
Clean The Stovetop And Burners

Aside from cleaning the oven, do not forget to clean the stovetop and burners as well. To clean the stovetop and burner, use a mixture of baking soda and water and spread the mixture on the stains. You can let the mixture sit for about 15 to 30 minutes before using a sponge or soft-bristled brush to scrub the grime and stains away.
After cleaning the stovetop and heating elements with the baking soda mixture, wipe them with a damp cloth and then finish off with a clean, dry cloth.
Clean The Oven Control Knobs

The control knobs should also be cleaned as dirt can still build up there. You can clean the control knobs with soapy water and paper towels – make sure to be gentle when you scrub as markings might fade with aggressive scrubbing.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning a gas oven can be tiresome. But, if you have a self-clean oven, it can do most of the work for you. Even if you do not have a self-clean oven, cleaning your gas oven regularly can prevent bacteria from spreading to your food. You can use a store-bought cleaner but, all you need is baking soda, vinegar, and water to clean your oven. Happy cleaning!