November 29, 2022
How to Clean Your Oven Racks
When you think about cleaning your kitchen, you’re probably thinking about the sink, dishwasher, microwave, or fridge. But how often do you think about cleaning your oven or your oven racks? To keep your family safe and your food tasting delicious every time, it’s critical to keep a clean oven. Here’s how to do it.
The Benefits of Clean Oven Racks
Clean oven racks can truly change the entire look and feel of your kitchen and your home. There are countless benefits to keeping your oven rack sparkling clean, but here are four in particular.
Do you find yourself battling that mystery smell in the kitchen no matter how often you clean the fridge or take out the trash? Having clean oven racks can minimize bad odors in your kitchen that can result from burnt or greasy food. There could be stuck-on food that got burnt onto the rack, or the grease from last night’s pizza could still be hanging around.
You care about protecting the health and safety of your family more than anyone else, and keeping a clean oven is a huge component of that. Getting the old food and germs off of your oven racks can ensure your food is always safe to eat.
You’ll find that clean oven racks make a huge difference in the overall appearance of your oven. Looking through a clean glass window in your oven only to discover greasy oven racks inside can dampen the mood. Luckily, it doesn’t take a whole lot of maintenance to keep your oven racks clean.
How Often Should You Clean Your Oven Racks?
Your oven racks aren’t something you typically think about during your kitchen cleaning routine. So, how often should you actually clean them?
Generally, you should clean your oven racks at least once or twice per year. But, the more you use them, the more often they should be cleaned. If you tend to only use your oven a couple of times a week, you can likely extend the period between washes. If you’re cooking or baking every day, you’ll probably need to perform more frequent cleanings.
It’s best to clean your oven racks after big events like parties or holiday dinners. Chances are that your oven will get a workout on the day of the event, so it’s likely to get messy by the end of the night. Start over after your celebration with a spotless kitchen including sparkling oven racks.
You should also be sure to clean your oven racks after making something particularly messy or smoky. It might go without saying, but having messy sauce or grease on your oven racks isn’t ideal. If you go too long without cleaning your oven racks after making something especially messy, that food could burn onto the surface, making it tougher to clean in the long run.
Cleaning Your Oven Racks
Now for the biggest question: how do you clean your oven racks? There are several tried-and-true methods that you could opt for, but here are a few of our favorites.
One simple method for cleaning your oven racks involves submerging them in a bathtub of hot water and a half-cup of dishwashing soap. Let them sit overnight and scrub them with an old dish towel in the morning to remove any stuck-on bits of food. Let them dry and put them back in your oven!
You can also put your oven racks in a clean trash bag with one pint of ammonia. Let the bag sit outside overnight, then rinse them in the morning. If you can’t let your bag sit outside, make sure it stays in a well-ventilated area until you can rinse the racks.
Using a sponge or a spatula can’t always get off the dried-on food that gets stuck on your racks. But don’t worry; there’s a simple solution that you already have in your home! You can use a dryer sheet to work stuck-on food away from your oven racks. The surface of the dryer sheet is abrasive enough to remove food but not harsh enough to damage your appliance.
One of the most common methods for cleaning oven racks involves making a paste with water and Bar Keepers Friend. Let the mixture sit on the racks for about an hour before scrubbing and rinsing. Bar Keepers Friend is a well-loved multipurpose cleaning solution, so you can rest assured you’ll use it for more than just your oven racks!
More About Cleaning Your Oven
Keeping your oven racks clean is just one portion of maintaining your oven overall. You also have to think about the oven floor, walls, and door, and that’s not even to mention the stovetop! Keep these oven cleaning tips in mind the next time your oven needs a full deep clean.
You probably already know that many ovens offer a self-cleaning feature. While this feature is effective for the inside of your oven itself, it can potentially damage the racks, so you should remove them and clean them separately. Run the self-cleaning feature while you’re cleaning the racks manually to save time!
If you’re looking for an easy way to clean the inside of your oven, we’ve got you covered. Make a paste of a half-cup of baking soda and a few tablespoons of water, then spread the paste all over the oven’s interior. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, wipe the paste away with a damp cloth. Spray the oven’s interior with equal parts water and vinegar for a thorough clean and shine.
Kitchen Cleaning Services from White Glove Cleaner
Keeping your kitchen clean is rewarding, but it can also be time-consuming. We understand that New Yorkers live busy and bustling lives and don’t always have the time to give their kitchens the proper care they need. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. White Glove Cleaner offers convenient house and apartment cleaning services throughout New York City, including cleaning services for your kitchen. We use only the highest quality cleaning materials, and all of our employees are fully trained and vetted. Contact White Glove Cleaner today to schedule your next cleaning service in New York including routine regular cleaning, deep cleaning, green cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning, office cleaning, and more!