How Do You Clean an Oven Glass Door (and Between the Panes)?

Lasagna is one of my favourite comfort foods. I'll grab a piece whenever I see it at a buffet. But I'm not oblivious to the costs that come with it. I know the mess gets splattered all over the oven glass mid-bake. All those delicious layers come with a price. And sadly, this price gets even higher if you ignore the problem long enough.

Here's why. You're dealing with grease splatters getting baked on again and again. Meanwhile, steam and food particles creep in-between the glass panes. The result? Cloudy streaks and stubborn fog. Thankfully though, these problems aren't actually as hard to fix as they look.

We're going to get through this together - the outside, inside, and everything in-between. That way, you can actually see your food cooking next time you peek in. I'll also tell you how to remove the glass, how to avoid scratching it, and the best cleaning solutions.

What will we need?

• Caked-on grease? This calls for something firm but non-abrasive. Think plastic scraper. I got this 3 piece set at Supercheap Auto for $5.99.
• Shameless plug here of our natural cleaner, but it absolutely works for jobs like this.
• Your oven's model number - you'll need this to safely remove the glass without voiding the warranty.
• A ruler or coat hanger wrapped in a paper towel. This is for reaching between the glass if you can't remove it for some reason. Tie the paper towel around your tool of choice with a rubber band. You can get a 40cm ruler at Officeworks for just $1.08.
• A soft cloth to wipe and dry everything down afterwards.

Before we touch anything...

First things first, let your oven cool down completely. The last thing we want is anyone getting burned in this process.

I know this isn't always possible, but if you can, shut off the electricity at the source or pull the plug like I have.

Option 1: Clean by removing the glass panes

I know some of you won't want to hear this, but trust me - it'll make life 10 times easier. If you can detach the glass, you won't have to try squeezing your hand into the tight opening, and it's way faster also.

Different ovens have different ways of unhinging the glass, so you need to know exactly how to do that on yours. For some ovens, it'll be easy, but for others, it really depends on the specific model. The way to find out is through the manual or via the manufacturer's website. This is an important housekeeping aspect if your oven is still in its warranty period.

That said, I have a demo oven that's been left out in the cold since it broke down, but I thought it'd be a good example. The doors on that oven is what I'll have my mum demonstrate on today. 

Anyways, here's a video I recorded of her detaching the oven glass:

Step 1: Un-clip the glass from its buckle

What you'll want to keep in mind is that the weight of the glass pane is what holds the oven door down. What this means is if you let go of that glass panel, the spring of the door will likely jolt it back into closed position. Just wanted to mention that safety tip in case anyone has a super springy oven door.

Step 2: Bring the glass to the sink where it's easy to work your magic

You'll want some cleaning liquid on the glass to set the stage. I mentioned in my oven tray blog that cleaners are secondary to scrubbing. This setting is no different. I'm not going to sit here and pretend my product will magically cure caked-on grease. That's just not realistic. It will, however, soften things up and make scrubbing much easier.

Step 3: Scrub the grease off with the right amount of pressure

I'm not saying don't use a little bit of elbow grease, but what you don't want to do is attack the glass aggressively. You need to find a sweet spot. Enough pressure to remove grease, but still gentle enough to not scratch. I know this is a guide, and you're likely looking for cookie-cutter tips, but practice and experience are key.

Step 4: Rinse and dry with a soft cloth (or microfibre if you're worried about scratching)

I personally like to air dry everything, so I always give myself ample time before my next bake. This is because air drying is more thorough and I just like keeping things natural. That said, towel drying is totally fine too - just make sure you don't miss any spots to avoid streaking.

Step 5: Clean up the slots and surrounds before reinstalling

Take this opportunity to get into gaps and grooves of where the glass usually sits. My concern here is not dirtying the newly cleaned glass that we just worked so hard on. I also like cleaning the outside frame and glass piece while I'm here.

Step 6: Clip it back in securely

Make sure it's secure. The last thing we want is have your oven glass slipping out of place. Or worse, having it shatter when that happens.

Let's be real

Look, I know some of you read those steps and thought 'absolutely not.' Maybe your oven manual is long gone, or you're renting and don't want to risk it. Fair enough - let's move onto Plan B.

The Plan B: Cleaning it without removing the glass

I'll be straight. This is definitely a valid option, but it's just a bit harder getting between the panes. It's quite a big piece of glass depending on your oven, and it's hard to get in from the bottom due to limited space. Luckily though, I've thought up some tools that will be perfect for the job. Let's dive into it.

Step 1: Apply cleaner liberally

Again, this isn't a snap-of-a-finger quick-fix. It's to loosen up any grime before we get down and dirty with our scrubber.

Step 2: Scrape

We all knew this part was coming, but this is what has to be done if you want that glass looking like new again.

Step 3: Clear out any debris

Likelihood is it's going to be foamy from all the cleaner and scraping. This is normal. Use the scraper to clear the board into your cloth. If you've ever been to Teppanyaki, picture the chef scraping the food scraps into the hole.

Step 4: Give it one final wipe

Inspect the panes now to see if there are streaks between the glass. If not, great! You're done! If yes, move on to Step 5.

Step 5: Grab your ruler

The ruler should be similar length to your oven height, preferably longer. We're going to wrap and attach a paper towel on one end of it, and then tighten it with a rubber band. It's a why didn't I think of that moment, right?

Now, what I did initially when I first did my end-of-lease cleans was use wet wipes. But, those wipes aren't actually very healthy based on some credible studies. So once I found out, I started just priming my paper towel by pre-wetting it with cleaner.

Anyhow, all you do now is stick the ruler into the gap and wipe. As you can expect though, the moisture you put through can remove streaks as well as it can create them. So you'll need to follow up with a dry paper towel afterwards.

Another thing to note is that the gap can be small, meaning if you're not precise, the wet paper towel can flake. These flakes can end up making the oven glass look even dirtier if not cleared out. So the best thing to do is to actually concentrate when you're performing this task.

Step 6: Dry, dry and dry more

Here's the reality when you're dealing with glass. It's usually grease initially, and water streaks thereafter. So I can't stress the following enough. You need to make sure everything is dry if you don't want your efforts to be wasted.

That's pretty much it. And look, if you don't have a ruler, you can try the same thing using a coat hanger, assuming that it's the thin kind.

A disclaimer

I don't mean to scare anyone but I felt the need to say this. While not removing the glass might be easier and more convenient, I tend to avoid this method. Reason being, inevitably, some moisture will end up in the slots, especially for big cleans. It's not a huge deal if you make your best effort to avoid the corners, but it's something to keep in mind.

I also want to add, the reason I say it's not a huge deal is because of the following. Normally, if moisture gets into dark, cool places, mould tends to form. But in this case, you're dealing with an oven that's blazing and heating the area constantly. That's why it's not a huge concern in my opinion. This is just a bonus thing that I wanted to mention.

On a related note, some older pieces of glass can't be recovered even with diligent scrubbing. This is because over years, the grease can effectively warp into the glass. Unfortunately, not much can be done here other than just scraping off what you can.

How to Remove Brown or Black Baked-On Grease

If your oven has reached this point, I understand, revival might feel out of reach. What I suggest is, you bring out the big guns. You'll need baking soda, water, and your trusty plastic scraper. We're going in chief.

Step 1: Form your baking soda paste

You'll need a half cup of baking soda and 3 tablespoons of water. Mix it in a small bowl with a spoon to achieve a paste-like consistency. This half cup to 3 tablespoon ratio is flexible based on how bad the issue is at hand.

Step 2: Spread the paste

Spread it generously on your glass as if it were a peanut butter sandwich. You'll do this with your plastic scraper. Like I said in the disclaimer, try your best to avoid corners if you're not unbuckling the glass.

Step 3: Let your paste marinate

Ideally, you leave it hanging there for about 12 hours. But generally, an overnight soak will suffice.

Step 4: Clean off the grease and paste

Everything should be loosened up by now, so give everything a final wipe and you should be good to go.

Prevention and Maintenance

Okay, our glass should be back in order now. Well done! So how do we keep it spotless like this for weeks, months, or even years to come? Let's circle back to our lasagna dish.

Say you just baked up a monumentally delicious, meticulous plate of lasagna. Your oven would have gone through fiery depths for that. Good news though. While the grease and splatter is still hot and fresh, this is the easiest time to spot-wipe.

I talked about this concept in my oven tray guide, and this is very similar. You're leveraging the heat to your advantage. That's the beauty of it. What I will say though is make sure you've folded your cloth up enough times to not burn yourself in the process.

Next, I know life gets busy. But that doesn't mean your oven door should take the fall for it. Give it a weekly wipe down inside and out with our cleaner, and those doors will applaud you for your diligence.

FAQ

How often should I clean my oven glass?

It highly depends on how often you use your oven and the actual foods you're cooking. Fatty meats, sugary desserts, and vegetable roasts are big splattery ones off the top of my head.

What alternatives do I have for scraping tools?

There's this dedicated oven scraper you can get on Amazon for only $9.99. I'm not affiliated, but they have a 2-in-1 blade setup where you alternate between steel and plastic.

Some people recommend razor blades, which work if you don't mind the risk of scratching. For me though, I just like having a dedicated tool for every job I'm working on.

What about the self-cleaning function that some ovens have?

If your oven supports that, then by all means go for it. All I have to say is make sure you know what you're doing, and follow the given instructions. I guess I'm more old school, but I've always stuck to the traditional cleaning methods that work for me.

What about steam cleaners?

Again, it comes back to moisture. If you can reliably extract all the moisture emitted from the steam, then sure, they're great. My only issue with this like I touched on before, is moisture possibly seeping into the glass slots.

And how about oven cleaners in spray cans? Do they work?

Yes, oven cleaners can be effective. The only downside to them is their toxicity, as with most commercial cleaners. I'm just more of an elbow grease kind of guy when it comes to these scenarios, so I stick to my guns. But to each their own.

Final Thoughts

Oven glass cleaning is less so a skill, but moreso a prevention versus cure situation. What I mean is, it's easier to stay on top of it regularly, as opposed to letting things get bad.

I don't want to be overly promotional, but I really do believe in and enjoy using my own stuff. So if you'd like, do check out our cleaning products that we make completely in house.

Personally, I'm not a fan of holding my breath to avoid chemical fumes just to get a job done. I'm getting too old for that. I just want good food, a clean oven, and easy to follow processes. But that's just me. See you next time guys. I wish your oven the best.

Banish grease from your kitchen once and for all

Oven trays are just as vulnerable as glass doors. Here's how you might de-grease them if they also get splattered.

Stovetops are no different. Sugars, fats, and proteins that heat and caramelize get stuck on religiously too. I go through how to take care of stoves as well here.

Finally, not far above, you'll see range hood filters that can get equally greasy. Read my hood fan filter washing guide if you want to take action on those too.