You can use Bar Keepers Friend Powder Cleanser to clean your oven racks.

When it comes to cleaning your home, tackling the kitchen is an oft-dreaded chore for many people, especially when it comes to cleaning your oven. It’s easy to brush it off and put it off until later when you’re busy cooking and the oven is too hot to clean at the moment, anyway. But after a while, your oven racks will likely be piled with grime that you know you won’t want to ignore, especially as you continue to use them.

Fortunately, with the right products, techniques, and strategies, you can get your oven shining bright and clean as can be. 

When it comes to efficiently and effectively cleaning your oven racks, you’ve got to have the right products to ensure you won’t be scrubbing in frustration for seemingly forever. You’ve likely experienced the fumes-to-the-face effect many heavy-duty oven cleaners produce but rest assured there are still quality alternatives out there. The following are our three top recommendations:

This versatile powder cleanser works to remove grease and rust, while also fighting stains and built-up grime. This scouring powder contains oxalic acid, which is a natural abrasive found in plants. Not only does this mean it’s safe to use on most surfaces, but it won’t leave you feeling like you’re inhaling toxic fumes when using it like other oven cleaners often do. 

While an effective cleanser, Easy-Off has a reputation for hitting your face with a whiff of fumes while you’re cleaning, which definitely makes this chore less than appealing. This version not only effectively removes tough oven grease and food build-up, but it also works great for 30-second, everyday spot-cleaning. Best of all, you’ll breathe in a hint of its pleasant lemon scent rather than a big breath of fumes.

Goo Gone has a reputation for its heavy-duty grill cleaning products and this oven and grill cleaner packs the same punch, all while remaining environmentally friendly. Using biodegradable ingredients, this cleanser’s stay-in-place foam clings to surfaces, doing the work to penetrate and break down burnt-on grime and deposits. It’s also fume-free and safe to use on most kitchen surfaces, in addition to inside your oven.

If you’re hoping to steer clear of harsh chemicals that are in many cleaning products, there are more natural ways to clean your oven racks. One such method is a bath of baking soda and vinegar. 

You can also use an old toothbrush to remove any additional stuck-on gunk. Adding salt can also help with stubborn spots. Once you’re done, rinse off the racks completely before returning them to the oven. 

Another quick, easy and more natural way to clean your oven is with dryer sheets and liquid dish soap. This is effective because the antistatic power in the dryer sheets works to separate grime and food from the racks by diluting the bond, while the fabric softening agents soften baked-on build-up.

The next morning, drain the tub and use the soaked dryer sheets to wipe the racks clean of grime before rinsing them off and returning to the oven.

The good news is that yes, oven racks are dishwasher-safe, though this method may not be as effective as the ones that require a bit of elbow grease. There’s also a good chance your racks may not fit most standard dishwashers. If they do fit, just be sure they have ample room to get clean and aren’t obscured by other dishes. Once the cycle is done and they’ve cooled and dried, you can use a stainless-steel scouring pad for any remaining stubborn grime.