Oven cleaning is a job that many of us would rather do without, so it's important to get the best oven cleaner to make the task as easy as can be.
According to Ovenclean, the average oven handle is a lot grimier than we might imagine, with four and a half thousand times more bacteria present than your average toilet seat. Shocking, right?
Not only is it important to clean your oven regularly to rid it of germs and bacteria, but it can also go a long way to making your kitchen look and feel brand new. While most household tasks can be tackled with some baking soda and hot water, cleaning the oven is worth bringing in the big guns.
Read more: The best ways to clean a dishwasher
There's no need to get an oven cleaning service for professional oven cleaning, these products will make this loathed task easy and quick.
We tested several of the best known brands out there, then searched the internet high and low to find the best-rated products available to introduce you to some products you might not have heard of.
Grubby oven or messy hob? These products will make light work of it!
What's the best oven cleaner UK?
We've put some of the top oven cleaning products through their paces - here's what we thought. Keep reading to find out some other options that have been tested by the great British public, too.
Oven cleaners tried and tested
Oven Pride Complete Oven Cleaner review
Best for cleaning trays and racks With this cleaner from Oven pride, you'll get gloves, bottle, and a resealable bag. It's extremely straightforward to use. Using the gloves provided, just place the oven grills in the bag, with up to three-quarters of the solution. Seal the bag securely and then tilt the trays so as much solution coats them as possible. Once done, leave them on your draining board (protected with a plastic sheet) overnight.
Review: "In the morning, using the gloves, I was careful to take out the trays and rinse them thoroughly under warm, soapy water. The dirt and grime fell off and left my trays sparkling! I dried the trays using an old tea towel.
"Oven interior: I applied the remaining solution with a sponge (or you can use a cloth) on the inside and left overnight (although you can leave it for four hours if you don't have too much time). Using warm, soapy water, I thoroughly rinsed the inside of the oven and dried it using an old tea towel.
"Although you need to be very careful to not let the solution get onto areas other than the items you wish to clean (you need to make sure you read the instructions very carefully), I found the oven Pride Complete Oven Cleaner easy to use, with minimal effort needed. My oven hadn’t been cleaned in an age and I was dreading doing it but I won’t anymore, as this product really does what it says! Would definitely buy this, as the cleaner is super value for money, so well worth it!"
Rating: 10/10
Lakeland Oven Mate Cleaning Gel review
Best for a deep clean This cleaner comes with gloves and arm protectors. This is so simple to use. Just squirt it on and use the brush provided to distribute it around. Leave it overnight and watch the grime melt away.
Review: "There is no smell or harsh fumes and the gel doesn't drip (which in the past with other cleaning fluids I have found really annoying as it gets in between the two glass plates of my oven door.) I left it on for a couple of hours and 90 per cent of the baked-on food just wiped away.
"There's a small scrubbing brush for loosening the last few stubborn marks. I did a second application on the most stubborn stain, left it overnight (as per the instructions) and 90 per cent of that melted away the next day.
"I also used it to clean the round caps on my (hob) gas burners and they cleaned up as good as new.
"Plenty left in the bottle for another couple of applications. (I noticed it said not for use on stainless steel, which is a shame as it's so effective.) Would definitely buy to have my oven looking like new again."
Rating: 9/10
Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner review
Best for regular cleaning Mr Muscle is a well-known brand, and for good reason. This heavy-duty oven cleaner uses a unique self-scouring formula to effectively remove burnt-on grease, food and spills. There's no need for strenuous scrubbing and this pack of six will last you a very long time.
Review: "This product is really easy to use, but you have to be really careful with it as it's quite energetic! While wearing long gloves, and protecting all other surfaces, you spray it on to internal surfaces, avoiding the trim, pilot light and heating element.
"Close the door and let it go to work for no longer than 30 minutes, then wipe thoroughly with a damp cloth. I found that most of the grease easily came away, but some of the more stubborn stuff could do with another once over.
"The smell is quite strong, so remember to keep your kitchen well-ventilated while using."
Rating: 8/10
Best oven cleaners according to ratings
Aside from the ones we've tested, there are plenty of oven cleaning agents that have received rave reviews online, so we thought we'd include some of those here for you, too.
Best oven cleaners
1 of 8Stardrops Pink Stuff Paste
Best cheap oven cleanerAdored by Mrs Hinch, Pink Stuff is a multi-use household cleaner that works really well on your oven. It's tough but gentle, removing rust and discolouration from metal surfaces, stubborn marks and more. You can also use it for cleaning saucepans, barbecues and ceramic tiles, so it's well worth having some of this in your cleaning cupboard. It does leave a film on some surfaces, but should be fine for the inside of your oven. Ingredients:BenzisothiazolioneLaurylamine DipropylendiamineMethylisothiazolinonePerfumeAmazon review: "This stuff is absolutely fantastic. It'll clean pretty much anything. Be careful though as it's a bit gritty and can put light scratches into the things you're rubbing / cleaning, it's almost like a paste version of a fine sandpaper, a bit like Cif, like T-Cut but this Pink Stuff tops it all. Large tub filled to the top, this will last me forever. A little bit goes a long way, I find it's best to be used on a damp cloth and rub lightly. I've cleaned metal radiators with rust, some scratches in my car paintwork but I had to buff it over after as it put swirl marks on the paint, cleaned the oven a treat, it'll even work on hard oil and grease, and rust. I haven't found anything yet that it can't clean. Also it doesn't have much of a scent at all to it which is great."
£7.99
2 of 8Amway Oven Cleaner
Best for overnight soakingA lesser-known brand over here but big in other countries, Amway's oven cleaner comes with exceptional reviews. It's easy to use, comes with a scrubbing brush and once left overnight, produces excellent results.Ingredients:Sodium HydroxideSodium TallowateXanthan GumMagnesium Sulfate HeptahydrateC10-16 Ethoxylated Alcohol, 7 EOAmazon review: "I am still totally enthusiastic about the effectiveness of this cleaner. For me there is no better cleaning agent for the oven, grill and fireplace. Simply and quickly applied and after a short exposure time everything is shiny clean again. I have also been able to free the ceramic field from all encrustations. I can only recommend this cleaner!"
£17.66
3 of 8Astonish Oven Cleaner - oven and grill specialist cleaner paste with sponge
Best for spot-on cleaningThis paste and sponge combo from Astonish powers through grease and burnt-on food and can be used on your whole oven, including the door. The surface-specific sponge means you won't have to throw any of yours away once they're covered in grime. There are no harsh chemicals either, so no need to wear gloves. Plus no toxic fumes that you get with other brands such as Easy Off Oven Cleaner.Ingredients: Quartz Aqua Fatty acids, C8-18 and C16-18-unstd., sodium saltsSilicic acid, sodium saltSodium xylenesulfonateGlycerinParfum Limonene CI 15510Amazon review: "Brings the glass up on your oven beautifully, and with the bonus that you can clean without having to wear gloves. Will buy again."
£7.68
- Rrp: £8.29
4 of 8WPRO Gas Hob & Oven Care Kit
Best for easy cleaningThis oven and grill degreaser eliminates burnt-on grease and residue from almost any surface - including ovens, hotplates and cooker hoods. It smells great and comes with multiple products for all parts of your oven, plus a microfibre cloth.No full ingredient list available.Curry's review: "Easy to use, good results."
5 of 8Ecover Power Cleaner
Best eco-buyThis plant-based cleaner is ideal for all the eco-warriors out there, removing thick grease and burnt-on food well. It doesn't work quite as well as some of the chemical cleaners, but it puts up a really good fight and smells great. Plus, for those who care about the environment, it's a no-brainer.Ingredients: AquaCandida bombicola/glucose/methyl rapeseedate ferment Capryl glucosideAlcoholSodium citrateGlyceryl CaprylateFragranceLactic acidLimoneneAmazon review: "This is great for ovens, hobs and even stainless saucepans that are really dirty. It smells nicer than the chemical versions yet does a really good job."
6 of 8Elbow Grease Oven Cleaning Kit
Best for minimal effortDefinitely one worth keeping handy in the cleaning cupboard to easily address any hard to remove spillages in the oven. And with a purse-friendly price tag too. Review: "No smell no scrubbing. I cannot actually believe how easy it was. Usually oven cleaning for sure leads to an asthma attack for me. Not with this one. I left it on for one hour and the burnt on stuff easily wiped away."
£4.50
- Rrp: £6.16
7 of 8Cif oven cleaner spray
Best for maintenanceCif Perfect Finish Oven & Grill Specialist Cleaner Spray attacks burnt-on grease delivering beautiful cleaning results with a brilliantly shiny finish. This cleaning spray will cut through even the most difficult grease stains from the oven, grill and hob, from the inside out. It's also suitable for cleaning your barbecue.
8 of 8Koh oven cleaner
Best multi-purposeIf you're looking for one powerful cleaning solution that does it all, look no further than Koh. This professional oven cleaner cleans and protects surfaces in two simple steps. Step 1 - clean surfaces with Universal Cleaner, one solution that does the job of 20 around the home. Step 2 - protect with Protect Surface, long lasting surface sanitiser that kills 99.9% of bacteria and keeps surfaces bacteria free for 7 days.
How does oven cleaner work?
Oven cleaners are packed with strong oils and chemicals that, when left for a few hours or even overnight, help to break down baked-on bits of food and stains to help lift them off with ease.
How to use oven cleaner
Always follow the instructions on the packaging and wear gloves when dealing with oven cleaning products. Most require you to remove your oven shelves and pop them into a plastic bag with some of the cleaning solution. The rest of the product is usually poured onto the base of your oven, and you then give the whole oven a good scrub before leaving overnight and sponging away the next day.
What does oven cleaner do to countertops?
Be very careful about using oven cleaner on your countertops as they are packed with strong chemicals and may cause damage. Check the packaging to see where they are safe to use, and if in doubt, contact the company directly to ask.
Alternative ways to clean your oven
Did you know that you can undertake oven cleaning with bicarbonate of soda?
Start by mixing half a cup (about 65g) of bicarb with water to create a thick paste, and use an old paintbrush or cloth spread all over the inside of your oven, from the door to the bottom to the inside walls, but avoid heating fixtures.
For best results, leave the paste to do its work overnight (or a minimum of two hours) and then it’s time for the magic trick. In a spray bottle, mix equal parts white vinegar and water and spray onto the paste to create a foaming action. The fizzing will lift away stubborn dirt and grease particles and make wiping away with a damp cloth much easier.
Our top tip for cleaning oven trays and racks is to find a space that works for the size of them - you guessed it, it's the bath!
How to clean oven trays and racks
Instead of awkwardly trying to scrub off grime over the kitchen sink, make things easier for yourself by soaking them in a hot bath. You can use bicarb, vinegar, or even a dishwasher tablet to remove all that dirt.
How to clean the outside of your oven
Once the inside of your oven is sparkling, it's time to tackle the hob and exterior. We love the HG Hob Thorough Cleaner for tackling tough stains. Simply leave it on to work its magic for around ten minutes and any grime or burnt on food will be wiped away effortlessly.
Next, tackle the front and sides of your oven with Stainless Steel Cleaner by Howard Fragrance. It's a degreaser and removes oily fingerprints easily, with a streak-free formula for a beautiful shine. What's more, it's non-toxic, so it's child and pet safe.
How to clean your oven door
There are lots of handy tutorials online to help you clean your oven door (check out the video below). You can get in between the glass panels by using a long, thin object like a ruler or fly swatter.
Wrap a cloth around it with your glass cleaning solution and slip it in through the gap at the bottom of the oven door. It's a little fidgety, but it'll be worth it when your oven door is mark-free.
Most of the solutions above can also be used as an oven door cleaner, but it's a good idea to double check that the product is designed for use on the glass door as well.
Hacks for keeping your oven clean
YouTube cleaning guru Do It On A Dime has a brilliant video to show you how to clean all those pesky parts of your oven, give it a watch below.
We particularly like the idea of introducing an oven saver mat or oven liner, which catches any food while cooking and keeps your oven cleaner for longer. Most are heat-safe up to around 260°C, dishwasher-safe or wipe clean. A genius idea!
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