The Easiest Way to Clean Even the Grimiest Glass Oven Door

Knowing how to clean a glass oven door is an important part of maintaining the appliance. After all, every spill, splatter, and accident that happens while cooking stays in the oven—and especially on the glass door—until you clean it up. But because you can't clean the inside of a hot oven, by the time you eat your meal and the oven cools down, those messes are out of mind. So debris, grime, and grease can really build up.

Thankfully, cleaning a glass oven door isn't impossible, but it takes some effort, a plan, and potentially some elbow grease to get it looking like new again. There are several methods for how to clean a glass oven door depending on your oven model, how dirty the glass is, and your cleaning product preferences. To learn how to clean a glass oven door the right way, we reached out to a home cleaning expert, Katie Burkey, owner of Molly Maid of Mahoning/Trumbull County. She walked us through the steps to clean a glass oven door, plus tips for removing even stubborn grease and grime, to make this kitchen appliance sparkle.

How Often to Clean a Glass Oven Door

How often you need to clean your glass oven door will depend on how often—and what—you cook. Aim to clean the interior surface of the door about every three to six months, or whenever you complete a thorough cleaning of your oven. Wipe down the exterior of the oven at least once a week or whenever spills happen. Clean in between the double layers of the glass oven door about once a year. Cleaning the oven door regularly will mean less scrubbing, as grime won't have as long to set onto the surface, and you'll also be able to use less harsh chemicals.

What You Need:

• Vacuum with a crevice attachment
• Yardstick (optional)
• Cleaning cloths
• Rubber bands (optional)
• Baking soda
• Distilled white vinegar
• Non-abrasive sponge or scour pad
• Glass cleaner
• Grease-cutting dish soap
• Store-bought oven cleaner (optional)

How to Clean a Glass Oven Door by Removing the Glass

1. According to Burkey, the first step to cleaning a glass oven door is to make sure the oven is cool—you don't want to accidentally burn yourself.
2. Remove the glass from the oven door. "Open the door and rest it on your leg for support as you unscrew along the top of the door. Your legs will protect the glass in case it falls off," Burkey says.
3. Once the glass is removed, "you will have access to the in-between layers of your oven, which is often filled with crumbs and dust," she says. Burkey suggests taking a vacuum hose to the empty space. Look for a vacuum with a crevice attachment that is small enough to get into the tiniest spaces. Every last crumb will be sucked out.

How to Remove an Oven Door

For some oven models, the entire door may need to be removed in order to clean in between the two panes of glass that make up the glass oven door. Consult your oven's manual (remember, many appliance manuals can now be found online) before you get started.

1. Ask someone to help you hold the door, then unlock the hinges that connect the door to the oven. Holding the door at about a 75 degree angle, you and a helper can slide the door up and away from the oven. Be careful; the door will be heavy.
2. Set the door on a sturdy surface, like a countertop protected by an old towel.
3. Wrap a yardstick in a barely damp cleaning cloth and secure it in place with rubber bands. Insert the yardstick between the two layers of glass and use it to scrub away any stains or grease.
4. Next, wrap the yardstick with a dry, lint-free cloth and repeat this process to dry in between the glass. Once the door is completely dry, reattach it, following the instructions provided in the appliance manual.

Removing Built-Up Grease From a Glass Oven Door

The best cleaner for glass oven doors is a mixture of items you already have in your pantry: baking soda and vinegar. "It's a great non-toxic alternative to harsh chemical cleaners," Burkey says.

1. If there is built-up grease and grime on the glass, sprinkle some baking soda on the affected areas. Then, spray the baking soda with a mixture of one part vinegar to one part water; the baking soda will begin to bubble.
2. Then use a non-abrasive pad to spread the paste around the glass and wipe down with a wet rag to remove everything. A non-scratch scour pad or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will get the job done. But no matter what product you use, it's essential that it is non-abrasive, because scratching the glass can cause permanent damage.
3. Finish by cleaning the glass with a glass cleaner so it shines.
4. Finally, reassemble your glass door, being careful to return the correct screws to their proper place. Make sure the screws cannot be turned anymore and that the glass is fully secure before closing the door.

How to Clean a Glass Oven Door Without Removing It

While it is best to remove the glass door from your oven before cleaning it, there are times when that isn't an option. While you may need to clean the door, you may not be physically capable of removing it—or you may not want to risk potentially breaking the glass. Luckily, it's easy to clean the glass without removing it. Here's how.

1. Make sure the oven is cooled off and not hot to the touch.
2. Create a thick paste using baking soda mixed with water. Spread it on the glass using a sponge, rag, or even your hands (but be sure to put on cleaning gloves first). Let the paste sit for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how dirty the glass is. If needed, you can let it sit up to overnight. Note that the mixture will darken as it absorbs the dirt, grime, and grease.
3. When you're ready, remove the paste with a warm, wet rag. This cleaning solution is entirely natural, cost-effective, and easy to use.
4. If the glass oven door still appears foggy or shows streaks, apply a drop of grease-cutting dish soap to a damp cloth and use it to wipe down the door. Then rinse with a clean, damp cloth and dry thoroughly.
5. Alternatively, you can mix one part vinegar (white vinegar or, more ideally, cleaning vinegar) to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the door. Wipe with a lint-free cleaning cloth.
6. If baking soda doesn't work, you can always use a commercial oven glass door cleaner. Easy-Off Professional Fume Free Max Oven Cleaner is a great option. It can be used to spot clean and deep clean the entire oven. If you prefer a non-toxic product, Method Heavy Duty Degreaser Spray is a good choice. It also has a fresh lemongrass scent. Allow these products to sit for the recommended amount of time before wiping them away.

Clean the Exterior of the Door:

1. To remove stubborn residue or grease splatters, apply a drop of grease-cutting dish soap to a damp cloth. Work the dish soap onto the sticky spots until they are gone. Rinse with a damp cloth and dry.
2. For a streak-free door, spritz a lint-free cloth with glass cleaner and wipe the door, following an S-shaped pattern.

How to Clean a Glass Oven Door Using Self-Cleaning Mode

The self-cleaning cycle is great for removing those baked-on spills, grease, and messes from not only the glass door but the entire oven as well.

Before you switch on the self-cleaning cycle, make sure the oven is empty. Remove the oven racks, and make sure everything is off the stovetop. Then, open up the windows in your home. The self-cleaning cycle can heat the oven up to nearly 900 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on what model you have. This will warm up your home, and it can also potentially emit fumes, so proper ventilation is key. For safety, make sure children and pets are kept out of the room (or house) while the self-cleaning mode is on. But an adult should remain home during this process in the event of a fire.

The self-cleaning cycle will clean the entire inside of the oven, including the glass door, as the high heat burns up all of the stuck-on food and residue. The process can take anywhere from one to six hours to complete depending on the model and mode selected, so it's a good idea to plan meals ahead or decide to order takeout. When the cycle is finished, wait for the oven to cool down. All the debris will have been heated into ash, which can be wiped away with a damp cloth or sponge.

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