How To Clean an Oven Window

Nothing is worse than waiting patiently for your oven to complete its self-cleaning cycle, only to see that the oven window doesn’t look clean at the end. Oftentimes, buildup on the inside of an oven window requires more than a self-cleaning cycle to remove. Here's the good news. Odds are, you already have everything you need to clean your oven window right in your own home.

How To Clean an Oven Window

As a precautionary measure, make sure the oven is completely cooled before starting to clean. Some steps of this cleaning method will require two people. Before getting started, it is a good idea to give someone a heads up so your helper can be prepared.

Clean the Outside of the Door First

Cleaning the outside of your oven door will be quick and easy, but is a great place to start. Wipe down the door in downward strokes with your favorite glass cleaner. If you are looking for a natural alternative, vinegar or lemon juice are popular options and work well.

Cleaning the Inside of the Oven Window

The inside of the oven is most likely covered in more grease and buildup than the outside.

Our preferred method to clean an oven window utilizes baking soda, water and vinegar. Start by mixing ½ cup of baking soda with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water. Mix the two together, adjusting the ratio as needed, until you have a spreadable paste.

Spread this paste over the inside of your oven window and let sit for at least 30 minutes, preferably overnight. This will work to loosen the caked-on grime from the glass. As the mixture sits, you will notice that the mixture will start to turn a brownish color, which is completely normal.

Once you're ready, moisten a cloth and wipe away all of the dried-up paste. If there are any areas that have debris that will not come up, gently use a razor to scrape them off. Use a cloth to smooth out any streaks. Spray any areas that are particularly difficult to remove the baking soda mixture from with vinegar. This will cause the paste to foam up and make it easier to remove.

Cleaning Between Oven Window Glass

If after cleaning both the outside and inside of your oven window you still spot food particles, then your work is not done. Some food particles may have found their way between the layers of glass in the window.

First, get help. You are going to need another set of hands and your oven's owner's manual. If you no longer have your owner's manual, search online.

Using a screwdriver, take the door apart as recommended and clean the inside layers of the glass using the methods above. Put the oven door back together once it has completely dried.

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