Maintaining and cleaning a built-in oven: how to do it properly

The best way to clean a built-in oven is regularly and with the right products: use sodium bicarbonate, a soft sponge and, if necessary, white vinegar for stubborn residue. That prevents smoke, extends the life of your appliance and keeps the oven performing at its best. In this article you can read exactly how to go about it, from the interior to the door seal.

Many people leave maintaining and cleaning their built-in oven far too long, which leaves baked-on residue that becomes harder and harder to remove. With a fixed routine and the right approach, though, it is a manageable job. Below you will find everything you need.

Why regular maintenance of your built-in oven is so important

An oven that you do not clean regularly does not just get dirty, it also works less well and fails sooner. That may sound like an exaggeration, but there are a few concrete reasons why built-in oven maintenance pays off.

• Fire risk and smoke: Grease and food residue left on the oven wall or the heating element will smoke at high temperatures and can even catch fire. This is a real risk, certainly when grilling or cooking fatty meat.
• Higher energy consumption: Baked-on residue forms an insulating layer that reduces heat transfer. The oven needs more energy to come up to temperature, which shows up in your energy consumption.
• A longer service life: Over time, grease and acids attack the enamel and the coatings inside the oven cavity. Cleaning your oven regularly contributes to a considerably longer service life for the appliance.
• Better flavour: Burnt-on grease gives dishes an unwanted taste while they cook. A clean oven guarantees that the flavour of your dish is not affected by whatever was cooked before.

How often should you clean a built-in oven?

There is no fixed rule that applies to everyone, but the guidelines below are a good starting point for regular built-in oven maintenance:

• After intensive use (grilling, cooking meat): clean the oven as soon as it has cooled down completely. Fresh splashes are a good deal easier to remove than dried-on residue.
• With normal use: plan a thorough clean of the interior at least once a month, including the shelves and baking trays.
• Inside of the door and the door seal: give these a quick wipe with a damp cloth every week. This takes hardly any time and prevents grease from building up.
• Outside and control panel: wipe these clean with a damp cloth every week as well. Stop grease and fingerprints from working their way into the controls or the display.

Step by step: cleaning the inside of your built-in oven

Cleaning the inside of your oven does not have to require harsh chemicals. Sodium bicarbonate (bicarbonate of soda) will get you a long way. Here is how to go about it:

1. Let the oven cool down completely. Never start cleaning while the oven is still warm. This is dangerous for you and can produce chemical fumes if you are using cleaning products.
2. Take out all the side racks, shelves and baking trays. That gives you clear access to the whole interior and lets you clean the parts separately.
3. Make a paste of sodium bicarbonate and water. Use roughly three parts bicarbonate of soda to one part water. Apply this paste to all the baked-on marks and keep away from the heating element.
4. Let the paste do its work. For light soiling, 30 minutes is enough. For heavy soiling, leave the paste on overnight for the best possible result.
5. Remove the paste with a damp cloth or soft sponge. Do not use a scouring pad or wire wool on the enamel, as this damages the surface coating.
6. Spray white vinegar on any remaining residue. The vinegar reacts with the bicarbonate of soda (a light foam forms) and helps to loosen the remaining paste. This is an effective way of cleaning the oven without chemicals.
7. Dry the interior completely with a clean dry cloth before you use the oven again.

Would you like to know which models have a handy self-cleaning function? Then take a look at our range of built-in ovens for a complete overview.

Cleaning shelves and baking trays

Cleaning oven shelves is a job in its own right, but the same applies here: the sooner you tackle it, the easier the work.

• Soak the shelves in a bowl of warm water with washing-up liquid for at least 30 minutes. The grease softens and then comes away far more easily.
• Use a brush or a scouring pad to rub stubborn grease off the shelves. On stainless steel you can work a little more firmly.
• Treat enamelled baking trays gently: never use abrasive products or a scouring pad. This damages the enamel coating, which makes the tray rust and stick more quickly.
• Dry everything completely before you put the parts back in the oven. Moisture in the oven cavity can cause steam and corrosion when it heats up.

Cleaning the oven door and the door seal

The oven door and the door seal are often overlooked, but they are essential to the oven working properly.

• Inside of the door glass: clean this with a degreaser or the sodium bicarbonate paste. Let the paste do its work and then remove it with a soft cloth. Oven degreasing tip: wipe light splashes away daily and you never have to scrub.
• No sharp objects on the glass: no metal spatulas or scrapers either. The glass can be scratched or, in the worst case, break.
• Cleaning the oven's rubber seal: wipe the door seal (the rubber strip) with a damp cloth and a little mild soapy water. Do not use harsh products, as these attack the rubber.
• Check the rubber for damage: tears or hardened rubber let heat escape. The oven then has to work harder to hold its temperature, which costs energy and shortens its service life. Replace a damaged seal as soon as possible.

Self-cleaning function: pyrolytic and catalytic cleaning explained

Some built-in ovens have a self-cleaning function. There are two common systems:

Pyrolytic cleaning

During pyrolysis the oven heats itself to around 500°C. At that temperature all food residue burns away completely, leaving a small amount of ash that you then simply wipe out with a damp cloth. No scrubbing, no chemicals. Do bear the following in mind:

• Make sure the kitchen is well ventilated during the pyrolytic cycle, as light fumes can be released.
• Take out all the shelves and baking trays before pyrolysis, unless the manufacturer states otherwise. Many shelves cannot withstand those temperatures.

Catalytic cleaning

Ovens with catalytic panels clean themselves during normal use. The special coating absorbs grease and breaks it down at temperatures above 200°C. Important to know:

• Never clean catalytic panels with cleaning products. This destroys the active coating and the self-cleaning action then stops working.
• After use, simply wipe them with a dry or slightly damp cloth.

Would you like to compare an oven with pyrolytic or catalytic cleaning? Then go to our overview to compare ovens and microwaves and find the model that suits you.

Common mistakes when cleaning a built-in oven

Even people who clean their oven regularly sometimes make mistakes that cause damage. These are the most common ones:

• Using abrasive products or wire wool: permanently damages the enamel and the coatings. Always use a soft sponge or cloth.
• Cleaning while the oven is still warm: this brings a risk of burns and, with chemical cleaning products, of dangerous fumes as well.
• Cleaning fluid on the heating element: this can cause a short circuit or damage to the element. Always work carefully and keep away from the element.
• Forgetting the door seal: a widely ignored cause of heat loss and higher energy costs. Include it in your weekly cleaning routine.
• Waiting too long: the longer residue sits there, the harder and more difficult it is to remove. Cleaning regularly and briefly is always simpler than one big clean a year.

Are you also looking for a matching hob? Then take a look at our range of built-in electric hobs for a complete kitchen setup, or go to the full cooking appliances overview.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean my built-in oven?

With normal use, a thorough clean once a month is enough. After intensive use such as grilling, clean the oven immediately after it has cooled down. It is best to give the inside of the door and the door seal a quick wipe every week.

Can I clean a built-in oven with vinegar and bicarbonate of soda?

Yes, and it works excellently. Apply a paste of sodium bicarbonate (bicarbonate of soda) and water to the baked-on marks, leave it for at least 30 minutes and then remove it with a damp cloth. Next, spray a little white vinegar on any residue: the reaction helps to loosen the paste. This is an effective method for cleaning the oven without chemicals.

What must I absolutely not use to clean my oven?

Never use wire wool, scouring pads with abrasive cleaner, or harsh chemical oven cleaners on enamelled surfaces and catalytic panels. Do not use sharp metal objects on the door glass either, and make sure that no liquid gets onto the heating element.

How does the pyrolytic function of a built-in oven work?

With pyrolytic cleaning the oven heats itself to around 500°C. All food residue and grease burn away completely to ash at that temperature. Once it has cooled down, you simply wipe the ash out with a dry cloth. You do not need any cleaning products and the result is a completely clean oven cavity.

Do I have to take the shelves out for pyrolytic cleaning?

In most cases, yes. The extreme heat of a pyrolytic cycle can damage the coating on the shelves. Check the manual for your oven, but if in doubt always take out all the loose parts beforehand.

How do I clean the oven door glass without scratching it?

Use a soft cloth or a non-abrasive sponge with sodium bicarbonate paste or a mild degreaser. Let the paste do its work and then remove it carefully. Never use metal scrapers or abrasive products on the glass, as even small scratches can weaken it.

What do I do if my oven keeps smoking during use?

Smoke is almost always a sign of baked-on grease or food residue. Switch the oven off after use, let it cool down and clean the inside thoroughly following the steps above. If the oven keeps smoking after a thorough clean, check whether there is residue on the heating element. Persistent smoke with no visible soiling can point to a technical fault.

Is it wise to buy a new built-in oven instead of continuing to clean an old one?

If your oven is more than ten to fifteen years old, gives regular trouble or uses considerably more energy than modern models, replacing it is certainly worth considering. New ovens are more efficient, more often have handy functions such as pyrolysis and are generally a good deal easier to keep clean. Take a look at our current offers for keenly priced models with a full 5 year warranty.

Conclusion

Maintaining and cleaning built-in ovens does not have to be a big job if you do it regularly. Bicarbonate of soda, vinegar and a soft sponge will get you a long way, and a fixed weekly routine prevents residue from building up. In doing so, look not only at the interior, but also at the door seal, the shelves and the door glass. That way your oven performs better for longer and you keep unnecessary repair costs at bay.