Should you clean your oven before or after Christmas? Cleaning experts weigh in

With the endless list of things to do before the holidays, it's understandable to question whether you should clean your oven before or after Christmas.

Your oven is going to be seeing a lot of action during hosting season. On the one hand, you might not want guests to catch a glimpse of a dirty oven or the whiff of previously burnt on food. On the other hand, it also makes sense to wait till all the festive cooking is done to give it a deep clean.

I spoke to top cleaning experts for their opinions on the best path forward for your oven cleaning this holiday season and their quick kitchen cleaning tips to help with the task at hand.

Why it's better to clean your oven before Christmas

Let's begin by looking at the reasons why cleaning your oven before the big day is a good idea.

James King, operations manager at DeluxeMaid says, 'I prefer cleaning the oven before to prevent adding to that stress! That way, I don't have to worry about scrambling to clean it while having a house full of guests.'

He also insightfully notes that preheating a dirty oven can release a not-so-pleasant smell in the kitchen. 'That’s not a good impression when you’re having friends and family over. The smoke and stinky odor might also mess with the flavor of the dishes,' he says.

Having a clean oven can certainly help your home smell good this Christmas. Moreover, a gunked-up oven might not distribute heat properly and that could lead potentially to unevenly cooked food.

'Cleaning your oven before Christmas is a solid move if you want to start the holiday season with a fresh slate,' adds Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids. 'A clean oven helps ensure that your food cooks evenly and prevents any lingering odors from affecting your dishes. Plus, it can be less stressful to handle the cleaning in advance rather than rushing to do it during the holiday chaos.'

Having a clean oven can also be the safer option, explains Kathy, especially if you use yours a lot. She says, 'Grease build-up can pose a real fire hazard. Simply taking the time to clean can minimize the risk of accidental fires ruining your holiday. Aside from that, you’re saving yourself a ton of time and effort afterward. And you get to participate in the festive fun! You’ll thank yourself later when you’re not stuck scrubbing away while everyone else is having a blast.'

The oven can be one of those hidden areas of the kitchen we forget to clean, and James and Kathy are not the only ones who think a pre-holiday oven clean is the best idea.

'We recommend cleaning your oven about two weeks before Christmas,' says Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company. 'Pull out and clean your oven racks, and give them a good scrubbing in the kitchen sink. Clean the stovetop and oven inside and out, including the door. Once everything is dry, put it all back together.'

If your racks won't fit in the sink, try them in the bath or a large plastic bin such as a shallow, portable and lidded plastic bin from Amazon. When you're done, thoroughly clean and dry it, then slide it under a bench, sofa or bed out of view.

Otherwise, the Carbona No Scent 2-in-1 Oven Rack and Grill Cleaner from Amazon is a great buy that includes bags in which to place the racks while the cleaner does its thing.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Why cleaning your oven after Christmas makes sense

Time for 'team after-Christmas' to have their say. There are definitely some good reasons why a post-holiday oven cleanse could be better in some cases.

'Cleaning your oven before Christmas can be a big task, especially if you’re busy with other preparations,' points out Katie Dills, brand president of The Cleaning Authority. 'If you clean before the holiday and then end up with spills and splatters, you might feel like you’ve wasted your effort.

'Cleaning after Christmas allows you to tackle the mess that’s there, rather than cleaning an oven that will most likely get dirty again during the holidays. The holidays are a season when hosting is at an ultimate high and chances are you have used the kitchen more than usual. After the holiday rush it's a great time to give appliances some TLC, especially your oven.

That said, while Katie is all for a post-Christmas cleaning blitz, she is not wholly against a little kitchen cleaning in the lead-up to the main event.

'While we think a deep clean should occur after the holiday, you should wipe down loose debris, give a quick scrub down, and clean the oven racks a few days prior.'

Oven cleaning without harsh chemicals

Whether you decide that you are going to tackle your oven cleaning before or after the holidays, you'll want to be sure you know exactly how to get the best results out of all your hard work.

Kathy Cohoon offered us these tips on how to clean an oven without chemicals:

1. Remove all oven racks.
2. Mix ½ cup of baking soda, available at Walmart, with three tablespoons of water.
3. Coat your oven with the mixture.
4. Let it sit overnight.
5. Wipe down the oven with cleaning vinegar, available at Walmart, and a damp cloth.

Ken Doty, COO and cleaning expert at The Maids adds, 'If there is a lot of stubborn build-up, scrub again.'

FAQs

How regularly should you clean your oven?

There is one final argument here – surely if you have cleaned your oven regularly, throughout the year, there will be no need for a gargantuan effort to get it sparkling before the holidays? But how often should you clean your oven?

'It's always best to routinely clean your oven every other month,' advises Ken Doty. 'Especially after a greasy meal that may have leaked and been baked into the material.

'Prolonging any sort of cleaning efforts will only allow dirt and grime to build over time, leading to a much harder task when you finally set down to attack it. A dirty oven can also cause your food to lose it's intended flavor and transfer harmful pathogens onto your dishes. Grease build-up can also be a fire hazard.'

Meet our experts

James King

James King is operations manager of DeluxeMaid, a home cleaning service in Indianapolis. With years of experience in the industry, James oversees all aspects of the business, ensuring exceptional service to clients.

Kathy Cohoon

Kathy is operations manager at Two Maids. Two Maids realized that customers wanted more than a clean home. They wanted to trust that their cleaners would do a great job every time they showed up. So, they created a Pay for Performance compensation plan. A customer rates their satisfaction on a scale from 1-10. The higher the rating, the higher the cleaner’s compensation for the job.

Katie Dills

Katie is the director of operations at The Cleaning Authority. She is skilled in operations management, training, and leadership.

Ken Doty

Ken is a cleaning expert and chief operating officer at The Maids International

It is natural to think about having a good clear out before any kind of big event, but how often should you deep clean your home? Spoiler alert – it might not be as frequently as you fear.