What not to do with oven cleaner – 6 things you must avoid to prevent damaging your home

Oven cleaner is one of the most potent cleaning products you can find in your cleaning cabinet and you must use it with caution. 

Given that it is so powerful, there may be a temptation to try it elsewhere in your home to help combat stubborn cleaning tasks you would rather avoid, but cleaning professionals warn that, besides cleaning an oven, this chemical concoction is best left alone. 

These are the six things you should not do with oven cleaners to protect both your home and your health.

What not to do with oven cleaner

It is best to avoid trying to make up your own cleaning tips when it comes to powerful cleaners such as oven cleaners, experts recommend – it is good to remember that not everything in your home has to have a dual purpose. Here is what to avoid to prevent accidents. 

1. Never bring it onto oven doors

Despite being an oven cleaner, this product is only suitable for the inside of your oven – i.e. the metal box section and not the glass front, Lina Dasilva from Toronto Shine Cleaning reminds us.

‘The chemicals can etch the glass, leaving it foggy and damaged, possibly even causing it to shatter when subjected to heat,’ she warns. ‘When cleaning a glass oven door, stick to natural cleaners like cleaning with baking soda and either vinegar or water for a gentle abrasive cleaner to remove grease and grime.’  

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Lina DaSilva

Lina DaSilva is the founder of the award-winning Toronto Shine Cleaning. With over 5 years of industry experience, she specializes in residential cleaning and home organization. Her venture focuses on offering living wages and empowering homeowners to enjoy cleaner, more organized spaces.

2. Don’t use it on fans and broilers

Similarly, despite being inside your oven, oven cleaner should be kept away from fans and broilers, Lina DaSilva, cleaning expert, continues:

‘These areas are often made of more sensitive materials that could be damaged by the harsh chemicals in oven cleaners,’ she explains.

To clean a broiler or fan, use a damp (not wet) lint-free cloth with some dish soap to gently wipe away grease, ensuring all the soap residue is removed before leaving it to dry.

3. Always make sure it's rinsed thoroughly

No matter how you clean your oven, whether you are cleaning an oven with lemon or using a chemical cleaner, it is essential to make sure any residue is removed before using your oven to cook with, reminds Millie Hurst, Solved section editor at Homes & Gardens. 

‘When working with chemicals, follow the manufacturer's instructions for how to remove it. Once the cleaner has been cleared away, use warm water and plain soap to remove the residue before rinsing again with just water, and leaving it to dry fully before cooking. 

'If there is a smell when you use your oven for the first time after cleaning with chemicals, turn the oven up high to burn it off for 20 minutes or so, before cooking anything inside it. You can also add a baking dish of water to create steam and help remove odors, but do so carefully.’ 

Millie Hurst

Millie Hurst is Section Editor at Homes & Gardens, overseeing the Solved section, which provides readers with practical advice for their homes. Millie has written about and tried out countless cleaning and DIY hacks in the six years since she became a journalist, and has worked in both London and New York. 

4. Don't use it to unclog a sink

Oven cleaner is prized for its ability to eat away at grease, but it should never be used to clean or unclog a sink, Joshua Bartlett, home improvement expert and founder of I’ll Just Do It Myself, warns.

’Contrary to popular belief, oven cleaner is not safe for unclogging greasy kitchen drains,’ he shares. ‘It can damage plumbing and is harmful to the environment – opt for a dedicated sink unblocker such as Drano from Walmart instead,’ he urges.  

5. Don’t forget to ventilate the space

Just because a cleaning product is designed to be used indoors doesn't mean you should use it in a fully enclosed space, cleaning expert Lina DaSilva comments. Oven cleaners are particularly incredibly potent, she explains, and they can be damaging to your airways when used without the proper ventilation.

Always keep the area well-ventilated by opening doors and windows, and running an extractor fan if you have one. It may also help to wear a mask while working – especially if you are leaning into your oven to reach the far back corners, Lina suggests.

6. Never use it outside of an oven

The hint should be in the name, but oven cleaner should never be used outside of an oven to clean a kitchen, says Joshua Bartlett, home improvement expert:

‘Avoid countertops, particularly laminated or natural countertops,’ he begins. ‘Oven cleaner can eat away at laminates, causing discoloration or changes to the texture and pattern. Because natural countertops are often quite porous, using oven cleaners can soak into the material and cause a cross-contamination issue.

‘Similarly, don’t use it to clean kitchen appliances. It might be tempting to use a heavy-duty cleaner like oven cleaner on other kitchen appliances, but it can damage the finish of refrigerators, microwaves, and dishwashers.

‘Finally, whether you have tile, hardwood, or linoleum, oven cleaner can cause discoloration and damage to the flooring surface, so try to avoid spilling any.’

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FAQs

Oven cleaner is certainly not a product you’ll want to be messing around with, and knowing how often you should clean your oven can help you avoid overusing the chemicals and damaging either your oven or your health. Use it sparingly and follow the accompanying instructions for the best results.