In this post, we share a simple six-step process for cleaning the oven without using unnecessary chemicals. By using soap and a few simple tools, you can restore your oven to its former condition in an eco-friendly way.

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Clean the oven in six simple steps, completely without unnecessary chemicals!

1. Start by brushing all the loose “debris” out of the oven with a brush.

This is what the oven looks like before we begin treating it with soap. A few simple steps will make it look like new again.

When it comes to soap, it is much easier to clean the oven with a fatty soap. Fat dissolves fat—the like-dissolves-like principle. Dirt in the oven is often fat. What isn’t fat is food residue (from plants or animals). A rule of thumb for natural cleaning is to use something alkaline to remove residue from plants or animals. Västerbottenssåpa is both fatty and alkaline.

Another advantage of solid soap is that it is so firm and thick that you can make a thick foam from it without it running down the oven’s inner walls and ceiling.

2. Work the soap into all the oven’s surfaces with a little water. Some ovens have parts that can be removed and cleaned separately.

3. Remove the baking trays and racks and soap them. Use plenty of soap and water. They need to be thoroughly wet for this to work. Then place everything in a plastic bag and seal it. Leave this package wet for at least one day, preferably longer if you have time. Make sure it stays wet, covered with soap and water, the entire time. This will loosen the dirt on the rack so you can easily remove it afterward with the ecofibre cloth or brush.

Start the oven at 150–180 degrees for about 20 minutes. For an extra effect, place a bowl of water inside. It’s the steam we’re after! Hot water and soap work well together.

4. Now be careful when you start wiping out the oven! Let the water cool before you start wiping out the oven. If you have time, leave the oven with soap in it overnight. That way, you can be sure it has cooled by the next day, and the soap and water will have had a little extra time to work while you get on with other things.
Our oven cleaning kit includes a brush with really stiff bristles. Use the brush to scrub the surfaces inside the oven. Wipe them dry with the cloth and repeat until you're satisfied. If there are really stubborn, burnt-on residues, you may need to use the scraper, but be careful so that you 1 don't cut yourself 2 don't damage the surface.

5. The oven door. It's time to take it apart, but first remove the inside pane of glass; it is always the dirtiest, and here you may need both an ecofiber cloth and a scraper.
A bonus tip: Take a couple of photos of the clips and fasteners in the oven door so you can look at the pictures and see how it should be put together. This makes it easier to reassemble the door later; there are many different types of oven doors, and some are really tricky to put back together. 

Polish and scrape the glass panels (there are usually two) on both sides, then put them back in place.

If you're having problems with the oven door, there's a separate blog post specifically about the oven door here.

6. Then it's time for the racks. Take them out of the bag with soap and water and scrub them clean. It's best to do this in the sink, as you can easily rinse them off afterward too. 
Put everything back together, and then you can start cooking again!

Can this be done faster? -Of course it can! There is almost always a stronger chemical available, but the question is whether you want to deal with it and whether you want to cook food in the oven afterward?
With this method, you let time, heat, soap, and soap do the heavy lifting.

 This is what it looks like when it's finished!

We have put together a kit that contains everything you need: a package of solid, concentrated, fragrance-free soap, 230 ml, an ecofiber cloth, a glass cooktop scraper, and a small, coarse scrubbing brush. You can find the kit here.

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Questions and Answers

What are the basic tools and products needed to clean the oven according to the description?
To clean the oven, you need a sturdy brush, solid soap, a scraper, water, and an ecofiber cloth. You can get all of this in the Västerbottenssåpa Oven Cleaning Kit.

Why is it recommended to leave baking trays and racks soaked in soap and water for at least 24 hours?
Leaving baking trays and racks soaked in soap and water for at least 24 hours dissolves the dirt, making them easier to clean later.

What is the benefit of taking photos of the clips and fasteners in the oven door before disassembling it?
Taking photos of the clips and fasteners in the oven door makes reassembly easier after cleaning by providing a visual reference for how the door should be put back together.

Buy Oven Cleaning Kit here