The stove is an essential kitchen appliance, but having an oven at hand is just superb. From meatloaf to cupcakes, baking and broiling can be a joy. However, not every recipe goes smoothly, and it's easy to forget about cleaning the appliance after baking time is over. 

You'll need your oven again sooner or later, so why not clean it today? The best part is that it's not that hard when you have the right method. If you are looking for a way to clean your oven without toxic products or lots of elbow grease, you can rely on vinegar. 

Here's how to clean your oven using vinegar steam.

Self-cleaning vs. vinegar steam cleaning

Some ovens have a convenient feature that removes tough grime using extreme heat. However, on top of considerably raising your bill, this setting requires special care and time. In other words, self-cleaning works, but you shouldn't always rely on this feature. 

On the other hand, you can try to clean your oven carefully with natural products like white vinegar. The process is similar to the self-cleaning function of some ranges, but you won't use heat alone to clean the appliance interior.

Why vinegar is an excellent choice for cleaning your oven

Nothing beats white vinegar when dealing with greasy appliances. Vinegar works because it has acidic properties, meaning it can dissolve the layers of residue, stains, and grime on most surfaces.

In this case, the power of vinegar will do wonders when steamed inside the oven, making sure it penetrates through the pesky spots stuck on the appliance walls. Another neat feature of vinegar is that it can cut through any lingering bad smell from past baking.

How to clean the oven using vinegar steam

Cleaning your oven with steam is pretty straightforward. After you loosen the gunk inside your appliance, your only effort will be to wipe the walls. 

Another benefit is that you don't need to wait; your oven will be ready for your next meal immediately after the process, thanks to how fast vinegar dissipates. Besides, you won't deal with any lingering smells, despite how strong vinegar can smell during cleaning.

For this method, you will need the following tools and supplies:

• An oven-safe pot
• Distilled water
• White vinegar
• An empty spray bottle
• A microfiber cloth or sponge
• Paper towels

Get your supplies within reach and tackle this chore!

Step 1: Clear the oven of debris

Before we heat things, ensure there is no debris or crumbs left in the oven (so they don't burn even more). Also, take out the oven racks, or you'll be heating them unnecessarily, and they can get in your way when wiping the walls. 

Now that the oven is empty, it's time to apply some vinegar.

Step 2: Heat a pot with water and vinegar

Fill an oven-safe pot with water, and pour ½ cup of white vinegar. Then, turn up the heat to a temperature of 300°F and let the water boil until it starts steaming. 

Step 3: Let the oven steam up for 30 minutes

Let steam build up. Once the oven is filled with vinegar steam, turn off the heat and let the vinegar work its magic inside for about 30 minutes. The moisture will loosen up all the residue from the appliance walls, preparing it for easier wiping. 

Step 4: Remove the pot from the oven

To this point, the oven should be at a safe temperature; carefully open the door, maintaining a safe distance from any steam that might come out. Then, wear oven mitts to remove the pot. 

Now prepare your supplies for wiping the oven's doors. Remember to act quickly, so the residue doesn't dry again.

Step 5: Wipe the oven walls

Even when steamed, it helps to add a little more dissolving power to your cleaning. So, to ensure thorough wiping, make a vinegar solution. Inside your spray bottle, mix equal parts vinegar and water. 

Then, spray directly on the oven walls and clean them with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth. If you need to buff some details and remove streaks, you can dip a cloth or paper towels in undiluted vinegar and apply directly to the spots.

Step 6: Let the oven dry (and vinegar smells dissipate)

White vinegar doesn't need rinsing, so it's enough to let the oven dry. If you're worried about the lingering smell of vinegar, it's all right; it should dissipate in no time, so you'll enjoy an odor-free oven. Now you're done cleaning your oven!

What if stubborn spots remain on your oven walls? 

Sometimes, vinegar steam doesn't take care of every spot in your oven. If this is your case, you might need to try a method with more power. To surely remove stubborn grime, you can add the scrubbing power of baking soda (another excellent product from your kitchen).

Check the following method and get rid of even the toughest stain in your oven!

How to clean your oven with vinegar and baking soda

White vinegar works wonders, but some cleaning tasks are too challenging for just one product. 

Then, what to do? The answer is also in your kitchen. Baking soda is a top-notch dissolving agent and deodorizer; even the toughest residue will disappear when scrubbed with baking soda and vinegar.

However, if you are not careful, you'll be making a mess since vinegar has a particular reaction to baking soda. Besides, scrubbing your oven with baking soda can be time-consuming.

If you decide this is the way to clean your oven, check this straightforward guide and tackle those greasy stains:

 How To Clean Your Oven With Baking Soda And Vinegar

Is oven cleaning too much work? Let Rain City Maids take care of it!

If you have a long list of pending chores, things can get worse with a greasy oven; the good news is that you can trust Rain City Maids Bellevue to take over your regular cleaning routine. Besides basic cleaning, we offer a range of add-ons to ensure we cover your household needs—oven cleaning included.

Check our services and see what else we can clean for you. Rest assured your home cleaning will be done by a vetted professional!