How to Clean Oven Racks with Dryer Sheets (+ Video)

Want to know how to clean oven racks the easy way? Learn the secret to getting clean oven racks - using dryer sheets and hot water in a bathtub!

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Have you ever met somebody who actually likes cleaning an oven? I don't think I have. It's simply not fun. There are some cleaning tasks I can get behind (I actually like vacuuming), but oven cleaning isn't one of them.

So, I try to make it as easy and painless as possible. Cleaning the oven is on my Journey to Clean monthly tasks during the kitchen week, so it's something I've at least got to think about once a month. I don't do what you'll see in this post every month – that would be way too much work!

Monthly Touch-Ups

It's completely unnecessary to do a full deep clean of your oven every month. I have an easy monthly touch-up process that takes maybe 10 minutes - easy peasy!

When checking the oven monthly, I...

• clean the glass on the door (inside and outside)
• scrub any stains or spills in the bottom of the oven
• do a quick scrub of the oven racks
• wipe down the sides of the oven

How often do I need to deep clean an oven?

Every few months, I'll give the oven a deep clean – it usually only needs it that often.

As you can see, it needs cleaning, even if it's not overly dirty. Many of you know I'm a big Instant Pot fan; I don't use the oven every night.

So, your mileage may vary. If you see that your oven needs a monthly cleaning, by all means, go for it! However, for most people, using this deep cleaning method every 3-4 months works just fine.

Before: Dirty Oven Racks

By far, the dirtiest thing in my oven is always the racks. I'm pretty good at managing spills, but the racks usually take the brunt of my messes. There is usually lots of baked-on food and grease stains.

You'll see that I have a somewhat unconventional way of cleaning these wire racks. I read this weird trick online a few years ago, and crazy enough, it works! This is the best way to clean oven racks that I've encountered, even if it is a little strange.

Step 1: Place dirty oven racks in a tub with hot water.

Remove the oven racks (I have a double oven, so I have 4) and place them in the biggest bathtub you have. Fill (enough to cover the racks) with the hottest water you can. Hot water will help break up some of the gunkier spots.

Step 2: Add dryer sheets to the bathtub.

This is where it gets weird. Take 8-10 dryer sheets and throw them in the tub. Trust the process here - this is the most effective way to clean oven racks that I've found.

Allow this to sit (no need to mix) for a few hours. The amount of time it takes for a clean cycle to run on your oven is perfect.

Step 3: Wipe down oven racks with the used dryer sheets.

After a few hours, use the wet dryer sheets to scrub the grease and grime off of your oven racks. Most of the gunk should fall right off, making oven rack cleaning a breeze!

(I didn't wear rubber gloves for this, but you might want to consider them. There will be a lot of grime floating in your water.)

This is after I wipe the racks with almost no pressure. There's something about the fabric softeners in the dryer sheets that takes baked-on messes off of stainless steel.

I usually have to use a melamine sponge in addition to the dryer sheets to get the really stubborn messes off. (Of course, you can use the brand name Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but I ordered my melamine sponges from Amazon. They're just as good as the name brand, but so much cheaper!)

The dryer sheets help break up the grime, so scrubbing the gunk off is easier than if you didn't soak your racks. (And, for really stubborn messes, a small scrub brush or bristle brush helps.) You can also use a scrub brush, scouring pad, or an old toothbrush.

Step 4: Rinse oven racks well and dry.

Once you've scrubbed your oven racks really well, drain the bathtub. Make sure and spray the oven racks down with water to remove any extra film or residue from the dryer sheets.

This won't 100% make your racks look brand new. I don't know that this is possible without hours and hours of scrubbing. If you're willing to do that, go for it, but it's just not worth that to me. I want them to be clean, but I'm not looking for perfection.

Cleaning the Oven

You'll need to wait a few hours to let the oven racks soak in the tub...might as well clean your oven while you're waiting! If you're lucky enough to have a cleaning cycle on your oven, this is a no-brainer. The cleaning cycle gets the inside of the oven extremely hot for a few hours to basically turn any messes into ash. This makes it so simple to wipe any oven grime away.

You'll need to pick a day you're going to be home for awhile and, preferably, a cooler day. The oven cleaning cycle makes the house really hot.

Wait until that oven cleaning cycle finishes and your oven cools down enough to not burn you (but is still warm). Then, give everything a good spray with a white vinegar/water combo. Scrub any leftover stains with a melamine sponge.

I like to keep harsh chemicals to a minimum when cleaning my oven. You don't want any of those chemicals baking and releasing fumes into your home, you know? Many people swear by commercial oven cleaners. But, I've found that white vinegar works well for this task.

I usually have to go over glass stains a few times, as they tend to be the most stubborn. The melamine sponge takes those stains right off.

Then, it's as simple as wiping any leftover ash out of the inside of the oven!

How to Clean an Oven Without a Self-Cleaning Function

Don't worry; it's not difficult to clean an oven that doesn't have a self-cleaning function. You might have seen the method of making a baking soda paste and smothering it all over the inside of the oven. I don't recommend this method at all.

I've tried it and, trust me when I say that you will be cleaning baking soda out of the corners of your oven for months. The baking soda bakes onto the heating element and can cause a fire. It's also almost impossible to completely wipe away.

Try this baking soda method at your own risk.

Instead, I like cleaning an oven using the steam method. Fill an oven-safe dish with half white vinegar/half water. You can start with warm water or even boiling water before putting it in the oven. This is not necessary (it will speed up the process, though).

Set your oven to 400 degrees and allow the mixture to boil for 30 minutes or so, creating steam. At that point, cut the oven off and leave the vinegar/water solution in the oven for a few hours.

Next, use a melamine sponge and a little bit of elbow grease to scrub any baked-on stains. The steam does a great job of breaking up cooked on food and grease stains in the oven. At this point, it's ok to use a paste made out of baking soda and water to scrub especially stubborn stains!

You can even sprinkle a little bit of baking soda over and gunk, then scrub with an old toothbrush. I just don't recommend caking any kind of baking soda paste over the surfaces of the entire oven.

Cleaning the Oven Door

Once the interior of the oven is clean, you're finally to the easy part (and the part that I do every month)! Give the oven door's glass a wipe with your vinegar/water combo and a microfiber cloth. I love that these cloths get glass streak-free without using fancy cleaners.

If you're not looking to spend extra money, an old towel or old rag works fine.

After Cleaning

And there you have it...an oven and oven racks clean and ready for another month of cooking! As much as I dislike cleaning an oven, it is nice to have it clean. 😉

With a little maintenance, it's really not that bad. Plus, you get to tell people about how you clean your oven with dryer sheets. 😂

How-To Video

More Tips for a Clean Oven

• If you have a casserole or dish that might boil over in the oven, make sure to put aluminum foil or a baking sheet under it while baking. This will catch any boil-over, keeping your oven floor clean.
• If something does boil over, wipe it as soon as you can. If it bakes into your oven and/or racks, it's much harder to clean later.
• Have an extra stubborn baked-on spill? Use a paste made of baking soda to scrub it. Careful though - this can take off the finishes on your oven or racks.

I hope you learned a little bit about how to clean dirty oven racks and the rest of the oven today! Let me know any more good cleaning tips in the comments below. And make sure to follow along for the latest cleaning posts!