How to clean oven racks: an overnight soak that does the scrubbing

Step by step: how to clean oven racks

Safety first. If you use the ammonia or oven cleaner methods, work outdoors, wear gloves and eye protection, and never mix ammonia or oven cleaner with bleach or any other cleaner. Do not leave standard chrome or nickel racks in the oven during a self-clean cycle.

1. 1

   Take the racks out once the oven is cold

   Make sure the oven is off and fully cool. Pull each rack to its stop, lift the front edge and slide it out. Knock loose crumbs off over the trash or outdoors so they do not end up in your tub drain.

2. 2

   Line the tub and lay the racks flat

   Spread an old towel in the bottom of the bathtub so the metal corners do not scratch the finish. Lay the racks flat on the towel, side by side or stacked with the dirtiest side facing up.

3. 3

   Fill with hot water and dish soap

   Run the hottest tap water until the racks are covered by about an inch. Add about 1/4 cup of grease-cutting dish soap and swish it around. If the racks are very dirty, sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda over them before the water goes in.

4. 4

   Soak for at least 8 hours

   Leave the racks overnight. The water will turn brown and cloudy as the grease softens. A soak of only an hour or two barely touches baked-on spots, so give it the full night.

5. 5

   Scrub the loosened grime

   Drain most of the water, then scrub each rack with a non-scratch pad. Use an old toothbrush for the corners where the bars meet. Most of the brown film should wipe off with light pressure.

6. 6

   Spot treat what is left

   For stubborn dark spots, sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend on a damp pad and scrub along the bar, not across it. Wear gloves, and rinse it off within a minute or two. Repeat on any spot that is still rough to the touch.

7. 7

   Rinse and dry completely

   Rinse each rack under clean running water to remove all soap and cleanser. Dry with a towel and let the racks air dry for an hour so water does not sit in the joints.

8. 8

   Oil the side rails and put them back

   If the racks stick when you slide them, rub a light coat of vegetable oil on the side rails or rack guides with a paper towel, as KitchenAid suggests. Slide the racks back in level, then rinse the towel and clean the tub.

Which oven rack cleaning method works best?

For most racks, a long hot soak with dish soap is the best balance of effort and safety. Stronger methods work faster on black, carbonized grease, but each has a catch.

Simple Green’s rack method uses 2 cups of its cleaner in a tub of hot water overnight, with towels under the racks to protect the tub. If you choose an oven cleaner, check that the label lists racks; Easy-Off’s product line includes a heavy-duty spray and a fume-free version. Spray the racks on a garbage bag outdoors, never in the tub.

Can you leave oven racks in during the self-clean cycle?

Usually no. KitchenAid’s instructions say to always remove the oven racks before self-cleaning, and America’s Test Kitchen notes that most manuals agree, because the extreme heat can dull the finish and leave racks harder to slide in and out.

Some ovens come with dark, porcelain-coated racks that the manufacturer says can stay in for self-clean. If your manual says so, it is fine. If you are not sure, take them out and soak them. Racks that already went through a cycle and now drag on the rails usually slide again after a thin coat of vegetable oil on the rails.

Does the ammonia bag method work?

Yes, sealing racks in a heavy garbage bag with about 1/2 cup of household ammonia overnight lets the fumes loosen baked-on grease, but it is the method with the most risk.

• Do it outdoors on a surface you do not mind, never in the house or garage.
• The ammonia does not need to cover the racks; the fumes inside the sealed bag do the work.
• Open the bag pointing away from you, with gloves and eye protection on, then rinse the racks well with a hose.
• Never add bleach or any other cleaner to the bag. Ammonia and bleach together release toxic gas.

For most kitchens, the plain overnight soak gets you nearly the same result without the fumes. Save ammonia for racks nothing else has moved.

How to keep oven racks clean longer

The easiest rack to clean is one that never gets a full coat of baked-on drips.

• Put a sheet pan on the rack below pies, lasagna and roasts to catch bubbling sauces.
• Wipe drips off with a damp cloth as soon as the oven is cool enough to touch.
• Soak the racks every time you clean the oven itself, so both jobs share one evening. Our guide to cleaning an oven covers the inside.

Mistakes to avoid

• Leaving chrome or nickel racks in a self-clean cycle, which dulls them and makes them stick.
• Soaking for an hour and expecting baked-on grease to wipe off.
• Laying metal racks straight on an acrylic or enamel tub without a towel underneath.
• Mixing ammonia, oven cleaner or vinegar with bleach to make a stronger soak.
• Using a metal scraper or steel wool on porcelain-coated racks, which chips the coating.
• Putting racks back with cleaner residue on them, which smokes the next time you bake.