Clean And Shine Your Stainless Steel Oven With These 10 Solutions

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When the holiday seasons come around, your oven tends to bear the brunt of the festivities. Whether you're using it to cook an entire turkey or bake your favorite pumpkin pie, your oven will get pretty stained and coated in grease, batter, oil, and more. If you have a stainless steel oven, you'll want to maintain a crisp finish to brighten the kitchen, and there are fortunately a few tricks you can try to clean and shine up the appliance. Most of these hacks involve products you probably already have in your pantry or kitchen, such as vinegar, baking soda, and even plain old water.

When looking for the best cleaners for your stainless steel kitchen appliances, it's crucial to steer clear of a few common products that could scratch, tarnish, or degrade the material. Harsh cleaners that can corrode the surface, like bleach, oven cleaners meant for the interior, aggressive acids, or any products containing chloride, should be avoided. As for tools, you do not want to use steel wool, tough scrubbing pads, or steel brushes, as these could scratch and damage the stainless steel. If you stick with milder solutions, wipe in the direction of the grain, and always use a soft microfiber cloth for drying afterwards, you'll have few problems keeping your oven looking pristine. 

Before you use any chemicals or cleaners to clean your stainless steel oven, it's always worth a shot to dip a soft washcloth in warm water and scrub away at any grease or grime. This method is most successful for spot cleaning, as opposed to scrubbing the entire appliance, which may require a more powerful solution. Use a microfiber cloth and distilled water, if possible, since it's free of minerals or contaminants that may appear on the oven later. When you've finished spot cleaning with water, always wipe the stainless steel dry to avoid leaving any streaks behind. 

One of the highest-rated products for removing grease from multiple surfaces, including stainless steel, is Bar Keepers Friend. This oxalic acid–based cleanser comes in a popular powder cleanser as well as spray and liquid forms. To clean your stainless steel oven door, simply pour a small amount onto a damp cloth and wipe down the surface. Don't forget to then rinse and dry the area. BKF even has a Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish Spray to clean gunk and grease from your oven and leave a shiny finish — just spray and buff away!

Possibly the most versatile ingredient in your home, vinegar can be a helpful ally in combating the buildup covering your stainless steel oven. While not touted as a multi-purpose cleaner for the entire door, vinegar is useful in removing stains and tough spots, specifically hard water marks. Dilute the vinegar with water to create a DIY solution that will tackle the stains. Since vinegar is acidic, you want to make sure you wipe this cleaner off immediately and dry with a microfiber cloth. Otherwise, the product could damage the finish if it stays on too long. 

Olive oil is another kitchen essential that can shine your stainless steel fridge, sink, range, and much more. While not be the best option for cleaning your oven, olive oil will definitely add moisture and a gleaming finish. If your oven door has smudges, fingerprints, hard water stains, and other marks, this trick will help you out. Once your oven door is cleaned, go in with a few drops of olive oil on a microfiber cloth, wiping off all of the smudges and fingerprints. 

Leaning on another tried-and-true kitchen staple, you can keep your stainless steel appliances sparkling clean with a powerful dish soap mixed with water. Any mild dish soap with degreasing qualities is a solid match for dirty, smudged stainless steel. Fill a bowl with warm water, and add a few drops of dish soap. Dip your microfiber cloth into the water, and gently wipe down the oven door. This should remove grease buildup, batter stains, and smudges. Wipe the door again with water to remove any residual soap. Finally, dry and polish it with a clean cloth. 

Baking soda, the ultimate all-purpose cleaner, can also remove stubborn buildup from your stainless steel oven. To create your own DIY baking soda paste, mix baking soda with water until you have a thick consistency. Apply it to the stuck food stains, and let it sit for at least 20 minutes before wiping it off. Since it's mildly abrasive, lightly scrubbing with the baking soda paste can help work off tough stuck-on gunk. Finally, rinse and dry the area.

If you don't have a stainless steel-specific cleaner on hand but you do have an extra bottle of glass cleaner, you're in luck. With a microfiber cloth, you can apply glass cleaner to stains and smudges on your stainless steel. Use this type of product with caution, though, as the harsh ammonia could potentially damage the finish over time or leave streaks. Avoid using glass cleaner as a daily solution to your steel's stains, but if you need an immediate fix, it's a useful once-in-a-while way to quickly refresh the surface.

If you struggle to keep your stainless steel oven from pesky fingerprints and smudges, a few drops of baby oil and a microfiber cloth can easily remedy the problem. Since baby oil won't clear grime or dirt off the surface, you will want to wipe your oven down with a wet cloth first, maybe using a few drops of dish soap to scrub off any stubborn food stains. Pour a few drops of baby oil onto a soft cloth, and wipe down your appliance. Using a dry cloth, buff the residual oil off for a bright shine.

There's even a potential stainless steel cleaning solution in your garage. WD-40, known for its degreasing and rust-preventing properties, can be used to remove any food buildup or fingerprint smudges left on your stainless steel oven. Since this appliance tends to get a significant buildup of grease, a degreaser like WD-40 is an excellent cleaner option. Get rid of those pesky fingerprints on the door and handle of your oven with a small amount of WD-40 sprayed onto a soft microfiber cloth, buffing it into the stainless steel surface. 

Another easy method for spot cleaning your stainless steel oven is to grab a product that typically lives on your bathroom counter: your tube of toothpaste. Thanks to its slight abrasive qualities, toothpaste may work as a makeshift scrub, removing dried food or buildup stuck to the front of your oven. While it shouldn't be your first choice to clean the entire oven, the product helps to diminish minor scratches and polish the surface. You can use a microfiber cloth or even an old toothbrush to work it in, making sure to wipe the oven clean when done.