Smart Methods For Getting Scratches Out Of Your Oven Glass

Over time, the glass portion of your oven door can become caked with burnt-on food and grease, and while scrubbing with abrasive products might take off the buildup, it can also leave unsightly scratches. If the scratches are deep, they can be difficult to remove, but you can buff light surface scratches with household items such as baking soda, non-gel toothpaste, or super-fine steel wool. While there may be other hacks for removing scratches from glass, avoid using chemical-laden or flammable products (like nail polish, which is highly flammable when wet), as you don't want to release harmful toxins in the air or on your food.

There are harmful mistakes to avoid at all costs when cleaning a glass oven door. So, once you have your scratches buffed, stick to safer oven-cleaning methods so you don't have to deal with this issue again. You can say goodbye to oven glass stains with a scratch-free cleaning solution, such as a steamer, or opt for baking soda and vinegar for lighter cleaning jobs.

Since glass can shatter (even tempered glass in your oven door), it's important to take safety precautions before buffing it. Put on protective goggles, long sleeves, and gloves. Then, no matter the buffing method you plan to use, first, clean the glass door with a solution of one part white distilled vinegar to one part water. To remove scratches with toothpaste, make sure you're using a white, non-gel version with no abrasive additives. Squeeze the toothpaste onto a dry microfiber cloth and apply gentle pressure to lightly buff the scratches in small circular motions. Rinse as needed to check your progress and repeat until the scratches are no longer visible. Rinse thoroughly when finished.

If you don't have the right toothpaste, you can easily remove scratches from glass with another common household staple: baking soda. Mix baking soda and water until a paste forms. Add the paste to a dry microfiber cloth, then buff the scratches with small circular motions. If that doesn't work, super-fine #0000 steel wool might do the trick. Use only fresh pads; rusty or old pads may cause additional scratches. You'll also want to test this in an inconspicuous area first to ensure the steel wool doesn't cause damage to your glass. With that in mind, use small circular motions to buff out the scratches, and then rinse thoroughly.