Cleaning dirty oven racks is an annoying chore, no matter if you're using oven cleaner or a simpler cleaning solution. If you plan ahead and commit to an overnight soak, it is possible to clean your oven racks with soap and water.

Dish Soap vs. Commercial Cleaners

There’s a time and place for heavy-duty commercial oven cleaners, especially if you're trying to clean your kitchen at lunchtime before guests arrive for dinner. Commercial oven cleaning products work fast against baked-on grease stains, but are they really necessary? Not always.

Dish soap also breaks down grease. Plus, you probably already have it at home, it costs less, and smells nicer. For regular cleaning, it's our favorite method. Try it yourself before you jump straight to chemical cleaners.

How to Clean Oven Racks With Dish Soap

You'll Need

• Large storage tub or bathtub (somewhere where the rack can lay flat)
• Old shower liner
• Scrub brush and scrubbing sponge
• Dish soap (Please choose a grease-fighting formula)
• Old towels
• Optional: Rubber gloves (liquid dish soap is mild but you may want to protect your hands against the grease)

1. Prep Your Workspace

• Line your bathtub with old towels, and then drape it with the plastic shower liner. The cushion of towels should prevent scratching, and the shower liner traps the greasy water as it soaks and simplifies cleanup.
• Place the racks flat.

2. Brush Down Oven Racks

• Use the scrubbing brush to knock loose baked-on food and oven debris off crusty oven racks.

3. Soak the Racks

• Fill the plastic liner with hot water, submerging the racks completely.
• Add 1 cup of dish soap and agitate the water to mix.
• Let it soak for 4-6 hours (or overnight for stubborn grease).

4. Scrub Away Residue

• In the soapy water, use an abrasive sponge and elbow grease to scrub racks clean. The grease will have a thick peanut butter consistency but it will come off with time and special attention and intense scrubbing.
• Draining the water and refilling it with hot water helps, in our experience.

5. Rinse and Dry

• Rinse racks with warm water.
• Air dry clean racks on a flat surface or wipe them down with a clean towel before placing them back in the oven.

FAQ

Why do you use a shower liner when you're cleaning oven racks?

I know this oven rack cleaning hack sounds weird, but using a plastic shower liner makes cleanup easier. If I'm cleaning the oven racks in a plastic bin, the bin stays clean and I can just throw away the liner. If I'm using the bath tub, after cleaning the oven racks, I can slowly drain the water and debris without it sloshing around the entire tub.

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How often should I clean my oven racks?

You should clean your oven racks every two months if you use your oven frequently.

You can delay deep cleaning by wiping them with a damp sponge after every use (cool the racks first!) 

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Can I use aluminum foil to line the racks instead of cleaning them?

Using aluminum foil as a protective layer can trap heat and disrupt cooking times; it’s better to clean your racks than rely on foil.

Another option is to put your oven-safe dish on a baking sheet to protect against spills.

Is it safe to clean oven racks in the dishwasher?

Some racks are dishwasher-safe. Just make sure the racks aren't blocking any dishwasher jets. Regular dishwasher detergent can take care of any crusty grime but it’s not always effective for tough stains or the dirtiest oven racks.

If the rack isn't labeled as dishwasher safe, it's because the high heat during the cleaning cycle could warp some types of racks.

This is the same reason you shouldn't run an oven on a self-clean cycle without checking if the racks are safe to self-clean.

Do dishwasher tablets really work, or is that just TikTok hype?

Dishwasher tablets gained a reputation as a miracle cleaning hack, and while can be an effective method for grimy oven racks or even dirty grill racks, they’re not a magic bullet.

If you already own them, it can be a cleaning method worth trying. They're concentrated. Their degreasing power and enzymes are designed to clean. But to say they have a superior cleaning power to regular dish soap's surfactants is an exaggeration. They're good! But so is liquid soap.