How to Remove Burnt-on Food on the Oven Floor

Clean the oven regularly to prevent grease buildup.

In a perfect world, ovens would be wiped down after daily cooking and foods would never spill in the oven. In reality, food spills are common and there is not always time in a busy cook's day to clean up after every meal. The longer food spills remain on an oven floor, the more burnt on they become until they become difficult to remove. Commercial oven cleaners work well, but they contain highly toxic ingredients and can be costly. A less expensive solution can be found in most households among the cleaning supplies.

Things You'll Need

• Clear ammonia
• 1-quart bowl
• Nylon scrubbing pad
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Turn off the oven and make sure it is cold.

2. Fill a bowl with 1 cup of clear household ammonia and place it into the cold oven.

3. Allow the bowl to sit in the oven for a minimum of four hours. For best results, let it sit in the oven overnight.

4. Scrub the burnt-on food off the oven floor with a damp scrubbing pad. The residue should now be soft to the touch and slide off without resistance.

5. Rinse the oven floor with a clean sponge dampened with clear water.

Tips & Warnings

• Once a month, dampen a rag with ammonia and let it sit on any burnt-on food for about 30 minutes to soften it. Follow by cleaning off the oven floor with a damp sponge.

• Avoid inhaling ammonia's strong fumes. Ventilate the area well whenever you use ammonia and never mix it with bleach.

References

• Mrs. Clean: Safe Oven Cleaning Tips
• Penn State University Cooperative Extension: Cleaning Your Electric Stove
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Keeping it Clean: Cleaning the Kitchen Stove, Range Top, and Oven