People are using dishwasher tablets to clean their oven — here's how to do it

oven open in a wooden kitchen — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Ovens can be a real pain to clean. The stubborn stains and grease not only require a lot of heavy scrubbing (that I never feel like doing), but you can end up breathing in a load of chemicals fumes when using specific oven cleaners.

Unfortunately, at this time of year the oven is getting some excessive use to cook up those winter warming meals and festive feasts, so it becomes a bit of an essential task rather than one you can try and avoid. And yet, I still don't feel like doing it.

How to clean your oven with a dishwasher tablet

dishwasher cleaning tablet — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

It turns out that dishwasher tablets are actually a great tool for making sure your oven is sparkling clean and all you have to do is follow these simple steps:

1. Use a dishwasher tablet to soak the oven racks

Start off by wrapping your oven racks in aluminum foil, placing them in hot water until they're fully submerged and then putting in a dishwasher tablet to soak for 2-3 hours.

2. Remove excess crumbs and debris

Make sure you get any loose crumbs and debris from the bottom of your oven out by sweeping with a dustpan or arming yourself with rubber gloves to scoop it into your hand.

3. Wipe down the sides then scrub with a dishwasher tablet

Firstly, wipe down the interior of the oven with a damp cloth or sponge. Then, armed with a dishwasher tablet, briefly soak off the coating in warm water. Then, scrub away at stains and grime until they've been removed. Finally, another wipe down with a damp cloth or sponge to make sure all the dishwasher soap is gone.

4. Use a final dishwasher tablet for the oven door

The third tablet can be used to tackle the dirt and grime on the oven door, using the same scrubbing motion as the interior, and wiping down with a damp cloth or sponge when done.

5. Rinse down your racks and place them back in

After your racks have soaked for long enough, unwrap them and give them a rinse with clean water. Once they're back inside your oven, leave the door open to let everything air dry rather than using a towel or cloth.

Why it works

A dishwasher tablet sitting in a dishwasher dispenser — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

A dishwasher tablet's role is to break down stubborn grease and remove food stains from your dishes and cookware. So, these skills can also be transferred to cleaning your oven and that's why it works so well.

Inside dishwasher tablets is a mix of concentrated cleaning chemicals such as enzymes and bleach that can work wonders on dirt and grime.

The water-soluble film that coats the dishwasher tablet protects these chemicals before use. And while this is usually removed by the water swirling around inside the dishwasher, you can do this by hand to activate the cleaning chemicals for your oven cleaning.

Some simple steps to follow, three dishwasher tablets on hand and a bit of elbow grease, you'll have a clean oven in no time.

Grace is a freelance journalist working across homes, lifestyle, gaming and entertainment. You'll find her writing for Tom's Guide, TechRadar, Space.com, and other sites. If she's not rearranging her furniture, decluttering her home, or relaxing in front of the latest streaming series, she'll be typing fervently about any of her much-loved hobbies and interests. To aid her writing, she loves to head down internet rabbit holes for an unprecedented amount of time.

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