I've just discovered this oven rack cleaning hack — and all you need is a plastic bag

When it comes to cleaning my oven, scrubbing the racks can often be a time-consuming and arduous task. I would always put off giving oven racks a proper deep clean to remove hardened grease, which is why I was so intrigued by this rather unusual cleaning hack that popped up on my Pinterest feed.

Forget expensive scrubbing tools or a 'miracle' spray — all you need is a plastic bag. In a YouTube clip posted by @UradiSamaIdejeuser, she claims a plastic bag is the answer to making oven rack cleaning easier. What’s more, this simple hack involves kitchen staples that will eliminate the elbow grease, saving you much time (and money) in the long run. Here’s how.

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How to clean an oven rack in a plastic bag in 3 steps

1. Put rack inside plastic bag and make a solution of water and baking soda

Following the instructions on the video, I placed my oven rack inside a plastic bag before making the homemade cleaning solution.

In the video, Uradi dissolves a dishwasher tablet into a bowl of hot water and lets it melt, crushing it with a fork. She then adds three spoonfuls of baking soda, stirring it into the water so that it dissolves properly.

2. Pour solution into the bag

Next, I poured the solution into the bag before tightly closing it at the top. Giving a good shake to distribute the water, I left it on top of a cloth on the countertop for an hour and a half.

If you have a grimy oven rack however, Uradi recommends leaving it overnight. The idea is the longer you allow the solution to soak into the rack, the better it is at lifting off the grease.

3. Scrub and rinse with clean water

Then remove the rack from bag, and lightly scrub away at the grease. When I did this for mine, I noticed how easily the greasy stains scrubbed off, without much effort. Once I was happy with my results, I gave it another good rinse before drying with a clean cloth.

After using this method, I did notice a significant difference, although there were areas where the grease hadn't removed easily. But this possibly might have shifted had I left it to soak overnight, which is something I will try in the future. In any case, this was a simple way to make the task less of a chore.

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Why it works

So how does this simple hack work? Well, it's really all in the solution that mixes two household staples to create an excellent cleaning combo.

First, baking soda is a mild abrasive. When mixed with water to create a paste for cleaning, it acts as a scrub to remove stains, limescale, and can even absorb smelly odors. Plus, baking soda is safe to use around children and pets, making it a handy kitchen staple.

Similarly, dishwasher tablets contain agents and enzymes that can break down stubborn grease and remove food stains. Making it the perfect ingredient for cleaning grimy and grease-laden racks. In fact, you'll be surprised at how many people are using dishwasher tablets to clean their oven.

So if you ever want to make light work of tough oven cleaning, make sure you have a plastic bag at the ready.

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