If your oven racks look dull, sticky, or covered in burnt-on food, it’s probably time for a cleaning. Grime buildup doesn’t just look bad, but it can also make your oven smell when it heats up.

Regular oven maintenance, including cleaning the racks, helps keep your kitchen running smoothly and can extend the life of your appliance. Here’s how to clean your oven racks, what you’ll need, and the easiest ways to get the job done.

How Often Should You Clean Your Oven Racks?

It depends on how often you use your oven. If you cook or bake a lot, aim to clean your oven racks every few months. Light oven users can probably get away with a deep clean two to three times a year.

If you notice smoke, strange smells, or heavy grime buildup on the bottom and side surfaces of your oven, it probably needs an oven deep cleaning. That’s the perfect time to give your oven racks a good scrubbing as well. Regular light cleanings go a long way, but setting aside time for deep cleaning appliances like your oven every so often will help keep them working — and looking — their best.

What You’ll Need to Clean Your Oven Racks

Before you get started, gather your cleaning equipment. Fortunately, all you need are a few basic tools and common household cleaners:

Dish soap
Baking soda
White vinegar
Oven cleaner
Scrubbing brush or sponge
Towel
Trash bag
Rubber gloves

How Do You Clean Oven Racks? 5 Easy Methods

You have many options when it comes to cleaning your oven racks. Below, we’ve listed some of the best ways to clean oven racks. A few require overnight soaking, so pick the method that works best with your schedule, as well as the level of grime you’re dealing with.

1. Dish Soap and Hot Water

This method is simple and doesn’t require harsh chemicals. It’s perfect if your oven racks are a little greasy or have light buildup.

Remove the racks from the oven.
Place them in a kitchen sink or bathtub filled with very hot water and a generous squirt of dish soap.
Let them soak for at least 2 hours — overnight works even better.
Use a sponge or scrub brush to scrub off the loosened grime.
Rinse the racks thoroughly with warm water and dry with a towel or let them air-dry before putting them back in the oven.

A dirty dish rack being washed in a soapy kitchen sink.

2. Baking Soda and Vinegar

This is a great chemical-free option that uses natural ingredients to break down grease. The fizzing reaction helps lift grime from the surface of the oven racks.

Lay your oven racks in a large sink or bathtub.
Generously sprinkle baking soda over the racks.
Pour white vinegar over them. Expect a bubbling reaction.
After 10 to 15 minutes, fill the tub or sink with hot water until the racks are fully submerged.
Let everything soak for at least 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.
After they’re done soaking, scrub the racks with a sponge or brush to remove loosened grease.
Rinse well and dry completely before reinstalling the racks in the oven.

3. Oven Cleaner

For stubborn messes, a commercial oven cleaner is often the fastest and most effective choice for cleaning your oven racks. Use it in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors.

Place the oven racks in a large trash bag (a heavy-duty yard waste bag works well).
Spray the racks with oven cleaner, and make sure to coat all surfaces.
Seal the bag tightly and let it sit outside or in the garage for 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.
With gloves on, remove the racks from the bag and rinse them with a garden hose or in a large sink.
Scrub any leftover grime, rinse again, and dry thoroughly before placing them back in the oven.

4. Dryer Sheets and Dish Soap

While not a traditional method, dryer sheets can help soften grime thanks to their anti-static and softening ingredients. Combined with dish soap, they work surprisingly well to get rid of buildup on your oven racks.

Lay your oven racks in the bathtub and spread several dryer sheets over and under them.
Add enough hot water to fully cover the racks and pour in a few drops of dish soap.
Let everything soak for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
Use the soaked dryer sheets to scrub the racks, focusing on stuck-on spots.
Rinse the racks thoroughly and dry before returning them to the oven.

An open electric oven covered with cleaning foam in a kitchen.

5. Self-Cleaning Oven

Some ovens let you leave the oven racks inside during the self-clean cycle, but others warn against it. Self-cleaning ovens use extremely high heat to burn off grime, so no soaking or hard scrubbing is required. Generally, a light wiping along the bottom and side surfaces of the oven is all that’s needed after a self-cleaning cycle.

Be sure to check your oven’s manual before using the self-cleaning feature to clean your racks. Ensure it explicitly says that you can leave the racks inside your oven during a self-clean cycle; otherwise, assume you cannot. Remember that this method can discolor or warp your oven racks over time, so it’s best to use it sparingly and instead rely on the other methods described.

Remove anything that isn’t part of the oven itself, such as an oven thermometer you may have put in it, baking stones, pans, or foil. Only the racks and the oven interior should remain.
Start the self-cleaning cycle.
Once the cycle is finished and the oven has cooled completely, wipe away any ash or residue from the racks and interior.

What’s the Best Way to Clean Oven Racks?

The best way to clean your oven racks depends on how dirty they are and what kind of cleaner you want to use. If you're dealing with heavy buildup or burnt-on grease, oven cleaner in a sealed trash bag (method #3 above) is usually the most effective option.

For a gentler, non-toxic approach, soaking the racks in baking soda and vinegar works well. Both methods require a little time and effort, but they generally get the job done.

What’s the Easiest Way to Clean Your Oven Racks?

If you're looking for something simple, soaking your oven racks overnight in a bathtub with hot water and dish soap is the easiest option. You simply drop them in, let them soak, then scrub off the softened residue in the morning. You don’t need special tools, and you avoid harsh chemicals altogether.

Keep Your Oven Covered With a Home Warranty

Cleaning oven racks helps your oven function better and reduces smoke, odors, and messes. Staying on top of oven maintenance is a smart move, especially if you cook or bake often.

Even with regular care, however, the kitchen appliances you use often, like ovens, dishwashers, and others, can break down due to normal wear and tear. A home warranty can help safeguard your household budget from unexpected repairs or replacements for these covered items and more.

Want peace of mind and financial protection when your home’s major appliances and systems break? Get a free quote today and see how a home warranty can help.

The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.

Please be aware that if you disassemble a covered system or item, it can invalidate your home warranty or manufacturer's warranty.