We all know the feeling: You see the burnt-on grease on the glass and walls of the oven and just want to slam the door shut. Most commercial cleaners smell so strong that you have to air out the room for half a day. This “friendly” trick, however, uses the power of steam hydrolysis with ingredients you already have in your kitchen.

With this trick, scrubbing becomes a simple wipe with a cloth.

🍋 Homemade Grease Bomb: The Bowl Method

This trick works because hot steam, combined with citric acid or vinegar, breaks down the structure of the burnt-on grease.

What you need:

A heat-resistant bowl (suitable for the oven).

2–3 packets of citric acid (or 2 lemons, sliced). 1 liter of water.

A little dish soap.

👨‍🍳 How to do it: The oven cleans itself

Preparation: Remove baking trays and racks from the oven. Fill a bowl with water and sprinkle citric acid over it (or add lemon slices). Oven sauna: Place the bowl in the oven and preheat it to 100–120 °C (212–252 °F). Set the timer for 30–45 minutes.

Steam works: The water begins to boil, and the citric acid steam coats the entire oven wall. This “lemon sauna” loosens even the most stubborn, burnt-on stains.

Important step: Do not open the oven door immediately after turning it off! Leave it closed for 20 minutes so the steam can work its magic.

Finally: Open the oven and, while it is still lukewarm, wipe the walls with a sponge soaked in warm water with a drop of dish soap. The dirt will come off effortlessly.

📊 Comparison of Cleaning Methods
Method Effort Odor Result
Aggressive Chemicals High (requires scrubbing) Extreme (toxic) Clean, but damaged surface.

Self-Cleaning (Pyrolysis) Zero Strong smoke and odor Perfect (but uses a lot of electricity).

Lemon Steam Minimal Fresh scent The oven shines and smells fresh.

💡 Trick for Perfectly Clear Glass
If there are still brown spots on the glass that the steam couldn’t remove:

Mix a thick paste of baking soda and a little water. Apply it to the glass, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then spray it with a little vinegar from a spray bottle. The mixture will start to fizz and dissolve the grease from the pores of the glass. Wipe it off – the difference is visible!

⚠️ A little tip from a colleague
For ovens with a convection function, be careful not to place the bowl of water too close to the grill rack. Also, make sure the door seals are dry after cleaning to prevent the rubber from drying out unnecessarily.

Want to know how to restore the shine to burnt baking trays without having to throw them away?