It sounds too good to be true, but the oven cleaning trend that’s constantly going viral online (especially on TikTok and Instagram) actually works surprisingly well. And the best part? You don’t need expensive chemical cleaners and you save a lot of energy compared to using the automatic pyrolytic oven cleaning function.
The method is based on two completely common household necessities: baking soda (or baking powder) and vinegar.
It sounds too good to be true, but the oven cleaning trend that’s constantly going viral online (especially on TikTok and Instagram) actually works surprisingly well. Here’s a step-by-step guide to the viral oven trick:
Viral “miracle paste” for cleaning your oven
What you’ll need:
A bag of baking soda (or baking powder)
Water
Vinegar or citric acid (in a spray bottle)
Sponge and cloth
Detailed instructions:
Mix the paste: Mix the baking soda with a little water in a bowl until you get a thick, spreadable paste (about 3:1 ratio).
Application: Apply the paste to all the dirty and dried-out spots in your oven (avoid the radiators and the fan!).
The secret ingredient: time. Leave it on for at least 2 hours, but preferably overnight. Baking soda chemically softens layers of grease without heat.
Turbo effect (vinegar): The next day, spray a little vinegar on the dried baking soda paste. A chemical reaction takes place: It foams up heavily. This foam breaks down even the most stubborn, dried-on dirt.
Wipe: Simply wipe the oven with a damp sponge. Dirt can now usually be removed effortlessly and without scrubbing.
Why this trick saves energy
Many modern ovens have a so-called pyrolytic cleaning function (self-cleaning). In this process, the oven is heated to 500 °C to burn dirt to ash.
The catch: This process often takes 2 to 3 hours and uses a huge amount of electricity (around 4 to 7 kWh per cycle).
The online method: It works completely cold and uses time instead of energy. You’ll save real money on your electricity bill.
Tip for really tough cases: If the oven is extremely dirty, after applying the paste, place a heat-resistant bowl with hot water and a little vinegar in the oven at 100°C with the fan on for 30 minutes. The steam will soften the dirt even more!