Commercial oven cleaners work, but the fumes are unpleasant and the chemicals are harsh. A baking soda paste does the same job overnight without any of that.

  1. Remove oven racks and set aside.
  2. Mix half a cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water to form a spreadable paste.
  3. Coat the interior surfaces of the oven – avoiding the heating elements – with the paste. Apply it thickly to any burned-on spots.
  4. Leave overnight (at least 12 hours).
  5. Wipe out the paste with a damp cloth. For stubborn spots, spray with white vinegar – it reacts with the remaining baking soda and lifts the residue.
  6. Scrub racks in the sink with dish soap and a scrubber pad while the oven soaks.

No fumes, no residue, and the oven is genuinely clean by morning.