Does An Oven Door Have A Cleaning Slot? [How To Access It]

From baking sweet desserts to cooking scrumptious meals, ovens make work in the kitchen easier. But with regular use, ovens can get dirty. Not only can grease, oil, and residue build up on the interior, they can also collect between the glass on the oven doors. So you may be wondering if there's a cleaning slot through which you can clean your doors. We've got the answer you're looking for.

Oven doors have designated cleaning slots that can be found underneath the door. There are usually three or more slots on the middle of the bottom or on the sides of the doors. They serve as vents that allow air to flow into and out of the oven, but they also provide an opening that allows you to reach into and clean the inside of the oven doors.

So how exactly do you clean your oven doors? What cleaners should you use? What if there's too much dirt and grime? Keep reading below to discover the best ways to clean your oven doors and make them sparkle again.

Cleaning Oven Doors Through The Cleaning Slot

This task is fairly easy and will only take a few minutes of your time. It's ideal to do this every month or at least every three months, along with cleaning the rest of your oven. If you rarely use your oven, once every six months should suffice.

Here are the steps you need to follow to clean your oven doors through the cleaning slot:

What You'll Need

• Wire hanger or cleaning wand
• Wet wipes or paper towels
• Rubber band
• Pliers

1. Remove the drawer beneath the oven

At the bottom of your oven, you'll find a drawer. It's typically used for storing items, broiling, or keeping food warm. Pull it out and set it aside.

2. Attach wet wipes to the wire hanger or cleaning wand

If you're using a cleaning wand, simply attach the wet wipes to the head of the wand. If you're using a wire hanger, wrap the wet wipes around the body of the wire hanger and secure them with a rubber band. You can also use paper towels dampened with soap and water for this step.

For easier access to the opening, use pliers to cut the wire of the hanger that's just below the hook. Then, straighten out the hanger. Create a small hook with the wire. Attach the wet wipes and tie them to the wire with a rubber band.

3. Start cleaning

Your wire hanger or wand will allow you to go through the narrow opening of the cleaning slot and get to work. Be careful not to scratch the glass with the wire.

After wiping, repeat the second step with a dry paper towel to remove moisture.

Can you take an oven door apart to clean the glass?

If simply wiping down the glass panels with wet wipes doesn't give you the results you're looking for, you may want to take your oven doors apart so you can scrub more freely and thoroughly. The good news is you can do this. However, it will take much more time and effort.

Here are the steps on taking your oven door apart to clean the glass inside:

What You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Glass cleaner
• Cloth or towel
• Scrub pad
• Paper towels
• Gloves

1. Clean the outer and inner parts of the door

Start with cleaning the glass on the outside for a more efficient cleanup job. Use a damp cloth and a regular glass cleaner for this.

2. Unlock the hinges

What you do for this step will vary depending on your oven model. Some models have hinge screws, while others have hinge locks.

For models with hinge locks, open your oven door all the way. Inspect the corners of the hinges until you find a small metal tab that connects the hinge to the door. Flip the locks on either end of the door with your screwdriver.

For models with hinge screws, open your oven door all the way. Look for the screws on either end of the door. Once you find them, use your screwdriver to carefully remove them. Make sure to set aside your screws so you can find them later when you want to place the oven door back in.

3. Remove the door

Close the door again partially. For those who cook, you may recognize this position as the broil position. Your door should be only slightly open and secure in its position.

Then, hold the door on both sides with a firm grip. If it's too heavy for you, you can ask for help from someone at home. Slowly lift the door up and out. Don't use force if the door doesn't come off. You can wiggle a bit until you find the right position where it lifts up with ease. Set the door aside.

4. Remove the screws on the door frame

There should be several screws along the inner trim of the door frame that secure the glass to the frame. Remove them one by one. Remember to keep track of every screw you remove and where each one goes.

5. Clean the glass

Once the glass has come loose from the frame, you can now flip the panels over. The edges of the panels may be sharp so be careful in lifting them. Make sure to set them on cloth for safety.

Start cleaning them with your glass cleaner and scrub. Remove all traces of grease and residue.

6. Reassemble the door

After cleaning, you can start to reassemble the oven door and put it back into place. Attach the glass panels to the frame and screw them back in. Remember to wear gloves to avoid getting fingerprints on the glass. Lift your door back into the oven, secure the hinges, and enjoy your newly clean oven door.

Is oven cleaner safe on glass?

Yes, most oven cleaners are safe to use on glass. In fact, they can remove grease and residue that wet wipes or soap and water may not be able to. They also won't damage the surface of the glass, because they can remove stains without tough scrubbing or scraping.

Most homeowners and cooks recommend Easy-Off Oven Cleaner since it has powerful cleaning properties without toxic fumes.

Click here to see this oven cleaner on Amazon.

How do you clean a really dirty oven door?

Simply wiping down your oven doors through the cleaning slot may not be enough to remove hardened grease or stubborn residue. In this case, it's best to take it apart and scrub the glass inside with a cleaner. While an oven cleaner is suitable for this job, you can also save a few bucks and a trip to the store with a homemade solution that works just as well.

This mixture uses two ingredients that you can easily spot on your kitchen cupboard: baking soda and vinegar. Here's how to remove baked-on grease, dirt, and residue from your oven doors with an all-natural mixture:

What You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Cloth
• Paper towels
• Razor (optional)

1. Remove dirt and grease with a paper towel. You can also scrape them off with the flat edge of a razor.
2. Mix baking soda with water until it forms a paste-like consistency.
3. Apply the mixture all over the glass and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Rinse off the mixture with water.
5. Spray the glass with vinegar, which will create foam where there's still remaining paste residue.
6. Remove residue or foam with a clean, dry cloth.
7. Wipe the glass with paper towels to ensure it's completely dry.

In Closing

Dirt and grease from baking can get in between the glass on your oven doors. Fortunately, oven doors have cleaning slots that allow you to access this area. You can clean it with a wire hanger and wet wipes through the cleaning slots. For tough residue and grease, you can also take your oven doors apart and clean the glass using an oven cleaner or a homemade cleaning mixture.

Got more questions about oven doors? Check out these helpful articles with additional information about them:

Why Is My Oven Door Not Closing Properly?

How To Fix A Neff Oven Door Handle?