How to Clean Your Oven Racks with Baking Soda and Finally Get That Grime Off

If your oven racks are looking more brown than silver, it’s probably time (or past time) to clean them, and it’s highly likely you have what you need to bring them back to life in your cabinets already.

That’s right—you can scrub burnt bits, grease, and baked-on food away with the grit of baking soda.

“It breaks down grease and lifts baked-on residue without harsh fumes,” says Robin Murphy, who works as the chief cleaning officer at Maid Brigade.

Plus, she explains, baking soda won’t damage most finishes. What’s not to love?

Here, Murphy and another cleaning pro explain how to clean your oven racks with backing soda.

How to Clean Oven Racks with Baking Soda

The process of cleaning your oven racks with baking soda is quite simple, though you will want to carve out an extended period of time to allow for soaking to really pay off. Murphy outlines the steps you will want to follow in detail.

Remove the metal racks from the oven. Slide your oven racks out of the oven, and set them in the bathtub. (You can place a towel down to protect the tub's surface if you're concerned about scratching.) No bathtub? A large plastic bin will also suffice, Murphy notes.
Sprinkle baking soda over the oven racks. Murphy recommends using a generous amount, and you can mix the baking soda with a bit of water to create a paste if you're dealing with excessive buildup that needs a bit more attention.
Pour soapy hot water over the oven racks. Next, pour hot water (with a few drops of dish soap) over the racks.
Let this sit for four hours. Overnight is even better, Murphy notes. "The soaking time is what makes the cleaning easier," she says.
Scrub the grime off. Finally, once everything has soaked for an extended period, it's time to lightly scrub your oven racks. "Most residue should come off with a sponge or scrub brush," she says.
Rinse, dry, and return to the oven. Once you have completed this process, rinse the racks off and dry them before returning them to the oven, where they will appear shiny and as good as new.

Tip

Unable to wait for the four-hour soak time? “That’s when you might want to use steel wool instead of a sponge or scrub brush,” Mónica Taher, chief operating officer of Avanti Green Eco Cleaning, advises.

Other Things to Clean with Baking Soda

Once you’ve taken the oven racks out of the bathtub, you can actually clean your bathtub with baking soda, too. In fact, baking soda’s uses are extensive because of its grittiness and its ability to eliminate odors. Murphy recommends using it to clean: