UK's Best Oven Cleaner Products in 2024 (Buyer's Guide)

Best Oven Cleaning Products in 2024 (Buyer’s Guide)

By on 8th October 2009 (updated: 1st October 2024) in Blog

There are so many different oven cleaner products out there, choosing the best oven cleaner can often feel like a bit of a gamble. Supermarkets always stock a number of household name options that promise to “get the job done for you” and there’s an even more dizzying array of oven cleaner products available online. We’ve tried and tested every oven cleaner product there is.

The benefit of buying these oven cleaning products is claimed expedience (some promise results in a matter of minutes) and great value, especially for those who would rather spend less than £20 to get their oven clean.

The best oven cleaning products applied, chosen by professional oven cleaners

Related: The potential dangers of oven cleaning products 

Oven cleaner chemicals

The toxic chemical frequently found in domestic oven cleaner is sodium hydroxide. This chemical is also commonly referred to as caustic soda and is found in almost all oven-cleaning products.

The effectiveness of all oven cleaning products is subject to the strength of the chemical formulations, the elbow grease applied to the cleaning, the time spent scrubbing and the amount of accumulated dirt that must be removed.

If your oven hasn’t been cleaned properly for years you may find that a £3 bottle might well do the job, but you could find yourself soaking, scrubbing, wiping and repeating for days to reach the same result that a professional oven cleaner can achieve in 2 hours.

The following 12 oven-cleaning products are highly recommended by professional oven cleaners and homeowners alike. Excellent at removing baked-on grease, just see for yourself.

The Best UK Oven Cleaners to buy

1. Oven Mate Oven Cleaning Gel

Oven mate cleaning gel

Oven Mate Gel works in minutes with no scrubbing. Just spread it on, wait a little while and wipe. All the dirt, baked-on grease, oil and fat are lifted clean away and there are no nasty acrid smells.

Volume: 500ml

Type of cleaner: Gel

Ingredients: Potassium hydroxide 10-30%

Eco-friendly? No credentials

Time needed: 1-3 hours

Best for: All oven types with moderate grease and minimal burnt-on residue

Not suitable for: AGAs, and areas where highly acidic cleaners are used.

Pros: Fast-acting oven cleaner, super quick cleaning, less time cleaning, no horrible toxic smells, odourless, less elbow grease, less scrubbing times. Comes with a brush and gloves.

Cons: Cannot be used on AGAs, and some stainless steel. Always patch test. More expensive option.

Price: £9.99 for 500ml

Where to buy: High street shops and online retailers, such as Lakeland.

Why Choose Oven Mate Oven Cleaner?

Oven Mate Cleaning Gel works superbly on most oven interiors, trays and glass doors, wire shelves and barbecue racks, grill pans and Pyrex dishes. Unlike some other oven cleaners which require a lot of elbow grease and have a horrible, acrid smell, Oven Mate’s strong, biodegradable cleaning formula removes even the most stubborn baked-on fat and oil with no need to scrub, and it’s odourless and fume-free too.

2. Astonish Oven & Grill Cleaner Cleaning Paste

Astonish Oven & Grill Cleaner

Astonish has a reputation amongst domestic cleaners for providing the very best polishes and cleaning products for the home, so it comes as no surprise that their branded oven cleaner is popular.

Volume: 250g

Type of cleaner: Paste

Ingredients: <5% Soap, Perfume, Limonene, 1.5g/L Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride.

Eco-friendly? Cruelty-free, Kosher and Vegan.

Time needed: 1-4 hours

Best for: Small problem patches, as opposed to the entire oven.

Not suitable for: Large cleaning projects.

Pros: Eco-friendly, Kosher, Vegan, sponge included, value-for-money, fast-acting ingredients, pleasant smell.

Cons: Contains limonene. May produce an allergic reaction.

Price: £4 for 250g

Where to buy: High street shops and online retailers, or Astonish themselves.

Why Choose Astonish Oven Cleaner?

The paste comes in a small 250g pot with an applicator provided. Astonish say that this can be used without the use of gloves, and state that an abrasive agent is the key to its cleaning power. With that in mind, extra care is needed to ensure that surfaces are not scratched.

This product comes approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute, which is a good sign but should only be purchased by careful cleaners who are willing to patiently apply, scrub, and wipe away small areas at any one time.

3. Oven Care Cleaning Kit – Wpro Gas Hob & Oven Care Kit

Wpro Gas Hob & Oven Care Kit

This all-in-one kit comes recommended by Ideal Home and includes three separate products and a micro-fibre cloth. Each product is designed to tackle a different kind of dirt and has been made without abrasive agents, so you can rest easy that you won’t scratch your oven in the process.

Volume: 250ml cream, 500ml spray, and 500ml degreaser

Type of cleaner: Creams and liquids

Active ingredients: Chloride-free, non-abrasive

Eco-friendly? No credentials

Time needed: 1-4 hours

Best for: All oven types with moderate grease and minimal burnt-on residue, the internal parts of ovens, hotplates, barbecues, rotisseries and baking trays. Works well on ceramic. Can be used in hot or cold ovens.

Not suitable for: Cannot be used on stay-clean liners or self-cleaning ovens.

Pros: Different formulas for specific applications, Micro-fibre cloth included, no abrasive agents, pleasant aroma, non-ammonia.

Cons: Multiple applications are needed for tougher stains, higher price tag, and wiping clean can be difficult.

Price: £20 for entire kit (250ml cream, 500ml spray, and 500ml degreaser)

Where to buy: High street shops and a wide selection of online retailers, including Currys.

Why Choose WPRO Oven Cleaner Hob and Oven Kit?

There’s a Stainless Steel Spray, for burnt-on residue, an Oven & Grill Degreaser for tougher patches and a Steel Care Cream for particular trouble spots.

Whilst this product aims to cover all bases, there have been reports that repeated applications are required to achieve the desired results, and wiping away all these products can be tricky at times.

4. Deep Oven Cleaner – Oven Pride

Oven Pride Deep Cleaner

Oven Pride is one of the best-selling DIY oven cleaning products in the UK. Its main selling point is that it will leave the interior of your oven sparkling clean without any need to scrub – which is a big bonus for anyone adverse to getting their hands dirty.

Volume: 500ml

Type of cleaner: Single-use, all-in-one pack

Ingredients: Sodium hydroxide

Eco-friendly? No credentials

Time needed: 4-24 hours

Best for: Just the internal oven and racks. Wear gloves at all times.

Not suitable for: Hobs, oven rings, oven trim, door, pilot lights, and heating components.

Pros: Fast acting, can get tough stains out, deep clean, value-for-money.

Cons: Sodium hydroxide can stain surfaces. Cannot clean other aspects of a cooker, such as a hob and extractor hoods.

Price: £9 a pack (bag and 500ml liquid cleaner)

Where to buy: High street shops and a wide selection of online retailers.

Why Choose Oven Pride?

Cleaning racks and grills are taken care of by a convenient bag which allows the fume-free formula to get to work without the need of scrubbing in the sink.

The strength of this product lies in its powerful chemical formula, as such Oven Pride makes sure to strongly recommend the use of long rubber gloves when handling it. Whilst no scrubbing is required, you’ll still need to apply the product by hand and leave it to soak overnight if the oven is particularly dirty.

5. Vinegar and Baking Soda – Oven Cleaning Paste

Vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda oven cleaning solution

A natural mixture of white vinegar and baking soda is a highly effective oven cleaner for baked-on grease. The vinegar reacts with the baking soda to form a foam which removes dirt and baked-on grease. Rub a cleaning paste of baking soda and water onto your oven, then spray vinegar onto your oven and wipe away with a damp microfibre cloth.

Type of cleaner: Home Remedy

Ingredients: Ascetic acid, water, sodium bicarbonate.

Eco-friendly? All natural ingredients.

Time: 2-6 hours

Best for: Ovens with a small amount of buildup and grease.

Not suitable for: Do not mix with bleach or other chemicals, granite or marble surfaces.

Pros: Cheapest option, natural oven cleaner, most ingredients already in the cupboard,

Cons: Not as powerful as other oven cleaners, not to be mixed with other chemicals, needs elbow grease.

Price: From £0.29p for 568ml distilled vinegar and £1.35 for 454g baking soda.

Where to buy: High street shops and a wide selection of online retailers.

Why Choose Vinegar and Baking Soda as a home remedy?

You’ll know exactly what you’re dealing with, so you won’t have to worry about bringing unknown chemicals into the home and you’re likely to already have these in your kitchen cupboard!

Your mileage may vary depending on the particular solution that you use, the amount of elbow grease you apply and the tools that you use to scrape away any grease or burnt-on food. This is a good option for anyone willing to take the time to experiment and get their hands dirty, naturally this could also take more time to get the desired results.

As oven-cleaning experts, we understand the dangers of chemicals and appreciate that some would rather use natural remedies exclusively. Both ingredients are non-toxic and safe to use near food surfaces. Vinegar and baking soda (a natural alkali) are excellent cleaning agents when combined to produce a natural oven-cleaning paste. This natural oven cleaner is excellent at removing stubborn burnt-on grease and stains from dirty oven glass doors and racks.

Directions: Spread baking soda over the surface until covered, then spray a clean mix of white vinegar mixed with baking soda until wet and bubbly. Allow your cleaning mix to sit for 20 minutes and remove the oven-cleaning paste by wiping it clean with a damp microfibre cloth. Alternatively, make a cleaning mixture of baking soda, vinegar and dish soap. Apply this to your oven, let it rest for 20 minutes and wipe clean with a damp microfibre cloth.

Related: How to Clean an Oven with Baking Soda

6. Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner

Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner

Mr Muscle is another household brand that comes from a long lineage of popular cleaning products. This product comes in its signature orange aerosol can, which is quite unique for DIY oven cleaning products and can make the application much easier than other pastes or liquids.

Similar to Oven Pride, this product is only suitable for the interior of the oven and comes with plenty of warnings from the manufacturer regarding the use of gloves. The website also recommends seeking medical attention if splashed by the product, suggesting that some strong chemicals are used which could potentially be dangerous in its aerosolised form.

Volume: 300ml

Type of cleaner: Aerosol can spray

Ingredients: Sodium hydroxide.

Eco-friendly? No credentials.

Time: 1-2 hours

Best for: Internal oven only

Not suitable for: Not for use on self-cleaning ovens, microwave ovens, exterior surfaces, chrome, aluminium, zinc, copper, plastic or polished/lacquered surfaces. Do not use it in hot ovens.

Pros: Fast-acting formula, easy aerosol application, child-safe cap included.

Cons: Can only be used internally, not on hob etc. Can’t be used in hot ovens.

Price: £2.99 for 300ml

Where to buy: High street shops and a wide selection of online retailers.

Why Choose Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner?

This product comes in its signature orange aerosol can, which is quite unique for DIY oven cleaning products and can make the application much easier than other pastes or liquids.

A child-safe cap is included to reduce the risk of children hurting themselves if they happen to get their hands on it. Despite the strength of its products, some reviews suggest that it’s only suitable for moderately soiled ovens.

7. Elbow Grease Cleaner –  All Purpose Degreaser

Elbow Grease All Purpose Degreaser

Whilst the Elbow Grease brand also sells its own all-in-one kit (similar to Oven Pride), some homeowners swear by the strength of its original All Purpose Degreaser. As its name suggests, this spray-gun applied product can be used on a whole range of surfaces, including fabrics, metals and plastics.

Volume: 500ml

Type of cleaner: Liquid

Ingredients: 2-Aminoethanol, Sodium tripolyphosphate.

Eco-friendly? No credentials.

Time: 2-6 hours

Best for: Ovens that are lightly soiled.

Not suitable for: Very hard burned-on stains.

Pros: Can be used on a wide range of materials and surfaces, highly recommended product.

Cons: Need gloves and other tools, not as fast-acting, will need your own elbow grease.

Price: £1 for 500ml

Where to buy: High street shops and a wide selection of online retailers.

Why Choose Elbow Grease?

Whilst this product wasn’t specifically designed for the oven, its degreasing properties make it a perfect tool for working away at grease stains and burnt-on food. Given this is not an oven-specific cleaning product, you may find that some extra patience and (ironically) elbow grease is required to get your oven clean. Make sure to arm yourself with gloves, plenty of hot water and an array of scrapers, sponges and cloths to do the job properly.

8. Oven Cleaning Paste – The Pink Stuff

Pink Stuff Cleaning Paste

Branded as ‘The Miracle Cleaning Paste’ and touted by popular cleaning influencer Mrs Hinch, The Pink Stuff is another all-purpose product that has been tested as an oven cleaner by Good Housekeeping.

Volume: 500g

Type of cleaner: Paste

Ingredients: Quartz, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Silicate

Eco-friendly? Vegan, Natural Ingredients.

Time: 1-4 hours

Best for: Smaller stains and patches.

Not suitable for: Anything too hard burned on.

Pros: Fast acting, highly recommended, easy to use, value for money.

Cons: Leaves a thin film on surfaces.

Price: £1 for 500g

Where to buy: High street shops and a wide selection of online retailers.

Why Choose The Pink Stuff?

This cleaning paste is commonly used to combat small patches of stains, however, it can be used on larger areas to good effect. Use a sponge to spread the paste across dirty areas and then leave for 10 minutes or longer if possible, to allow the chemicals to get to work. Wipe away the residue with a sponge and repeat as necessary.

Whilst The Pink Stuff has proved to be more than capable of shifting stains in a wide variety of scenarios, one comment that crops up frequently is that the product leaves a thin film on some surfaces. This isn’t ideal for work surfaces but likely won’t be too much of an issue when the inside of your oven is concerned.

Related: How Often Should You Clean Your Oven

9. Ovenu Tank Mix Powder Oven Cleaner

Ovenu Tank Mix PowderThe powder that our professional oven cleaners use in their van-mounted process tanks is a heavy-duty degreaser and carbon remover. These tanks are heated, so there is no need for any caustic soda ingredients.

We guarantee this fact as we own the formulation. The powder will hold grease and fats in suspension. This means that only fresh cleaning molecules are used on every clean that we perform. When the clean molecules run out, we simply change the mixture.

Type of cleaner: Powder

Ingredients: Free of caustic soda

Eco-friendly? Yes

Time: 1-3 hours

Best for: Professional use on all types of removable components of ovens.

Price: Not available for purchase.

Where to buy: Only available to Ovenu technicians.

10. Ovenu Liquid Degreasing

Water-based oven cleaner & degreaserThe degreasing liquid that our technicians use indoors is water-based.

Our liquid degreaser produces consistent results when degreasing extractor hoods, control buttons and dials.

This product is also mildly scented to leave a fresh-smelling environment when we’re finished.

The Ovenu degreasing liquid is also biodegradable and, to be totally green, we supply this product to our network in recyclable containers.

 

Type of cleaner: Liquid

Ingredients: Water-based degreaser

Eco-friendly? Yes

Time: 1-3 hours

Best for: Fixed oven components.

Price: Not available for purchase.

Where to buy: Only available to Ovenu technicians.

11. Ovenu Carbon Remover Oven Cleaner

Ovenu Carbon RemoverFor the heavily soiled areas within the oven, the oven door and possibly microwave ovens, our oven cleaners use the Ovenu Carbon Remover. This bespoke oven cleaning product produces great results and leaves our clients astounded at the end of the job.

Used with the specialist tools that our Ovenu network members are supplied with, all traces of burned-on debris are safely removed.

This product is also totally caustic soda free. Our clients are often surprised that this powerful product smells so good and nothing like the pungent odours you get from using many off-the-shelf products. Ovenu carbon remover can be safely applied to all coatings, even ‘self-cleaning’ ovens.

Type of cleaner: Paste

Ingredients: Free of caustic soda

Eco-friendly? Yes

Time: 1-3 hours

Best for: Burned-on debris.

Price: Not available for purchase.

Where to buy: Only available to Ovenu technicians.

12. Ovenu Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish

Our Stainless Steel cleaner is used to polish up at the end of the process and leave cooking appliances gleaming. We want our customers to be absolutely delighted when we’ve finished the job. So, before we leave, everything that we’ve cleaned and valeted is polished to a shine.

Type of cleaner: Paste

Ingredients: Free of caustic soda

Eco-friendly? Yes

Time: 1-3 hours

Best for: Burned-on debris.

Price: Not available for purchase.

Where to buy: Only available to Ovenu technicians.


Ovenu products are only made for Ovenu. The range of products used by our franchised network of local oven cleaning service professionals isn’t available to the public or any other oven cleaning companies. The exact product formulations are owned by the company so please be wary if another oven cleaner suggests that they are using Ovenu products.

As the UK’s largest established oven cleaning franchise network, we provide professional oven-cleaning services and products across the United Kingdom; so whether you’re in Edinburgh or Southampton, we’ll have a proven professional oven-cleaning expert in your area. Use our simple Find-a-Rep tool today to find your local professional oven cleaner.

Get A Free Quote Today!Get Started

If you’ve decided against trying to clean your oven yourself and would like one of our technicians to tackle the job for you, then give us a call on 0800 140 9800 for a free bespoke quote.

 

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owner of ovenu

Rik Hellewell is the Founder & Managing Director of Ovenu and a member of the Approved Franchise Association. He established Ovenu in 1993, cleaning 4,000 ovens and proving his concept over five years before starting the franchise business. Since then he has helped over 200 franchisees achieve their dreams of running successful businesses of their own. Established for over 25 years, the Ovenu concept has proven successful across the UK, New Zealand, Australia and the USA.