Borax: The Best Oven Door Cleaner

This is hands down one of the simplest and most effective ways I’ve found to clean an oven door ... no harsh chemicals, no choking fumes, just a bit of heat, Green Goddess Premium Borax, and some good old-fashioned elbow grease.

It’s one of those satisfying jobs where you can really see the difference straight away, the baked-on grease lifts, the glass clears, and your oven door looks almost like new again. Plus, using a simpler, low-tox approach means you’re not filling your kitchen with unnecessary chemicals, which always feels like a win.

Borax: The Best Oven Door Cleaner

Start by preheating your oven to around 180°C. Place an ovenproof dish filled with hot water inside and leave it there for 20–30 minutes. This step is key, as the steam helps to loosen baked-on grease and grime, making the whole cleaning process much easier and far less effort-intensive.

Once the oven has cooled enough to safely touch, take a clean cloth and sprinkle a small amount of borax directly onto it. Add a little warm water to create a gentle paste, then begin wiping the oven door in small circular motions. You’ll find that the borax works as a mild abrasive, lifting away stubborn residue without scratching the glass.

Keep working over the surface until all the grease and buildup has been removed. For any particularly stubborn spots, simply reapply a little more borax and repeat the process.

To finish, wipe the door down with a clean sponge and fresh water to remove any remaining residue, leaving the glass clear and sparkling. If needed, you can follow up with your usual glass cleaner for an extra-polished finish—but most of the time, the borax does such a great job it’s hardly necessary.