A common oven-rack cleaning method that uses one large plastic bag works like this:
What you’ll need
- 1 large heavy-duty plastic trash bag
- Household ammonia (or another oven-rack cleaner)
- Rubber gloves
- Water for rinsing
Steps
- Place the oven rack inside the plastic bag outdoors or in a very well-ventilated area.
- Add a small amount of ammonia to the bag (you do not need to soak the rack; the fumes do much of the work).
- Seal the bag tightly and leave it overnight.
- The next day, carefully open the bag in a well-ventilated area.
- Remove the rack and scrub it with a sponge or brush. Much of the baked-on grease should come off easily.
- Rinse thoroughly with water and dry before putting it back in the oven.
Safety precautions
- Never mix ammonia with bleach or products containing bleach. This can create dangerous toxic gases.
- Use gloves and avoid inhaling fumes.
- Keep the bag away from children and pets.
- Follow the safety instructions on the ammonia product label.
Alternative methods
If you’d rather avoid ammonia, many people also have success with:
- Hot water and dish soap in a bathtub
- Baking soda and water paste
- Commercial oven cleaners (used according to the label directions)
The “like new” results people report from the plastic-bag method usually come from the ammonia fumes loosening grease and carbonized residue overnight, making scrubbing much easier.