With fall underway and the holidays just around the corner, hosting season will soon be in full swing. And with all that entertaining comes plenty of cooking, making now the perfect time to ensure your oven is clean and ready for the months ahead.

Scrubbing can only do so much to remove stuck-on, built-up grease, though. In these instances, you'll likely need something a little stronger − and chances are you already have just what you need waiting in your kitchen.

Here, cleaning experts share how to use a dishwasher tablet to clean an oven, and exactly why it works.

As Alex Varela, Cleaning Expert at Oakville Maids, explains, using a dishwasher tablet, available at Walmart, is an effective oven-cleaning hack because they are specifically designed to remove grease, react very well with hot water, and don't generate much foam.

'This is helpful in a compact space like an oven where you want to see where you're scrubbing,' he explains. 'Their size is appropriate to clean a standard-size oven, and they’re full of enzymes, alkaline detergents, and surfactants to break down the grease and food crumbs in your oven. They also work to clean your oven trays.'

Importantly, Karina Toner, Cleaning Expert and Operations Manager at Spekless, says the key is to keep the tablet slightly damp, 'so it can work as a mild scrubber rather than simply rubbing a dry tablet over the oven.'

'When the tablet is dampened, it can act as a mild abrasive while its cleaning ingredients help loosen the greasy buildup, making it easier to wipe away,' she advises.

How to Use a Dishwasher Tablet to Clean a Greasy Oven

To tackle your greasy oven by cleaning with a dishwasher tablet, begin by making sure it's completely cool before removing the racks and any loose crumbs or debris first. You can use a handheld vacuum for this, such as the TRAKAR Handheld Vacuum, available at Walmart. Then, wearing gloves:

• 'Dampen a dishwasher tablet with warm water,' says Karina. 'You want it wet enough to soften slightly, but not falling apart.
• 'Gently rub the tablet over greasy areas using small circular motions. Focus on the bottom and sides of the oven where grease tends to accumulate.'
• Let the solution sit for 10 to 15 minutes. 'This gives the cleaning ingredients time to loosen stubborn residue,' adds Karina. 'Don't allow the surface to completely dry.'
• Once 10 to 15 minutes have passed, wipe everything away with a damp microfiber cloth, available at Walmart, or a sponge, rinsing frequently under clean running water.
• Then, use a clean, wet microfiber cloth to remove any remaining detergent residue.
• Dry the oven with a clean towel and let air-dry completely before using it again.

You can also use dishwasher tablets to clean your oven racks.

'Fill your sink with hot water until it covers the trays, place the trays with a dishwasher tablet, and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes,' says Alex. 'Scrub with a non-scratch sponge and rinse with running water under the sink. Dry and place them back in the oven.'

Importantly though, whether cleaning your oven or your racks, if something is really baked on, don't keep scrubbing harder and harder. Instead, 'I'd give it another round and let the tablet do some of the work,' recommends Enrique Gonzalez, Founder of Seattle Green Cleaning Fairy. This will prevent any scratching or damage.

The Drawbacks to Keep In Mind

The biggest drawback to keep in mind when trying this clever way to tackle one of the hardest household cleaning tasks is that dishwasher tablets are very concentrated and, obviously, aren't designed specifically for oven interiors. Therefore, warns Karina, 'They shouldn't be treated as a universal oven cleaner.'

They may also leave residue if not rinsed properly. 'This leftover can remain on the surface and produce an unpleasant smell or smoke when the oven heats up again,' says Rhonda Wilson, Quality Lead Cleaner at FreshSpace Cleaning.

Finally, Alex adds, there is a risk of slightly scratching your oven, and this method may not be as effective as using a commercial solution when cleaning a particularly greasy oven.

'In this case, I suggest sticking to what we know works and using a fume-free oven cleaner,' he advises, such as the Easy Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner, available at Amazon.

To prevent damage, always avoid using this method on heating elements, exposed electrical components, self-cleaning oven interiors, or surfaces where the manufacturer's care instructions prohibit abrasive or alkaline cleaners.

'Always check the oven manufacturer's recommendations first and test an inconspicuous area if you're unsure,' concludes Karina.

What to Shop

From oven cleaners people swear by to cleaning accessories to make the job easier, shop a selection of six handpicked essentials below.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

'If the oven has a thick layer of hardened grease, don't try to remove everything in one aggressive pass,' says Karina. 'A short soak with a suitable oven cleaner or a few rounds of gentle cleaning is safer for the finish and usually produces a better result than excessive scrubbing.'

If you'd prefer to clean an oven without chemicals, try vinegar or baking soda instead.

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