The oven is the item most commonly flagged at rental inspections and end-of-lease cleans across Melbourne. It's also the item tenants most frequently underestimate. Baked-on grease doesn't shift with a quick wipe — here's the method that actually works.
Why Oven Cleaning Gets Skipped (And Why It Matters)
Most people avoid cleaning their oven because the commercial products are harsh, smelly, and require serious protective gear. The fumes from caustic oven cleaners like oven pride or foam sprays are genuinely unpleasant and can irritate airways.
But at move-out inspections, agents look inside the oven. Every time. A burnt, greasy oven is one of the most common reasons bond amounts are disputed in Victoria. Hiring a professional to clean an oven alone typically costs $80–$120 — money you could save with the right DIY method.
The Baking Soda Method (Safe, Effective, No Fumes)
This is what professional cleaners use when they want to avoid commercial chemicals — it requires more time but no hazardous products.
What You'll Need
- Baking soda (bi-carb soda)
- White vinegar in a spray bottle
- Dish soap
- Rubber gloves
- Plastic or silicone spatula
- Old cloths or paper towels
- A plastic bag (for the racks)
Steps
- Remove racks and soak them. Place oven racks in a large plastic bag with ½ cup of dish soap and enough warm water to cover. Leave overnight. In the morning, rinse — most grease slides straight off.
- Make a baking soda paste. Mix ½ cup baking soda with a few tablespoons of water to form a thick, spreadable paste.
- Coat the inside of the oven. Wearing gloves, spread the paste over all interior surfaces — including the door, sides, and bottom. Avoid the heating elements. The paste will turn brown as it contacts grease — that's normal.
- Leave for a minimum of 8 hours (or overnight). The longer the better for really soiled ovens.
- Wipe out the paste. Use a damp cloth to wipe out as much paste as possible. A silicone spatula helps dislodge stubborn residue without scratching.
- Spray with white vinegar. Anywhere residual baking soda remains, spray with vinegar. It will fizz — this reaction helps lift remaining grease. Wipe clean.
- Final wipe-down. Use a damp cloth followed by a dry cloth to remove all residue. The interior should be matte and grease-free.
- Clean the door glass. Apply baking soda paste to the inside of the door glass, leave 30 minutes, then scrub with a non-scratch sponge and wipe clean. For the outer glass, a standard glass cleaner works fine.
For Stubborn, Years-Old Grease
If you're dealing with seriously built-up carbonised grease (the black, hard stuff), the baking soda method alone may not fully cut through it. In that case:
- Use a plastic scraper to manually chip off the thickest deposits before applying paste
- Repeat the baking soda treatment twice
- For the very worst cases, a commercial enzyme-based cleaner (less harsh than caustic sprays) applied according to instructions is your next option
Self-Cleaning Oven? Be Careful
Some modern ovens have a self-cleaning cycle that heats the oven to around 500°C, incinerating food residue. This works, but:
- It takes 2–4 hours and produces significant heat and some smoke
- You must ventilate the room thoroughly — open windows, run exhaust fans
- Remove all racks first (they can warp at those temperatures)
- This won't clean the door glass or the seal around the door — do those manually
Maintenance: Keep It Clean Between Deep Cleans
- Line the base of the oven with a reusable oven liner — they catch spills and are dishwasher safe
- Wipe spills immediately after each cook once the oven cools
- Do a quick wipe-down of the interior every month to prevent buildup
If you're heading toward a move-out inspection and your oven is in a serious state, our end-of-lease cleaning service includes a full oven deep clean as standard — including racks, door glass, and interior — with our bond-back guarantee. Call 0404 378 911 or get an instant quote.