How to remove and clean your oven door
Difficulty: Medium · Time: approx. 30 minutes
Grease on the inside, streaks between the panes: you only get the oven door properly clean once you take it off. That sounds like major surgery, but on almost all ovens it's done in two minutes – once you know about the small locking clips on the hinges.
Allow about half an hour in total and lay out a blanket as a resting place beforehand. The door is heavier than it looks and is mostly made of glass – so work calmly and ideally with a second pair of hands.
What you'll need
- A blanket or large towel as a soft resting place
- A magic eraser sponge or oven cleaner
- Cloth and warm soapy water
- The manufacturer's manual (for the locks and inner panes)
- Optional: work gloves for a better grip
Step by step
- 1
Prepare a resting place
Spread the blanket on the floor or a sturdy table. Once removed, the door weighs five to ten kilos and is mostly glass – it'll need a soft, safe spot in a moment.
- 2
Open the door and lock the hinges
Open the door fully. On each hinge sits a small locking clip or lever – flip it over completely on both sides. Depending on the manufacturer it flips up or turns; a look at the manual is worth it.
- 3
Lift the door out at an angle
Raise the door to an angle of about 30 degrees until you feel it stop. Hold it on both sides with both hands, then pull it up and forwards at an angle out of the hinges. It's heavy and the hinges are spring-loaded – so no jerking, but be firm.
- 4
Clean the door – including between the panes
Lay the door flat on the blanket. The glass comes clean with a magic eraser or oven cleaner. Many doors can be opened up further once removed, so you can reach the inner panes – your model's manual tells you exactly how.
- 5
Rehang the door
Place the hinges into their slots, push the door in as far as it goes and then open it fully again.
- 6
Flip the locking clips back
Now flip both clips back to their original position – never skip this step, otherwise the door will fall out of the hinges the next time you open it. Then close the door slowly and check that it shuts cleanly.
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Upload a photo →Frequently asked questions
- Can I really get between the glass panes?
- On most models, yes: once removed, the door can be taken apart further via clips, a trim strip or a few screws so you can lift out the inner panes. Your model's manual tells you exactly how – manufacturers also offer it as a PDF.
- The door won't come out – what am I doing wrong?
- Almost always the locking clips aren't flipped over completely or the angle isn't right. Flip both clips over fully once more, bring the door exactly to the stop angle and wiggle it slightly – never pull with force.
- How do I get burnt-on grease off the glass?
- A magic eraser with a little water works surprisingly well. For stubborn spots, use oven cleaner or a paste of baking soda and water left to work in. Avoid metal scourers and blades – they leave scratches in the glass.