How to Clean Oven After Fire

This post has affiliate/referral links. Learn more.
Spilled grease, leftover food scraps, dripping batter or simply forgetting the pizza you put in the oven to heat, can cause oven fires.

These unfortunate incidents can be caused by the slightest mistakes. In such cases knowing how to clean the oven after a fire is essential to prevent further damage.

As soon as the fire is put out, it is important to attend to the damages immediately. A dirty oven is prone to releasing unhealthy smoke and catching fire again.

Cleaning ovens not only reduces risk but also saves money. And cleaning ovens has never been easier.

How to Clean Oven after Fire

First, let your oven cool down. Then, remove the racks and trays from the oven after the fire. Remove excess loose flakes.

If you have heavy baked-on spills, you will want to do this twice for a sparkling clean oven.

DIY Version

Another method for cleaning the oven after a fire can be done with a DIY cleaning recipe.
Use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean the oven. Use a thick paste of baking soda and water for the hard burnt places. Use a scrubber to clean the oven.
Wipe off the baking soda and then apply vinegar.

Some things you will need for this process are rubber gloves, masks, goggles, lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, dishwashing soap, sponge, water, oven cleaner, spatula, cloth, and a cleaning brush.

Step 1: Put out the fire!

First, it is essential to put out the fire. Use a fire extinguisher to do so and be aware of your safety.

Do not use water or flour to put out the fire. You may want to call the fire service for worst-case scenarios.

Open all the windows. Once the fire is doused, wait for the smoke to clear. This may take some time.

Step 2: Safety Precaution:

When you set out to clean your oven make sure you wear a mask, goggles, and gloves to prevent yourself from inhaling any smoke.

Unplug the oven. Make sure all the knobs are turned off.

Step 3: Dust and Clean

Take out the racks and trays from your oven. Dust the interior part with a scraper or brush to remove loose flakes and scraps.

Some scraps may even need a little hard push. Make sure you have dusted off all of the loose residues. Collect them in a dust tray.

Step 4: Self-Cleaning Function

Some ovens have a “self-cleaning” function. You will see the button on the oven dashboard.

Allow about 5-8 hours for the oven to self-clean. You will want to do this when you can leave the house or have all the windows open and well-ventilated.

There will be a strong smell during this self-cleaning function. You can switch it on, put on the oven lock for self-cleaning.

Once it is done and the oven has cooled down, use a damp, soft cloth to wipe up the loose ashes left at the bottom of the oven.

If you found that the self-cleaning function is not good enough at cleaning, move on to the next step.

Step 5: Wipe it down

After you have dusted off all the loose debris, spray the oven with a mixture of vinegar and water and rub it with a paper towel or cloth.

Next, you will need to make a paste of baking soda and water. Mix it into a thick paste.

Spread this paste over the grease, stains, and everywhere else. Rub it with a scrubber or sponge. Leave the mixture in the oven for a few hours or overnight.

This process allows the baking soda to absorb any grease or sticky material in the oven. It is useful in getting rid of stains and sticky grease.

Doing this also helps get rid of the burnt stench, leaving a fresh scent.

Step 6: Clean the racks

While the baking soda paste is working in the oven, you can work on cleaning the racks. If the racks are small put them in the dishwasher.

If not dip them in a tub of warm water. Take some dishwashing soap on a sponge and scrub the racks till all the grease and stains are out.

Wash away the soap with water and let it dry.

Step 7: Wipe off the baking soda paste

Spray the oven with water and with a clean sponge rub the oven again. You need to use a spatula to remove the hardened paste.

Repeat rubbing the oven with water until all the baking soda paste has come off.

Takeaway

Although cleaning the oven is a relatively easy and inexpensive process, maintaining safety precautions should be a top priority.

It is always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, as this is the place most likely to catch fire.

Keeping the oven clean and servicing them will help prevent smoke and grease fires.

How to Clean a Toaster Oven after a Fire

Toaster ovens, as we know, are miniature versions of micro-ovens but with different heating properties.

Toaster ovens are mostly used for baking, caramelizing, and well, toasting. Of course, it can be used for cooking other foods too, but it is not as quick as microwave ovens.

These “college-buddy” appliances can be a little tricky but easy to clean after a fire. Once the fire is put out, make sure you follow safety measures before cleaning.

Firstly, unplug the oven and make sure you are wearing gloves. Proceed to clean the oven only when the device is cool.

Take out the trays and racks from the oven and set them under a sink. With a damp cloth wipe the oven to remove any loose debris.

Mix baking soda and vinegar. Rub the inside of the oven with the paste and a sponge. Let the mixture set.

In the meantime wash the racks with the same baking soda paste. You can also use dishwashing soap instead.

After a few hours wipe the insides with a damp cloth. You may need to use a spatula if the mixture is too hard to remove.

Once again with a wet sponge wipe the oven again and place the racks inside. Wait for the oven to dry completely before using it.

In case of severe damage, replace the appliance altogether.

Is Oven Safe to Use after Fire

Although it is believed to replace appliances after a fire, it may not necessarily be needed.

However, make sure to first check-in with an appliance repair company before using the oven again.

You may also want to change the wiring and plugs before use. If your appliances are damaged, it is best to replace them.

How to Clean Up Fire Extinguisher Powder from Oven

Using a fire extinguisher is going to leave a big white mess. The leftover carbon and chemical may not be toxic but it can be irritable.

Always remember to wear rubber gloves, goggles, and masks before touching chemical substances.

You want to first remove the big debris and loose dust and powder from the area. For this, you will need a brush or cloth.

You can also use a vacuum cleaner for this.

Next, you want to go in with a damp cloth to wipe off the excess fire extinguisher powder.

This process may need to be repeated several times till all the powdery and white mess is cleaned.

Then, use an oven cleaner spray that is fume-free.

Spray the oven cleaner inside the oven. Wait 30 seconds, or according to the instructions of your oven cleaner spray, and then wipe it off with a clean towel.

You can also use a mixture of baking soda and water to get rid of the smell of the chemical.

Related:
How to Remove Baked On Grease from Stove Top with 5 Easy Steps