Your Dishwasher Tablets Can Actually Clean Your Oven — Here’s How

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There are a few ideas floating around on how to clean those stubborn stains on your oven window. We’ve tried using natural ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. We’ve tried a more hardcore approach with a steel wool pad and heavy-duty degreaser. Both methods worked well enough. But some people swear this clever oven cleaning trick works best of all. The secret tool? A dishwasher tablet.

How to Clean Your Oven with a Dishwasher Tablet

All you need for this hack is a dishwasher tablet (or two) and a bowl of warm water. Many have had success with the Finish Deep Clean tablets. (Just make sure whichever brand you use, you buy the pressed powder tablets and not the gel pods.)

Dip the pod in the warm water. Hold it long enough to soak up a bit of the water, but not too long that it starts to crumble. Then, simply use the tablet to scrub — no sponge needed! Lay the tablet flat and use your palm to move the tablet in circular motions and scrub away the stains.

Dip the tablet again if it starts to dry out. It works well on the glass, and is also effective on the surrounding metal part of the oven door (but you might need to apply a little more pressure).

When you’re finished, wipe away any residue with a damp cloth.

Why It Works

Dishwasher tablets are made of concentrated dishwasher detergent and promise to cut through tough grease and leave your dishes sparkling. It makes sense that those powerful cleaning agents work on oven grease and food stains as well! Especially since the tablets promise to remove baked-on food; stains in the oven are definitely baked-on. Plus, the hard powder tablets have an abrasive surface that helps scour away those stuck-on stains but is gentle enough to not scratch the oven glass. You should also check out this safe option for cleaning your oven.