The glass on my oven door looked like someone had sprayed it with brown paint and then baked it at 400 degrees. Which is basically what happened — months of grease splatter baked onto the glass every time I used the oven.

I avoided cleaning it for over a year because I assumed I would need some terrifying chemical that smelled like a hospital. Turns out I needed baking soda and water.

The Baking Soda Method (No Scrubbing Required)

This works on the inner glass — the side facing the oven cavity. For the glass between the inner and outer panels (if your oven has that), you may need to remove the door, but most modern ovens have a removable inner panel.

1. Make a paste. Mix baking soda with just enough water to form a spreadable paste — about the consistency of pancake batter.
2. Spread it on the glass. Cover the entire surface with a thick layer. Focus on the brown baked-on spots.
3. Wait. Leave it for at least 30 minutes. For really bad buildup, leave it overnight. The baking soda breaks down the grease bonds while you do literally anything else.
4. Wipe with a damp cloth. Most of the gunk will come off with the paste. For stubborn spots, a plastic scraper (not metal — it scratches glass) gets the rest.
5. Final wipe with vinegar. Spray white vinegar on the glass. It will fizz where it hits baking soda residue. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.

Between Deep Cleans

To keep the glass from getting that bad again: wipe the inside of the door with a damp cloth after the oven cools from any especially greasy cook — roasting a chicken, baking bacon, anything that splatters. A 30-second wipe prevents a 30-minute deep clean later.

My oven door now looks like I actually live in this house and care about it. Which is a nice change.