A grimy oven door is one of the trickier kitchen cleaning jobs. Grease and splatter build up fast on the inside, fingerprints collect on the outside, and the thin layer of dirt trapped between the two glass panels is almost impossible to reach without taking the door apart. Get it right, though, and the difference is dramatic.

This guide walks through all three areas — the outside of the door, the inside-facing pane, and the gap between the panels. It also flags what to avoid, how often to do it, and when it's worth bringing in a professional.

What you'll need

• Bicarbonate of soda
• White vinegar
• Warm water
• Two microfibre cloths
• A non-scratch sponge or plastic scraper
• Washing-up liquid
• A wooden coat hanger or a thin ruler (for reaching between the panels)

Skip the chemical oven cleaner if your door has a rubber seal. Strong alkaline sprays will perish the rubber over time, and they're not needed for glass. Bicarbonate of soda does most of the heavy lifting safely.

How to clean the outside of the glass

The outside picks up fingerprints, splash marks and the fine layer of grease that drifts down from the hob. It's the easiest of the three jobs and worth doing weekly.

1. Mix one teaspoon of washing-up liquid into a small bowl of warm water.
2. Wipe the glass down with a microfibre cloth dipped in the solution.
3. Spray the glass with white vinegar diluted 50/50 with water.
4. Buff dry with a clean, dry microfibre cloth to avoid streaks.

For stubborn marks, a sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda on a damp cloth gives just enough grit to lift them without scratching.

How to clean the inside-facing pane

This is the side that takes the most punishment — splattered fat, dripped sauce, and the slow build-up of carbonised grease. Bicarbonate of soda is the workhorse here.

1. Open the oven door fully so the glass lies flat.
2. Mix three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with one tablespoon of water to form a thick paste.
3. Spread the paste across the inside of the glass and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes. For heavy build-up, leave it for an hour.
4. Spray the paste with white vinegar. It'll fizz, which helps loosen the grime.
5. Wipe the paste off with a damp microfibre cloth. Use a plastic scraper or non-scratch sponge for anything stuck on.
6. Rinse the glass with clean water and buff dry.

If the grease has been baking in for months, a single pass won't be enough. Repeating the paste is always safer than scrubbing harder.

How to clean between the glass panels

This is the bit most people give up on. The hazy film you can see but can't reach lives between the inner and outer glass panels. On most modern ovens the inner panel can be removed, but it's fiddly and the method varies by make and model.

If you're willing to take the door apart

1. Check your oven manual first. Look up the exact removal steps for your model — getting it wrong can crack the glass or damage the hinges.
2. Open the door fully and lift it straight up off the hinges. Most ovens have small clips at the top of each hinge that need to be released first.
3. Lay the door flat on a towel-covered surface.
4. Look for screws or clips along the top edge of the door that hold the inner panel in place. Undo them carefully.
5. Slide the inner glass out and clean both sides using the bicarbonate of soda paste method above.
6. Wipe the outer pane clean while it's exposed.
7. Reassemble in reverse order. Make sure each panel sits flush before tightening the screws.

If you'd rather not take the door apart

You can reach between the panels with a slim tool. Wrap a damp microfibre cloth around the end of a wooden coat hanger or a ruler, secure it with an elastic band, and slide it through the small ventilation gap at the top of the door. Move it side to side to pick up loose grime. It won't deliver a perfect finish, but it'll lift the surface layer and make a visible difference.

What to avoid

• Wire wool and metal scourers — they scratch tempered glass permanently.
• Razor blades — these can cause hairline cracks that spread under heat.
• Spraying chemical oven cleaner directly onto the rubber seal — it'll perish over time.
• Cleaning the glass while the oven is warm — the heat speeds up evaporation, leaves streaks, and risks burns.
• Forcing the inner panel back into place — if it won't slide back, check the orientation before applying any pressure.

How often should you clean it?

A quick wipe of the outside once a week keeps fingerprints and splashes from setting. The inside pane benefits from a deeper clean every four to six weeks — sooner if you've roasted anything fatty. Between the panels, once or twice a year is usually enough, ideally as part of a wider oven clean.

When to call in a professional

Some ovens — particularly older models, range cookers and Agas — don't have removable inner panels, or the panels are held in place with rivets rather than screws. In those cases the only way to clean between the glass is to dismantle the door fully, which is a job for a specialist. Professional oven cleaners have the tools and experience to take a door apart safely, including stubborn models that most homeowners can't easily access.

It's also worth booking a pro if the glass has burnt-on residue that won't shift after two bicarbonate of soda treatments, or if you'd rather not risk damaging the door yourself. The cost is usually less than replacing a cracked panel — and the rest of the oven gets cleaned at the same time.

Looking for a thorough clean that covers the door glass, racks, hob and interior? Book a tried and tested cleaner through Housekeep's oven cleaning service - available across London and the rest of the UK.