Judy asked: How do I clean baked on grease from inside of an aluminum toaster oven? Our aluminum toaster oven has baked on grease all over the inside. I would like to clean it somehow. Please advise. I bought oven cleaner, but it said it was not for use on aluminum. Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated.
Food 
splatters and general use can lead to a layer of grease build-up on the surface of your toaster oven quickly. Removing this burnt on layer is possible. The longer the grease has been sitting, the more work it will be to remove. Regular cleanings will help make the removal process quick and painless. Here are some simple and easy cleaning steps to take the grease off.
You Will Need:
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Water
- Green scrubbing pads
- Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
- White vinegar
- Soft cloths
- Small bowl
- Plenty of elbow grease for old grease stains
Steps to Remove the Burnt-On Grease:
- Begin by unplugging the toaster oven. It is never safe to clean an appliance that is still plugged in.
- Moisten a soft cloth with warm water (soap can also be added) and wipe down the interior to remove any loose food debris.
- Next, mix baking soda with water to make a paste in a small bowl. It should be thicker than toothpaste. If you find it’s too dry and “crumbles” when you apply it, simply add a little more water.
- Spread the baking soda paste onto the surfaces that are covered with grease. If the stains are bad, you may want to let it set for a few minutes.
- Next, moisten a green scrubbing pad with water. Scrub the surfaces with the baking soda and pad. The baking soda is a mild abrasive that will help to remove the baked on grease without damaging the aluminum surface.
- For added cleaning power, use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser in place of the green scrubbing pad.
- Continue scrubbing until the grease is removed. Apply more baking soda paste as needed. It is helpful to keep a thin layer of paste present while cleaning.
- If the grease is particularly stubborn, pour some white vinegar on the area and let it sit for several minutes, then scrub the area. If the surface is vertical, soak a paper towel with the white vinegar then apply the paper towel over the surface.
- Once the grease is removed, clean the entire interior with a soft cloth moistened with soapy water.
- Remove any baking soda or loosened grease particles.
- Allow the interior to dry completely before resuming use.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Baking soda can also be used to clean non-stick cookware and aluminum bakeware.
- Be careful when cleaning with chemicals on bakeware. Clean it well afterwards to avoid putting traces of chemicals into your food.
- There are also some chemical products that have been found effective in removing the burnt on grease. Grease Lightning, Comet (this is abrasive, use with caution), Dawn Power Dissolver and Carbon Kleen may be effective in removing the grease. Be sure to wash and rinse the cleaned area well after use to remove any traces of chemicals.
- Though SOS pads and steel wool are sometimes used, they can scratch the surface of aluminum. Often, the abrasive surface of the pads is excessive for cleaning aluminum and may do more harm than good.
- The same methods can be used to clean the glass door as well. For more specific information on this, see the guide How to Clean Grease Buildup from a Glass Oven Door.
I rescued an American National Pressure Canner from the trash man. I don’t normally stop, but I spied this one and had to go back.
The canner has been badly neglected and had baked on grease that is several years old.
I tried everything listed here with little results. So I hit upon a solution that is very effective and doesn’t rely on oven cleaners. The solution was a product called Goo Gone, which is a citrus-based solvent that is actually pretty pleasant to work with.
I took some very fine steel wool and poured a little of the Goo Gone on to the pad.
Gently scrubbing, the baked on grease was lifted easily and there was not a scratch on the aluminum.
I do have some spots that have corrosion, so I will take a muslin wheel with jeweler’s rouge and polish the surface back to a shiny finish.
Goo Gone worked for me too. Lesson learned: when reading how-to posts, read the comments too! 🙂
I have an aluminum mesh that I cook on for fish and breaded items, etc. You can’t use oven cleaners, so what do I use to clean it?
I used wood disinfectant to spray the roof wood for protection from being attacked by insects. When I sprayed the chemical, it got onto the window aluminium and stained it. What chemical should I use to remove it?
I am looking for a solution to cleaning baked on burned grease off a toaster oven drip pan. The baking soda suggestion didn’t put a dent in it.
Haven’t found any answers here that work. 🙁
Karen,
Try an S.O.S pad. It is steel wool infused with soap and works well for scrubbing off burnt-on grease. It may take a while and be a good arm workout, but it can get it back to sparkling clean. Good luck!
As long as your item has no Bakelite handles…I have my grandmother’s
Guardian service griddle that my mom used to make breakfast for us 6 kids for many years. I was setting the self clean option on my oven years ago and it struck me to leave the grease-baked-on griddle inside where I keep it. It came out pristine! And that’s all I have to say about that. ????
Goo Gone is toxic. The fumes will get in the food.
Rinse off the Goo Gone. I use “Dissolve It.” It leaves an oily film, especially on glass and plastic. Soap and water removes the the film. No problem. Even works on old tape residue.
When possible use the baking soda with boiling water. A little elbow grease and pots, pans etc. look new.
Baking soda works, but leaves a huge mess. Even after wiping down the oven with a damp cloth several times, I am still finding dried baking soda in all the crevices and a film on everything.