Five Ways to Clean Your Oven.

Having a clean oven has more value than just being a nice way to welcome your mother-in-law for her annual visit. (You know she'll look.) Baked on grime creates smoky residue that can coat your cabinets and sift onto your floors. It's unsightly and unhealthy.

A dirty oven wastes energy, too. Most oven boxes are designed to bounce heat off their interior surfaces. When there's crusted build up or grease in the way, the oven has to use more energy to perform the same task. If you've made your signature mac and cheese or apple pie only to discover singed or underdone sections, a dirty oven may be to blame.

Self Cleaning vs. Continious Cleaning Ovens

Both self-cleaning and continuous-cleaning ovens use heat to reduce baked on goo to ash. A self-cleaning oven has a special high heat "cycle" setting to do the job, while a continuous-cleaning oven's interior surface includes a pyrolytic coating that zaps grime during regular operation. Additional cleansers aren't required.

Regardless of the type of oven you have, it's a good idea to read the operating manual that came with the unit to understand the recommended (and usually the most effective) way to clean it. When dealing with either of the oven styles above, using caustic cleansers can actually damage the oven's interior, so use caution when deciding on a cleaning method. If you don't have the manual handy, jot down the model and serial number and check the manufacturer's website for more information.

Conventional Oven Cleaner

Conventional oven cleaners use strong chemicals like sodium hydroxide, MEA (nonoethanolamine), butane and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, sometimes in conjunction with heat, to loosen dirt and grease so it can be removed with a sponge or damp cloth. Because the chemicals involved are damaging to the skin and can be dangerous if inhaled in an enclosed space, the directions on most brands recommend using gloves and opening the windows to increase ventilation. If you have a hood fan, turn it on too.

Conventional oven cleaners are on the front line for criticism from the green movement. The fumes they release can be lethal to pet birds kept in the home, and some of the ingredients in oven cleaners are under scrutiny as potential health hazards to humans as well. The danger doesn't stop there, either. When you rinse that grimy, caustic residue down the drain, those chemicals circulate back into the environment where they can cause problems for fish and other wildlife later.

Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner

Like conventional oven cleaners, heavy duty brands typically use more concentrated formulas or require a longer processing time in your oven. If you only clean your oven once a year, the heavy duty stuff may save you a second application of a conventional cleaner. The cautions above still apply, though, with dividends. Where some oven cleaners may only suggest wearing gloves, with a heavy duty cleaner it's  mandatory. It's also a good idea to wear protective eye gear to put a barrier between you and harmful fumes. Heavy duty cleaners can also be damaging to oven component materials like Teflon and aluminum, so apply them carefully.

Clean with Baking Soda

Because oven cleaners can be a little scary to use, greener options have started popping up. One of the most popular is pretty simple: Add the contents of a 16 oz. box of baking soda to a large bowl and pour in just enough water to create a sticky paste. Apply the paste to the walls, top, bottom and racks of your dirty oven and let it sit overnight. Scrape the loosened gunk off with a rubber squeegee or scrubbie sponge, and remove the soda residue with a damp cloth. Although this method sounds like it lacks muscle, it works. If your oven is dirty -- but not embarrassingly dirty -- this can get it clean without having to resort to chemical warfareClean with Vinegar

Another green option involves heat, vinegar and salt. Heat the oven to about 250 degrees F, and spray the sides with white vinegar. The acid in the vinegar will start to break down the grease, making it easier to remove. Pour a generous layer of salt over the soiled areas on the bottom of the oven. Turn off the heat and scrape away the dirt and grime once the oven has had time to cool. You may also want to squeeze the juice of two lemons into an ovenproof dish and place the dish in the oven during the cleaning process. This will help loosen dirt and mask the vinegar smell.