How To Clean Oven Racks With Dishwasher Tablets: A Super Easy Hack

My oven and racks were crying out for cleaning after hosting a big dinner the other night. While my husband is a fantastic chef, the kitchen tends to bear the brunt of his culinary masterpieces.


So, I hit the internet in search of the best ways to clean an oven and stumbled upon a clever hack by Smart Fox—how to clean oven racks with dishwasher tablets. This technique promised super easy cleaning with minimal effort, which sounded perfect for someone like me who prefers simplicity.


Let's dive into this easy and efficient cleaning tip.

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Tools and Materials:

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Best ways to clean oven and racks

1. Setting Up

I decided to use the oven tray as the base for my racks. I placed the tray and rack inside a bin bag and was ready to start the cleaning process.

Drop a dishwasher pod in hot water

2. Dishwasher Pod Magic

Next, I filled a bowl with hot water and dropped a dishwasher tablet inside, letting it dissolve before giving it a good stir.

Cleaning oven racks in the bathtub

3. Tub Time for Racks

I carried the bag to the bathtub and placed it inside. I ensured there was enough space at the top to tie it off easily.

How to clean oven racks with dishwasher pod

4. Pouring the Magic Mix

The entire mixture of dishwasher soap went into the bag.

Add extra hot water

5. Extra Hot Water Splash

It’s important that the rack is completely covered, so I added extra boiling water with my hand shower.

Removing stuck-on dirt from oven racks

6. Securing and Waiting

Now, I tied off the top to prevent water from escaping, and I left it to sit for a few hours.

Easy oven rack cleaning at home

7. Effortless Scrubbing

After letting it sit, I came back and emptied the bag. I would recommend placing a sink strainer over the drain hole to collect the debris and make sure it doesn't clog the pipes.


Now, the fun part—scrubbing the racks. No jokes, it was incredibly easy! In just 5 minutes, both sides were spotless, and the stuck-on dirt practically peeled off.


I did add a drop of baking soda, for one small section, that was a bit more stubborn and that did the trick.

Remove stubborn stains from oven racks

9. Rinse and Buff

After the scrub, I rinsed the racks and added the finishing touch with a microfiber cloth buff.


I am really impressed with the ease of this kitchen cleaning trick. I put in very little effort for sparkling results.


More Oven Cleaning Tips

Learn more about the basics of oven upkeep in our How to Clean an Oven guide.

Quick and effective household cleaning hacks

How to Clean Oven Racks with Dishwasher Tablets

This cleaning tip is a game-changer, I highly recommend giving it a try the next time your oven racks need some TLC.


I'm curious to hear your thoughts and ideas on how to clean oven racks easily—share them in the comments below!

Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 12 questions
  • Joan Joan on Jan 23, 2024
    How were you able to get boiling water from your hand shower?
  • Mary L Underwood Mary L Underwood on Jan 23, 2024
    Is there anything to bring back the shine if you cleaned the oven and forgot to remove the racks?
  • Churchlady07 Churchlady07 on Jan 23, 2024
    Could this method be used on bbq grill racks also?
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  • Loleta Loleta on Mar 11, 2024
    Good ! Thanks for sharing.Particularly, I spray some deep cleaner on both sides and let it stay in the sink for two or three minutes. Then, I grab a brush by the handle and gently scrub. Rinse using the faucet extender. Done! No debris or sticky gunk on my racks or trays.Best wishes from Spain.
  • Pec2215224 Pec2215224 on Mar 18, 2024
    i tried this method. Please be sure your bag is not leaking soapy water. Mine did and I ended up in the hospital with a broken femur.
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