Common hazardous ingredients
Ethers, ethylene glycol, lye (sodium and potassium hydroxide), methylene chloride, petroleum distillates, pine oil.
Potential hazards
Corrosive to skin, eyes and internal organs. Use Follow label directions. Wear an apron, heavy rubber or nitrile gloves and chemical splash goggles. Use kitchen exhaust fan and open several windows for fresh air.
Avoid aerosol oven cleaners; adequate protection from vapors is difficult. Wear a respirator if the product contains sodium or potassium hydroxide and is in an aerosol can.
Storage
Store in a secure place away from children.
Disposal
Best: Use up or give away. Dispose of empty, nonaerosol containers in the garbage.
Second best: Take to a hazardous waste facility or collection event.
Alternatives
Find recipes to make your own oven cleaners.
- Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the oven floor away from the heating element.
- When baking a dish on the upper rack, place a cookie sheet below it on a lower rack to catch drips.
- Clean up spills as soon as the oven cools. They are much harder to remove after they have baked on.
- Use a non-chlorinated scouring powder, a pumice stick or a copper or steel wool scrubbing pad. Even a blunt knife is useful for prying up large crusty materials.
- Use the self-cleaning feature on your oven, if possible.