How To Make Oven Racks Slide Easier? With 3 Effective Steps

An oven is a very useful kitchen appliance when it comes to baking and roasting.

But often people forget to clean their oven and gradually it becomes greasy. Due to that, the oven racks get stuck and do not slide easily.

If the racks got dirty and you use the self-cleaning method then there is a huge possibility of getting it stuck. So, how to make oven racks slide easier?

Only cleaning the racks and oven is not enough, you have to lubricate them and also have to change their position.

So, let’s start:

How To Make Oven Racks Slide Easier?

To make them easier to slide, first, we have to clean the oven and the racks. Then apply some lubricant to the slides and racks and after that, put them in the oven with their positions changed. That’s it.

So, let’s do it in a step-by-step process.

Step #1: Cleaning The Oven

What Will You Need?

• Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Water
• Sponge

Follow the instructions:

1. First, take out the racks from the oven and keep them aside. 
2. Now, make a mixture of baking soda + water + vinegar in a bowl. Take 1 cup of baking soda, 100 ml of water, and 100 ml of vinegar. You have to make a slurry paste.
3. Take the mixture, dip the sponge, and rub all the greasy portions in the oven. Apply the paste to the sliders also.
4. Now, switch on the oven and let it heat for 45 minutes at 100 degrees Celsius.
5. After that, just take a sponge or scrubber and rub it nicely. All the dirt will be wiped out and your oven will be neat and clean.

This is simple, easy, and works effectively. When my oven got messy, I use this method to clean my oven.

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Now go for the next step.

Step #2: Cleaning The Oven Racks

What Will You Need?

• Detergent Powder or Liquid
• Sponge
• Towel

Follow the instructions:

You do this process when your oven is in the heating stage.

1. First, take a big towel and go to your bathroom. Now place the towel in the bathtub properly. Make sure to cover the base nicely. This will protect your bathtub from getting dirty.
2. Now, put the racks above the towel, close the drain and run the hot water tap until the racks got fully immersed.
3. Take one scoop of detergent liquid or powder and pour it into the bathtub. If you are using powder then before pouring, mix the powder in hot water and then pour it.
4. Let the oven racks sit for 5 to 6 hours in the solution.
5. After that, you will see that most of the grease is gone and to remove the remaining, take a sponge, and rub it nicely.
6. Now rinse in clean water and your racks will be cleaned.

With this process, your racks will look almost new. There is also another process of cleaning it with ammonia but I am not recommending it.

Because the smell of ammonia is so intense that it may cause nasal problems.

Only cleaning the oven and the racks will not solve the matter, now you have to grease them and change their positions. So, follow the next process.

Step #3: Greasing The Oven Racks And Sliders

What Will You Need?

• Peanut Oil
• Cloth or Sponge

Follow the instructions:

1. Pour some peanut oil into a plate or bowl.
2. Take a cloth or sponge and dip it in the oil.
3. Rub all the sides of the racks and also the sliders in the oven properly with the oil. This will grease the racks and sliders.
4. Now put the racks in the oven but this time shuffle the positions. Suppose, put the lower rack in the middle, the middle one in the above, and the top one in the bottom.

I am telling you to shuffle the positions because we use one or two racks maximum at a time but leave the other one. So, using the same racks, again and again, makes them a little bent which in return lags in sliding. That’s why we have to shuffle the positions from time to time.

I am recommending peanut oil to use as a lubricant due to its high heat retention. Also, it takes time to smoke at a high temperature compared to other oil.

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Conclusion

Whenever we make something in the oven, we simply take out the item and close the door. But gradually, food started to deposit and becomes greasy all over the oven.

That’s why we have to clean the oven from time to time and also have to lubricant the racks and sliders for smooth operation.

Just try the above methods and I am sure that they will work for you. All the methods are easy but it takes time to work properly. Be patient and follow the instructions properly.

So, if you find the article helpful then please share it with your friends and family. Also, don’t forget to share your experience with us. Thank You !!!

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FAQ’s

1. How Do I Keep My Oven Racks Free From Sticking?

To keep your oven racks non-sticky, you have to clean them from time to time. You also have to apply lubricant to the racks and sliders and shuffle the positions for smooth operation. For a lubricant, you can use any high heat retention oil like peanut oil.

2. What Is The Easiest Way To Clean Oven Racks?

You can clean the oven racks easily with lubricants as they are designed to clean them quickly. If you don’t want to use it, then you can try the above method. Both are equally effective but the difference is time. You can check out some great lubricants here.

3. How Do You Lubricate Oven Racks?

To lubricate the oven racks and the sliders, you can use any high heat retention oil like peanut oil and apply them to every site properly. We are using peanut oil because at a very high temperature this oil does not smoke.

4. Can I Use WD-40 On My Oven Racks?

You can use WD-40 on oven racks to clean. This is used to clean the oven interiors. You can use it to clean all the surfaces and racks and then rinse with clean water.