Every now and then, a new cleaning trick pops up and takes the internet by storm. Most of the time, these hacks go viral because they sound too simple or odd to actually work—but when people try them and see real results, the popularity skyrockets.
One of the latest viral cleaning hacks that has grabbed everyone’s attention involves using a common household item in an unexpected way: cleaning your oven with a dishwasher tablet. Yes, you read that right. That little tablet you toss into your dishwasher can do wonders on your grimy oven door, and the best part is, it requires very little effort and almost no extra supplies. The popular food and lifestyle site The Kitchn gave this hack a try after seeing it pop up on several other blogs and cleaning websites.
They were curious to see whether it actually worked or if it was just another internet gimmick. According to their team, the results were surprisingly impressive. They reported that dishwasher tablets are incredibly effective at breaking through the thick, baked-on layers of grease that accumulate on the glass door of your oven. The brand they used was Finish, which seemed to be the go-to choice mentioned in many of the original posts and user recommendations. If you’re interested in giving this hack a try, here’s how it works.
Start by grabbing a dishwasher tablet—make sure it’s not one with a plastic wrapper or dissolvable film. You want the kind that feels chalky and powdery to the touch. Fill a bowl with warm water, dunk the tablet in for a moment just to soften the surface slightly, and then use the tablet directly to scrub the inside of your oven door. That’s right—you’ll be using the tablet itself as a scrubber, not dissolving it into a sponge or applying it as a paste. As you rub the tablet against the greasy glass, you’ll start to see the grime lift away.
The gritty texture of the tablet acts as a gentle abrasive, while the detergent helps break down all that stubborn grease. You can also use this method on the non-glass portions of the oven door where grime tends to build up, but always be careful to avoid any sensitive areas like seals or electronics. Depending on how dirty your oven is, you may need to use more than one tablet, especially since they begin to break down and crumble as you scrub. Once you’re satisfied with the cleaning, the next step is to wipe away the loosened grease and detergent residue. Grab a paper towel or a clean dry cloth and wipe down the surface thoroughly.
Then, follow up with a separate damp cloth to remove any remaining detergent. Just like that, your oven door will look brighter, clearer, and much cleaner—with barely any elbow grease involved. The great thing about this hack is that it doesn’t require any harsh chemicals, no special tools, or even a big chunk of time. It’s incredibly budget-friendly, especially since most people already have dishwasher tablets on hand. Plus, you avoid the mess and fumes that come with heavy-duty oven cleaners.
It’s the kind of trick that makes you wonder why you didn’t think of it sooner. A big shoutout goes to The Kitchn for testing and confirming that this method really does work. Their experiment helped validate what so many others had claimed and added another genuinely helpful hack to the ever-growing list of cleaning shortcuts that actually deliver. So, the next time your oven door looks like a foggy mess of grease and baked-on gunk, don’t reach for that expensive cleaner—just grab a dishwasher tablet instead. It’s quick, easy, and surprisingly satisfying. Whether you’re prepping for a deep spring clean or just want your oven to sparkle before guests come over, this trick is worth trying. Now that you know how well it works, it might just become one of your go-to solutions for fast and effective kitchen cleanup.
