Why You Should Never Use Oven Cleaner on Wood

Are you tempted to use oven cleaner on wood? Think twice! This blog post uncovers the hazardous truth behind this popular DIY hack.

Before we start, it's safe to say that this post may stir up controversy, especially considering the stripping wood with oven cleaner hack trending across social media platforms like Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram. Add the term 'How to strip furniture with oven cleaner' or 'Can you use oven cleaner on wood' to any search engine, and you will see countless bloggers and YouTubers recommending this method as a quick and easy solution. However, what many influences fail to disclose is the potential health hazards associated with this technique.

Table of contents

• Using Oven Cleaner on Wood is Risky Business
• Safety First: Why I'm Speaking Out Against the Viral Wood-Stripping Trend
• The Dangers of Using Oven Cleaner on Wood
• Understanding the Ingredients
• More Health Risks Associated with Oven Cleaner
• Is Easy-Off FumeFree oven cleaner safe for stripping furniture? 
• Safer Alternatives for Stripping Wood
• Tips for using wood strippers
• Final thoughts on using oven cleaner on wood
• More furniture
• Sources

Using Oven Cleaner on Wood is Risky Business

To be honest, I am shocked at the number of 'influencers' urging us to use oven cleaner on wood, and what's even worse is that most of them don't even recommend using protective gear for this so-called hack.

I'll admit that the prospect of a seemingly effortless DIY project is tempting, but the reality is that using oven cleaner on wood can be extremely dangerous to your health and to your furniture. That's why today, instead of a 'How to' post, I've written a 'please DO NOT post'. My aim is that after reading this, you will understand why using an oven cleaner to strip wood furniture is so dangerous and that the risks far outweigh any potential benefits. 

Safety First: Why I'm Speaking Out Against the Viral Wood-Stripping Trend

I've pondered long and hard over whether or not I should write this post, but at the end of the day, my priority is to keep my readers safe. That's why I have to warn you about the dangers of this viral wood-stripping trend. While I love sharing helpful furniture upcycling tips, I only want to share things that are safe for everyone. Even when a furniture hack goes viral on social media, that doesn't mean it's safe, and it's time we all stopped blindly following these so-called trends. 

The Dangers of Using Oven Cleaner on Wood

So, you might be wondering, "What's the big deal? Why shouldn't I use oven cleaner on wood?"

When you clean an oven with oven cleaner, you spray it, close the door, and let it work. This keeps the strong fumes inside the oven, so you don't breathe them in. Kids and pets are also unlikely to come into contact with the oven cleaner when the oven door is closed. 

Stripping wood with oven cleaner is different. You're always around the chemicals, whether you're spraying them on, sanding, or scraping. 

So you might think, “Well, I'll just use a breathing mask, and then it will be OK.”. Wrong! Unlike your oven, which has a non-porous surface, wood expands and contracts depending on the level of heat or humidity in a room. That means that even after you've finished stripping your furniture with oven cleaner, the chemicals stay in the wood, releasing fumes into your home over time. Not great for you, your family, or for pets.

The danger to children and pets

Another thing I find astonishing is that the people telling us to use oven cleaner on wood also advise us to hose down our furniture after stripping! Chemical runoff into the soil poses a significant danger to children who love to play barefoot in the garden and pets who enjoy sniffing and rolling in the grass. These chemicals can be absorbed by the soil, potentially contaminating it and posing risks to anyone who comes into contact with them. Children and pets, with their smaller size and tendency to explore outdoor spaces, are particularly vulnerable to exposure.

Apart from the runoff of harmful substances into your garden soil, as I mentioned above, wood is highly porous, meaning it readily absorbs water. When you hose down the furniture, the excess moisture can cause the wood to swell, warp, or even rot over time. Why on earth anyone would recommend hosing down wooden furniture is beyond me!

Understanding the Ingredients

Ever checked the label on a can of oven cleaner? You'll likely find a list of harsh chemicals like sodium hydroxide (lye), sodium carbonate, and sometimes even methylene chloride. These chemicals might be great for cutting through grease and grime in your oven, but when it comes to wood, they can cause some serious damage. 

Ingredients in Oven Cleaners and Their Effects

Here's a quick rundown of some common ingredients in oven cleaners and why they're bad news for you and your beloved furniture. In case you were wondering, I sourced these facts from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website. The EWG has great guides for checking product ingredients and the common concerns relating to each ingredient. Ingredients are rated with a hazard score from A (best) to F (worst):

Ethanolamine Hazard Score F

• Severe skin burns and eye damage
• Developmental & Reproductive toxicities 
• An asthmagen that causes respiratory irritation and allergies
• Harmful if inhaled
• High chronic toxicity to aquatic life (pond/river animals and plants).

Common concerns for these include asthma and respiratory issues, skin allergies and irritation, and developmental and reproductive toxicity. I don't know about you, but that right there is enough for me to not want to use this product even in my oven, let alone on furniture that is going to be standing in my home.

Methylene chloride Hazard score F

Methylene Chloride is associated with several serious health risks, including brain and nervous system developmental problems in children, as well as cancer, damage to DNA, and death.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency 'EPA', people exposed to Methylene Chloride are at increased risk of developing cancer, adverse effects on the heart, central nervous system, and liver, and skin or eye irritation. Exposure may occur through inhalation, by absorption through the skin, or through contact with the skin. Because of how toxic this chemical is if inhaled, products containing it should never be used without using protective equipment like breathing apparatus and protective gloves. Do you really want this chemical in your home or garden? 

Butoxydiglyco: Hazard score F

• Toxic if inhaled
• Evidence of respiratory effects, including 
• High risk to pulmonary function (your lungs), 
• May cause genetic defects 
• May cause cancer 
• Known to cause reproductive toxicity; 
• Damage to vision; 
• Carcinogenic (cancerous) to humans
• Developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects 

Paraffin

• Evidence of biodegradation; acute aquatic toxicity 

Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) Hazard score F

• Evidence of skin irritation
• Can cause allergies
• Damage to vision 

Affects on you: There's a reason why Sodium Hydroxide is used in drain cleaners. It can dissolve hair and food particles clogging up your pipes. It's a powerful alkali and can cause severe burns if it comes into contact with your skin or eyes. Breathing in its fumes can irritate your respiratory system and lead to coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath. 

Affects on wood: It breaks down proteins and fats, making it effective for oven cleaning. However, it can also dissolve wood fibers, leaving your furniture looking dry and cracked.

Sodium Carbonate

Affects on you: Also known as washing soda, sodium carbonate can irritate your skin and eyes on contact. Inhaling its fumes may cause throat irritation, coughing, or difficulty breathing.

Affects on wood: Sodium Carbonate helps to loosen baked-on food in ovens. Unfortunately, it can also strip away the natural oils and colors in wood, leaving it dull and lifeless. Don't be duped by those beautiful 'after' photos you see on social media. The truth is that the ingredients in oven cleaner will dry out your wood furniture to an extent that could result in it splitting down the line. You could end up completely ruining that piece you love so much.

More Health Risks Associated with Oven Cleaner

If what you've read so far hasn't convinced you not to use oven cleaner on wood, here's a breakdown of the health dangers this method poses. Trust me, you don't want to mess around with this stuff.

Inhalation Hazards: Respiratory Problems and Allergic Reactions

Have you ever used oven cleaner in a poorly ventilated space and felt your throat tighten or your eyes start to water? That's because the fumes from oven cleaners can irritate your respiratory system and trigger allergic reactions in some people. Prolonged exposure can even lead to more serious conditions like asthma or bronchitis.

Skin Contact Dangers: Chemical Burns and Irritation

The harsh chemicals in oven cleaners can cause chemical burns and irritation, leaving you with painful red welts and blisters. What if your kids or pets come into contact with it while your furniture is sitting around waiting for the oven cleaner to work? Not exactly the kind of DIY project you signed up for, right?

Environmental Pollution: Release of Harmful Fumes and Runoff

Here's another thing to consider: Most bloggers will tell you to use a hose to remove the oven cleaner from the wood. When you use oven cleaner outdoors or rinse off your stripped wood with a hose, those chemicals don't just disappear. They seep into the soil and groundwater, potentially harming children, pets, plants, and wildlife. Please someone explain to me why anyone would consider this safe!

Is Easy-Off FumeFree oven cleaner safe for stripping furniture? 

Don't be fooled into believing that Easy-Off Fume Free is safe to strip furniture. According to the EWG's Guide, the fume-free version of EASY-OFF also contains Ethanolamine and butoxydiglycol, both of which are listed above and have a hazard score of F. Out of the sixteen ingredients in EASY-OFF fume-free, eight appear in one or more designated lists. Designated lists are lists of chemicals that have similar characteristics or concerns. Read more about designated lists here.

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Safer Alternatives for Stripping Wood

Luckily, some safer alternatives will get the job done without endangering your health or putting the environment at risk.

Sanding

Sometimes, the old-fashioned way is the best. Grab yourself an electric sander or sandpaper, and get to work removing that old finish by hand. Sure, it might take a little more elbow grease, and you will need to wear a mask, but it's much safer than dousing your furniture in toxic chemicals. Sanding is my favorite method of stripping furniture. Most of my furniture up-cycling posts have information on sanding. Read this post if you need more information on how to sand furniture.

Eco-Friendly Solvents: Citrus-Based and Soy-Based Strippers

If you're looking for a more effective alternative to mechanical methods, consider using a soy or citrus-based stripper. These products are made from natural ingredients and are much gentler for you and the environment. Plus, they smell a whole lot better than oven cleaners! I think the only time I've ever used a citrus-based gel stripper was when I up-cycled a vintage wooden ladder. I had to use a gel stripper for that because I couldn't get into all the nooks and crannies with my sander but boy, what a messy clean-up that was! 

Hiring Trained Professionals for Safe Furniture Stripping

If you're dealing with a particularly stubborn finish or you just don't feel comfortable tackling the job yourself, it might be worth calling in the pros. There are plenty of professional furniture strippers out there who have the knowledge and expertise to safely remove old finishes without exposing you or your home to harmful chemicals.

Tips for using wood strippers

Here are a few tips to keep in mind to ensure a safe and successful outcome:

Ensuring Good Airflow in Your Workspace

Work outdoors if possible, or make sure you have plenty of ventilation to keep those fumes at bay. Open windows and doors, use fans to circulate air and consider wearing a respirator if you'll be working with particularly strong chemicals.

Wear Protective Gear

Don't forget to suit up before you start stripping! Gloves protect your hands from chemical burns, goggles shield your eyes from splashes, and a mask prevents you from inhaling harmful fumes.

Properly Disposing of Used Stripping Materials

Once you're finished stripping your wood, make sure to dispose of any leftover stripping materials properly. Check with your local waste management authority for guidelines on how to safely dispose of hazardous waste.

Final thoughts on using oven cleaner on wood

What more can I say other than, PLEASE DO NOT use oven cleaner on wood furniture? I know that stripping wood with oven cleaner seems like a cheap option, but think about the potential risks to your family's health and the environment. Using safer alternatives like sanding, gels, eco-friendly solvents, etc., you can achieve beautiful results without harming yourself, your family, or the planet. Your furniture will also thank you for not filling it with chemicals and stripping it of its natural oils.

Spread the word

Your help is needed! Dear readers, your support in spreading awareness about the dangers of using oven cleaner on wood is invaluable. Please consider pinning this post and sharing it on social media platforms to help us reach as many people as possible. Thank you for your support in keeping our community safe!

To my fellow bloggers who have shared posts promoting the use of oven cleaner to strip wooden furniture, I urge you to consider removing this content from your websites. It poses serious health risks to our lovely DIY community and the environment, and I know that was not your intent.

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More furniture

Sources

Environmental Working Group (EWG) website.

[1]Toxicological Profile for Methylene Chloride. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry; September 2000. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Information on the health effects of the mentioned chemicals:

1. Sodium Carbonate:
   • Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
   • Link: NIOSH Sodium Carbonate Pocket Guide
2. Methylene Chloride:
   • Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
   • Link: CDC Methylene Chloride Factsheet