[heptane]

Hi all, I've been wondering this for years, and haven't been able to come across any explanation, so figured I would ask the chemists.

Question: How does baking soda work as an oven cleaner?

I see so many articles about cleaning out scorched ovens with baking soda and water. Since it's such a mild base, I can't imagine it having any significant chemical reaction on the burnt deposits. And I can only think of it helping at all due to forming a mildly abrasive paste.

[Arkcon]

Definitely.  Using baking soda as a mild abrasive has been used for cleaning everything from ovens to teeth.  Also, alkaline substances covert grease into soap, so are good at "cutting" greasy messes.  At least, that's the story.  I find it hard to believe significant soap forms with just simple contact in aqueous solutions.  All the more unlikely given how weak a base bicarbonate is.