OVEN CLEANERS Commercial oven cleaners often contain caustic, even poisonous chemicals. These chemicals make you cough, detrimental for cystic organs. Comprised of a cocktail of various chemicals, including lye, ethers, ethylene glycol, methylene chloride, and petroleum distillates. Lye can cause serious chemical burns when combined with water. It's these same corrosive properties that make lye a good cleaner; unfortunately, it's far from a safe one.