The green way to eliminate oven grease and other cooktop grime is to use a lot of elbow grease along with some traditional cleaning agents. You can also employ a few other tactics to pre-empt some of the buildup:
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Avoid or limit cooking practices that increase grease and grime. Deep-frying meat is a major gunk-producer.
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Install a cooktop backsplash, such as ceramic or glass tile, that you can wipe clean with soap and water.
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Use an all-purpose cleaner for the cooktop, whether it be a DYI recipe or an on-the-shelf green product, all-purpose or specially formulated for the stove.
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Don't use abrasive pads on glass or ceramic cooktops.
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Clean removable parts (racks, grates, and grate pans) to wash in the sink or dishwasher, as necessary.
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For grease stains, dampen the spot with water and cover with baking soda or cornstarch - both natural grease absorbers. Give it some time to work and then rinse off with water and wipe dry.
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From the inside of the oven, remove the racks and clean in the sink with soap, water, and a scrub brush. Baking racks can get pretty filthy, so consider taking them outside and rinsing off with the garden hose.
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While the oven is still slightly warm, cover baked-on food with table salt. After it cools, scrape away the salt and spills and wipe with a damp sponge.
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Prevent spills in the oven by using the proper size of baking pan or cookware. If your food is likely to bubble or spill over, place a larger pan or cookie sheet underneath to catch the overflow. Washing one pan in the sink or dishwasher is much easier than scrubbing the inside of your oven.
Many modern ovens have a self-cleaning feature (no chemicals necessary): Essentially, it burns off the spills so that you can easily wipe out the remains. Check your manufacturer's guidelines for use.
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