Oven cleaner can help to remove rust, but it is not necessarily the optimum cleaning product for this task. It depends on the item or surface you’re trying to clean, as powerful oven cleaner products can eat away at paint or cause other damage if left on for too long.
White vinegar is a great product for cleaning rust, so it can be used as a supplementary cleaning product for very stubborn rust along with your oven cleaner. If using oven cleaner on rusty items, seal them in an airtight bag or container if possible. This is because oven cleaner tends to work best when there is minimal movement of air.