How To Clean Oven Explained : Best Tips On Cleaning Your Oven
1. Using an oven cleaner
An easy oven cleaning method is to use commercial oven cleaners such as sprays and foams. These effective products have been formulated specifically to deep clean your oven and tackle grease and grime without the fuss.
However, it’s important to exercise caution when using these products in your home. Read the instructions carefully and follow warning labels such as avoiding contact with the skin, ensuring the kitchen is well ventilated and wearing protective gear like a mask and cleaning gloves.
2. Creating a bicarb paste
Want to learn how to clean an oven without chemicals? A simple method is creating a paste from bicarbonate of soda and water. Also known as baking soda or bicarb soda, this mild abrasive can gently lift baked-on foods while also neutralising any odours.
To do this, combine 1/2 cup of bicarbonate of soda with a splash of water until a thick paste forms. Ensure the oven is turned off and cool, then apply the paste in a thin even layer with a sponge or cloth over the interior surfaces. Let it sit overnight before using a damp cloth to wipe off the paste.
3. Overnight steam trick
Placing a water-filled dish in the oven and leaving it overnight can help loosen grime for an easier clean. This is another way to clean your oven without chemicals and involves setting the oven to a low temperature to allow the moisture created by the water to penetrate hardened residues. After an hour, turn off the oven and leave the dish to sit overnight. The next day, use a damp sponge or microfibre cloth to wipe down the interior of the oven.
4. Dishwasher tablet
Using a dishwasher tablet might be one of the many cleaning oven hacks you may not have heard of. Dampen a tablet with warm water and use it to scrub inside the oven in circular motions, focussing on greasy spots with baked-on stains. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping away with a wet cloth.
Dishwasher tablets contain powerful cleaning agents designed to tackle tough grease and food residues on dishes. Some also have a slightly abrasive texture which can help scrub away grime. Do a spot test inside the oven and on the door before you begin.
5. Lemons
The acidic properties of lemons are effective natural cleaners and a great cleaning oven hack that can help break down and dissolve grease and food residues while leaving behind a fresh scent. Use a sponge or cloth to apply lemon juice directly to the oven, then let it sit for 10-15 minutes before gently scrubbing and wiping clean. You can also use a cut lemon, using it like a sponge to work it into any stained areas and wiping away any residue with a clean, damp cloth.
6. Use salt
Here’s an oven cleaning tip you may be surprised to learn – regular table salt is an effective natural cleaner thanks to its abrasive and absorbent properties. While the oven is still warm from cooking dinner or dessert, sprinkle salt on fresh spills to absorb food residue. This will make it easier to wipe down with water or a lemon half once the appliance cools.
7. Use a toothbrush
The simple toothbrush is one of the best oven cleaning hack tools you could have in your arsenal. Your old, worn-out brush is the perfect utensil for scrubbing hard-to-reach areas and stubborn spots inside the oven or oven racks. All you’ll need is your cleaner of choice and a little elbow grease.
8. Dish soap and vinegar
Another oven cleaning tip involves combining the household ingredients of regular dish soap and vinegar to create a powerful non-toxic solution for breaking down grease while neutralising odours. Prepare a spray bottle or bowl with equal parts dish soap and white vinegar. Spray or wipe directly inside the oven, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then come in with a scrubbing brush or damp cloth to lift grime.
9. Bicarb and dish soap
Creating a cleaning paste of three parts bicarbonate of soda to one part household dish soap is one of the best oven cleaners that doesn’t use chemicals. This effective scrubbing paste works well to physically scrub away stains and residues while breaking down oils thanks to baking soda’s alkaline properties and the dish soap’s grease-cutting power. Apply the thick paste onto problem areas inside and outside the oven and use a sponge or brush to gently scrub away baked-on grime. Wipe away the paste with a damp cloth, repeating to remove all residue.
10. Get a professional
If you don’t have the time or the means to clean your oven, consider hiring a professional cleaner for a thorough and hassle-free oven cleaning experience. These experts are likely to have a deep knowledge of the best tools and techniques for an effective clean and you won’t have to lift a finger.
Ideally, spills and grease should be spot-cleaned right away to avoid baked-on grease from hardening over time. Give your oven a thorough clean every 2-3 months to maintain hygiene and efficiency, or even every month if it is frequently used. To thoroughly deep clean your oven, including the oven racks and in-between nooks and crannies, it should be done every 6-12 months with a deep cleaning oven product.
Look for signs your oven may be due for a deep clean such as unpleasant smells, visible build-up of grease, and burnt-on stains and food residues, especially if spot cleaning isn’t effective.
What tools are best to clean an oven?
Depending on which oven cleaning tips you choose, you may need a range of tools such as the following:
Brushes
Scrapers
Cloths
A spray bottle
An old toothbrush
Discover more methods for cleaning your oven and learn step-by-step techniques to keep your oven spotless and safe.
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