It can be easy to forget to clean your oven. Then one day you turn it on, and bam, smoke or stink city. Cleaning your oven is a dirty task, especially if you don’t have a self-cleaning feature. However, with regular cleanings, the job becomes easier. Here we offer five tips for thoroughly cleaning your oven.
1. Baking soda
Baking soda is a naturally abrasive cleanser that is safe to use on a long list of surfaces. Because oven cleaning products are so strong and toxic, you might try using baking soda first. This way you can get a good cleaning but avoid breathing in those strong chemicals.
Baking soda can also make short work of the greasy, grimy build-up common to ovens. To tackle cooked-on grime, make a paste of baking soda and water or lemon juice. Remove the racks from your oven and lay down newspapers below the oven to catch any gross glop that drips out as you clean.
Put on some gloves and then spread the paste all over the inner walls and bottom of the oven, being sure to avoid the electric heating elements and flame openings for gas ovens. Let it sit overnight and then put your gloves on and use a damp cloth to scrub away the paste. Use a clean cloth to rinse the oven clean.
Meanwhile, soak your racks in warm soapy water so you can tackle them next. Use your paste mixture to scrub away sticky grease with an abrasive sponge and then rinse the racks down. Place your racks back in the oven and you’re done.
2. Lemons
Lemons are another natural miracle worker as a refreshing cleaning alternative. Squeeze out the juice of two lemons into an oven-proof dish filled with water. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees and then place the dish in the oven to cook for an hour. Turn the oven off then open the door to let it cool down. You want it to be warm to the touch, but not so hot you can burn yourself. Remove the dish and set it aside. Take out the racks and then with a damp cloth, scrub the inside of the oven. After that, tackle the oven racks using your warmed lemon water and an abrasive sponge. Let the racks dry and then place them back in your lemony fresh oven.
3. Oven cleaner
If you are okay with using traditional, chemical oven cleaners, it’s probably the best solution. It’s made specifically for all that baked-on grime that can be very difficult to remove. Follow the instructions of the package, but add these additional tips. Remove the oven racks and lay down newspapers around the oven before you start spraying. This will keep your floors clean. This is seriously stinky, dangerous work so gloves, a mask and goggles are called for.
Use the spray on your oven racks and then seal them up in a garbage bag while the oven is prepping. Wipe down the interior of the oven with a clean damp cloth, removing all of the cleaner residues. Take the racks out of the bag and scrub them with an abrasive sponge, then rinse them down thoroughly before placing them in the oven. You really want to get any residue of the cleaner rinsed as it stinks when you turn the oven on for the first time.
4. Clean the glass door
Nothing is grosser than looking at your lovely cake or pie baking in the oven through a filthy, grimy glass oven door. You can use oven cleaner to target this mess by opening the door flat and giving it a good spraying. Don’t forget to lay down those newspapers to catch any runoff. However, before spraying, try to scrape off any debris you can first.
Leave the cleaner to do its work according to the instructions then use an abrasive sponge to get at that grimy mess. Because the window has crevices, you’ll need to use an old toothbrush to get into the border. Wipe everything clean and then dry it with a clean cloth.
5. Precautions using oven cleaners
As mentioned, oven cleaners are highly toxic. When using these products use the following precautions to avoid issues:
- Keep kids and pets out of the room when using the cleaner. It is toxic and very irritating to the skin. If inhaled it can be very dangerous.
- As mentioned, always wear gloves, a mask and goggles to protect yourself from the caustic chemicals.
- Work with doors and windows open so you have as much air circulation as possible. Run your kitchen fan as well.
- Avoid contact with other surfaces in your kitchen as the chemicals in the cleaner can be very destructive especially to paint, non-metallic kitchenware, counters and wood.
These tips will protect you and your family from harm when using the cleaner. Cleaning your oven is never fun. If you find your technique doesn’t work, it’s time to call in the big guns.
If you would like to find out more about keeping your oven and home clean, call Maid4Condos today at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.
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