Looking to find out the best way to clean your oven? This expert guide will help you on your way to easy oven cleaning and will give you all the oven cleaning tips you wish you’d known a long time ago.
Cleaning the oven is one of the most neglected chores in almost every household for a reason.
It can be tiresome, time-consuming and laborious work, which is why you’d be wise to find out the best way to clean your oven so as to have to do it as infrequently as possible.
Whether you’re looking for expert oven cleaning tips, the best way to clean oven racks, or a more natural way to clean the oven, this expert advice, courtesy of Ivelina Ivanova, cleaning expert at Fantastic Services, will answer all of those burning questions.
A sparkling clean oven makes the kitchen look complete. Picture: Getty
A step-by-step guide to cleaning your oven
You will need the following items:
- Oven cleaner solution
- Dishwashing liquid
- Spatula
- Oven degreaser
- Moist sponge
- Toothbrush
- Microfibre cloth
- Gloves
Oven cleaning method:
1. Prepare the oven for cleaning
A little bit of effort in the preparation stages will ensure your oven cleans like a dream.
“Before starting with the cleaning, make sure the oven is turned off and cooled completely. Be careful with exposed heating components and gas burner jets,” says Ivelina.
2. Remove all shelving
The best way to clean oven racks is to first remove them from the unit and give them some TLC in a separate zone.
“Take out all removable items like oven trays, oven racks and grills. Soak them in oven cleaner or in hot, soapy water.
“Leave them to soaking while proceeding with cleaning the inside of the oven.”
3. Get to work on the inside
“Scrape the excess debris and grease with a spatula. Then, when the residue is removed, spray the inside with oven degreaser and leave it for 15 minutes to work its magic.”
Once the food debris begins to lift, take a moist sponge and wash the inside of the oven out thoroughly, paying special attention to any burnt grease inside.
“Repeat this step until the oven is completely clean, making sure to rinse the cloth between wipes to avoid spreading grime on the surface,” Ivelina says.
“If the residue is difficult to remove, you can spray the oven and leave the detergent for a longer time. Leave it overnight or for at least eight hours.”
Hot tip: Use a toothbrush soaked into oven solution to scrub the corners and other hard to reach places.
4. Clean the oven door
Following a good spray of oven cleaner, gently wipe the oven door with a microfibre cloth. Be careful not to scratch the surface.
Once the inside of the appliance is sparkling and bone dry, you can slide your clean oven racks back into their spots.
5. Clean the oven exterior
Take a microfibre cloth and get to cleaning the oven glass, along with any knobs and hobs.
“Remove them if possible and clean them separately with the oven solution and a rag. You can clean the non-removable knobs with a toothbrush,” Ivelina says.
“You can use the oven right after you clean it. Just heat it up to a maximum level and leave it for at least 10 minutes before cooking.”
Take care in cleaning your oven door to ensure you don’t scratch the surface. Picture: Getty
How to clean the oven naturally
Looking to avoid using any harsh detergents or artificial cleaners? Ivelina has some oven cleaning hacks that require only a handful of pantry items like vinegar and baking soda.
You will need the following items:
- ½ cup of baking soda
- 1-2 tablespoons water
- Microfibre cloth
- Vinegar
- Dishwashing liquid
- Gloves
Oven cleaning method:
1. Remove all shelving and trays
Once again, slide out all oven trays and soak them in a solution of soapy water. While this is working its magic, make a natural oven cleaning paste.
2. Mix up your natural oven cleaner
“Create a paste by mixing the baking soda and water. Mix these until you have a smooth white paste,” says Ivelina, adding: “You can adjust the portion until forming the desired consistency.”
Using gloves, lather your natural oven cleaning solution over the whole surface and interiors, paying special attention to the stubborn spots. Rub the paste in gently and leave it overnight for at least 12 hours.
3. Remove the paste
The following day, take a damp microfibre cloth and remove the dried baking soda and water paste.
4. Spray the oven down with vinegar
Pop some vinegar into a spray bottle and moisten the inside of the oven with it. “The vinegar and baking soda will create a fuzzy reaction, so wait for the reaction to fade,” says Ivelina.
5. Wipe up cleaner residue
Next, take a clean microfibre cloth and wipe up the surface. Rinse and repeat this step until any sign of the baking soda paste residue is removed.
6. Scrub and reassemble the trays
“Lastly, scrub the trays and racks with a sponge or brush, rinse with hot water and reassemble them in the oven.”
Et voila! Your oven is clean and ready to tackle your Sunday roast once more.
Take care cleaning oven knobs and handles. Picture: Getty
How often should you clean your oven?
A clean oven not only helps your roast dinners taste better, but will prolong the life of your appliances and decrease its energy expenditure.
“Dirty ovens take a longer time to warm up and can break down if the grime piles up over the heating parts,” says Ivelina.
She suggests we embark on a thorough clean four times a year, with regular wipe downs.
“Specialists advise that oven should be deep cleaned at least once every three months. Spills and spots must be cleaned as soon as they happen.
“You should also regularly wipe up the oven with a microfibre cloth and cleaning detergent. Do this at least once a week.”
And the same goes for a self-cleaning oven, too. “The self-cleaning cycle doesn’t really self-clean the oven. You should be involved in the process as well,” says Ivelina.
Originally published as How to clean your oven by Katie Skelly.
