Cleaning the oven is not on the list of many peoples favourite household chores, in fact, it’s one of those tasks that homeowners tend to put off and do every 6 months, or to once a year. However, experts reveal that if you use your oven nearly every day, it should be cleaned every 3 months or whenever there is burnt-on food. Additionally, the oven door and handle should be wiped down daily, as the handle can hold more bacteria and germs than you think. Sounds grimy doesn’t it?
A clean oven is essential for maintaining your kitchen’s hygiene and safety, as a dirty oven is more likely to cause a fire. In this article, we will discuss the ultimate way to clean your oven, leaving it with less spills and more sparkle!
Safety First
To begin, wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from any chemicals and scrubbing. Next, make sure your oven is cold and completely empty. This includes taking out any cooking trays and oven racks. Fill your sink or bathtub with hot water mixed with a quarter cup of washing-up liquid and one cup of baking soda and leave the oven racks to soak.
Steam Clean With Vinegar
If you think your oven has tough burnt-on grime, or you want to make it easier to clean, you can steam clean your oven! Place a saucepan or a roasting tray of hot boiling water mixed with an equal amount of white vinegar inside a cold oven for one hour. After an hour, allow it to cool down before removing the container and wiping the entire interior of the oven, this will help to soften the burnt-on grime, making it much easier to come off than it would if you were to scrub it away.
Use An Oven Cleaner
If you are planning on using an oven cleaner, remove any loose dirt or debris and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure to cover the entire interior of the oven, especially any greasy areas. Let it sit for the recommended time to loosen the grime. Using an oven cleaner can be harsh, so make sure to wear a dust mask to protect yourself from any fumes and ensure your kitchen has good ventilation during the cleaning process by opening a window or turning on the extraction fan.
Make A DIY Solution
If you don’t have an oven cleaner on-hand or you prefer a natural approach, you can still clean your oven by making a simple DIY solution without any harsh chemicals. Mix a cup of baking soda and water to create a paste. Apply the paste all over the base, sides and inside of the oven door, avoiding the heating elements. Leave to sit for two hours or overnight. Use a second solution of half vinegar and half water and spray over the baking soda solution. The acid from the vinegar will react with the baking soda, causing it to foam, this will help remove any burnt-on grime. As an optional step, you can add a few drops of lemon essential oil to create a nice and fresh scent. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes before removing the grime and solution with a scrubbing sponge and a rag, just be careful not to scrub too hard and scratch the oven’s surface.
Rinse and Dry
Once you are happy with the results, wipe the interior down with a damp cloth and allow it to air dry. While the oven is drying, you can clean the oven racks. Use a scrubbing sponge or brush to remove baked-on grime. Rinse them thoroughly and once they are fully air dry, place them back in the oven. Don’t forget to clean the outside of the oven door. Use a glass cleaner and a clean dry cloth to buff the glass and use an anti-bacterial spray to wipe the handle and control panel.
Self-Cleaning Ovens Need Cleaning Too
It’s worth noting the method above is for traditional ovens. If you have a self-cleaning oven, they contain rough liners on the sides which are designed to catch and absorb any food spills. While this is a great feature to make cleaning easier, a self-cleaning oven doesn’t mean it entirely cleans itself (as much as we wish it would). The shelves, base and the oven door still need to be cleaned as often as a traditional oven.
Post Your Oven Cleaning Task on taskm8
Keeping your oven clean will maintain its performance, and most importantly cook better food! Cleaning your oven can be a time-consuming, tedious and back-breaking task. This is where taskm8 comes in handy. It is an online platform that allows homeowners to post their general tasks and choose a m8 who is willing to complete it for you for a fee of your choice. When posting a task, you will need to give it a description. For instance, ‘I need someone to clean my oven’. To find out how taskm8 works, visit our page. So, what are you waiting for? Register today, start posting and get those put-off tasks done!
