Tips For Cleaning Your Oven
Cleaning your oven is the type of job you might get tempted to put off, but keeping on top of things will make your life easier in the long run.
We’ll guide you through mastering this tedious job without too much trouble, starting with knowing when to clean your oven in the first place. Contact us if you are looking for the go to option for house cleaning Christchurch.
How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?
Several standard warnings indicate it’s time to blitz your oven. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the oven splattered with food residue?
- Do you notice an unpleasant smell when you start your oven?
- Is there any smoke?
As a rough guideline, clean your oven every three months if you’re a keen cook. If you use your oven infrequently, you can get away with cleaning it every six months or so.
Preventive Maintenance
Before we serve up those cleaning guidelines, think about what you can do to minimise the mess from accumulating in your oven:
- Use an oven liner: Use a non-stick liner, which you can pick up for less than $10. Line the base of the oven to cut back on gunk build-up.
- Slip in a second roasting tray: Pop another oven tray at the bottom of the oven so it will help trap dripping grease.
- Use the correct cookware and lids: Don’t overfill your pans, or you’ll increase the risk of food spilling over the edges. Cover your pots with lids to limit splatter.
- Steam clean outside the oven: Steam can wick away more than 99 per cent of bacteria, so consider using a steam vacuum on the outside of your oven.
What Do You Need to Clean Your Oven?
Cleaner
You have two broad choices here:
- Store-bought cleaner: While using store-bought cleaner is quick, easy, and effective, these chemical-laden products are caustic and might inflame sensitivities.
- Homemade solution: Using lemons and water might shift minor grime, but it won’t do the trick on its own if you have a filthy oven that needs some serious TLC. Mix some baking soda with water and vinegar in a spray bottle for a powerful, all-natural solution.
Supplies
- Heavy-duty gloves: Sidestep the disposable gloves and opt for heavy-duty rubber gloves to protect your skin the cleaner and scrapes.
- Safety goggles: If you’re using store-bought cleaner, don’t skip the safety glasses.
- Paper towels or newspaper: Cover the floor around your oven with paper towels or some old newspaper.
- Damp cloth: Grab a handful of rags if your oven is especially mucky.
- Microfiber sponge or scouring pad: These work wonderfully for removing ingrained grime.
- Large bin bag: Rubbish bags come in handy when you’re cleaning the oven racks.
Cleaning Your Oven With Regular Cleaning Products
- Take everything out of your oven, including the racks.
- Protect the surrounding floor with paper towels or newspaper.
- Put on your safety goggles and gloves. Spray the cleaner around the interior of the oven. Don’t spray the heating elements in an electric oven. You can lift these carefully, then spray underneath them. With gas ovens, avoid spraying where the gas enters. Close the oven door when you finish spraying.
- Allow the cleaner to settle in for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, spray the oven down with the cleaner, then put them inside a large rubbish bag. Leave them to sit for 30 minutes or more.
- Open the oven and wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth. Scour away any stubborn spots.
- Rinse the racks in warm, soapy water. Dry and replace.
Cleaning Your Oven With A Natural Solution
- Strip your oven down and remove the racks.
- Protect the area around the stove with paper towels or newspaper.
- Mix ½ cup baking soda with 2 tablespoons water until you have a gloopy paste.
- Spread the paste all around the inside of the oven. Close the oven and leave overnight.
- Put the racks in the sink. Add some baking soda and pour on some vinegar. The mixture will start foaming. When the foaming subsides, cover the racks in hot water and allow them to sit overnight.
- The following day, wipe down inside the oven. Use vinegar to remove any stubborn chunks of baking soda.
- Scrub your oven racks, then dry and replace them.
- Consider ordering some takeaway food to preserve your pristine oven!
What To Do Next
We hope you make use of the above tips to get your oven sparkling.
If you need help from a professional cleaning service, our My Maid house cleaners can make your life easier for less than you might imagine.
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