Keeping your oven clean is essential, but it doesn’t mean you have to arm yourself with harsh chemicals or pricey cleaning products. Everyday household items like baking soda, vinegar, and lemons can be your best allies in battling baked-on grease and stubborn grime. This guide offers easy, effective, and safe methods to turn your grimy oven sparkling clean. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to transform your oven with these simple and environmentally friendly cleaning hacks.
Vacuum Crumbs First
Begin by removing all racks and using a vacuum’s hose attachment to suck up crumbs and loose bits from the oven’s interior. This prevents you from creating a bigger mess when you start using wet cleaning methods.
Use Baking Soda and Vinegar
Mix half a cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water to create a paste. Spread this all over the interior surfaces of your oven, avoiding the heating elements. After letting it sit overnight, spray vinegar over areas with baking soda, which will foam. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Use Salt To Soak Up Leaks
While cooking, if you notice a spill or leak, sprinkle salt over the spill to soak it up. Once the oven is cool, you’ll find the salt has absorbed the spill, making it easier to scrape away.
Steam Helps Loosen Tough Grime
Place a pot of boiling water on the bottom rack of the oven and close the door. Allow it to steam for 20-30 minutes. The steam will help soften grime and grease, making it easier to wipe clean.
A Cut Lemon Is A Great Surface Scrubber
Cut a lemon in half and use the cut side to scrub the interior surfaces of your oven. The natural acidity helps to break down grease and grime. For extra tough spots, sprinkle some salt or baking soda on the lemon first.
Old Toothbrushes Work Wonders For Nooks
Dip an old toothbrush in a mixture of baking soda and water or soapy water to reach into the nooks and crannies of your oven, including the corners and edges around the door.
Soak Oven Racks In The Bathtub
Remove the oven racks and soak them in hot water mixed with dish soap and a half cup of baking soda in your bathtub for at least two hours or overnight. This loosens all the grime, making it easier to scrub clean.
Dishwasher Tablets Can Help With Door Cleaning
Wet a dishwasher tablet and use it to scrub the glass portion of your oven door. It’s surprisingly effective at cutting through the grease. Make sure to wear gloves, as the detergent can be harsh on skin.
Dish Soap and Vinegar Make a Great Non-Toxic Spray
Mix dish soap with vinegar and water in a spray bottle; use this solution to spray down the interior surfaces of your oven. The soap cuts through grease, while the vinegar sanitizes and removes odors. Wipe clean with a soft sponge.
If Your Oven Has a Self-Cleaning Cycle, Use It!
Utilize your oven’s self-cleaning function to save energy and reduce chemical use. Remove all racks and pans, and follow your manufacturer’s instructions carefully, as this function can get extremely hot but is very effective at incinerating grime.
Baking Soda and Dish Soap Can Make a Non-Toxic Paste
Create a cleaning paste by mixing three parts baking soda to one part dish soap. Apply this paste liberally inside the oven and let it sit for several hours or overnight. Scrub, then wipe clean with a damp cloth for a sparkling interior.
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Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
