Does cleaning your oven fill you with a deep sense of dread? Do you know how grubby your oven is inside but haven’t had the courage to tackle it yet? No matter what state your oven is in, cleaning it doesn’t have to be a chore that you keep putting off. With the following simple cleaning tips, you can get your oven positively sparkling again, and all with the minimum of fuss:
What you’ll need to clean your oven:
- A pair of gloves
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Dish cloth
- Spatula
- Spray bottle
How to clean your oven:
Firstly, you’ll need to get the oven ready:
Take all removable parts out of your oven, such as the racks and any dishes or trays that you might store inside, and set them aside to be cleaned later.
Secondly, mix a cleaning paste:
Take half a cup of soda and mix it with enough water to make a thick paste that you can spread, and pour some white vinegar into an empty spray bottle.
Mix half a cup of baking soda with enough water to create a reasonably thick, spreadable paste. Prepare your vinegar for later, by pouring it into the empty spray bottle.
Then, spread the paste:
Take the paste that you’ve just made and spread it evenly and thickly over the interior of your oven, paying special attention to any areas that are particularly greasy and grimy. When the paste comes into contact with the grease, you should see it turn a little brown.
Next, simply sit back and wait:
If you put the paste on during the evening, you can simply go to bed and sleep while it works its magic. If cleaning in the morning, make sure the paste sits in the oven for a minimum of 12 hours. It makes sense to clean the removable parts while you wait, and hot soapy water and a scrubber should be enough to remove any food stuffs and stains.
Finally, wipe the oven clean:
Once the paste has sat inside the oven for at least 12 hours, take a damp dish cloth and wipe away as much of the paste and grime as you can. You can use a spatula to get to some of the harder to reach areas, and if any residue remains, simply spray some vinegar on it, wait until it foams, and wipe it away. This can be done as often as is needed.
Et voila! One shiny, sparkling clean oven. Pop the trays and racks back in, give it a quick wipe to dry it off and stand back and admire your handiwork!
For an oven that’s always clean, add it to the list of chores your cleaner will take care of, and if you don’t have a cleaner, get one, fast!
