While it might be tempting to reach for a harsh, chemical based cleaner when attempting to tackle the grime in your oven, it isn’t necessary and there are alternative, safer solutions for achieving a sparkling clean oven:
Get rid of any burnt bits:
Take out the oven racks and use a dry scrub brush to try and break up any larger chunks of charred food that might be attached inside the oven or on the racks. Use a brush to sweep up the crumbs or suck them up with a vacuum cleaner.
Make and apply a paste from baking soda:
Grab some baking soda and mix it with a little water and a squirt of dish soap, until you achieve the consistency of mashed potatoes. If you have a large oven, you may need to increase the quantity. Using an ordinary sponge, smear the paste thickly all over the interior of your oven, while taking care to avoid vents. Then, close the door and let the paste sit and do its magic overnight.
Fill a bath to soak your racks and dryer sheets:
Place a towel on the bottom of your bath to protect it, then carefully place the racks on top. Add hot water with half a cup of dish soap and ensure that the bubbly water completely submerges the racks. You can add dryer sheets to the bubble bath, too. Leave overnight.
Rinse off and dry the racks:
The soak in a hot bath should mean that any hardened debris and food items fall off the racks and sheets easily, and with minimal effort from you. Empty the bath and use the showerhead to rinse them off completely. Once you’ve dried them, they’re ready to be popped back in once the oven has been cleaned.
Wipe out the wet paste from inside your oven:
Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar and soak all surfaces of the oven. Once the vinegar hits the baking soda paste, you’ll see a chemical reaction that involves bubbling and fizzing, and any tough grime and stuck on stains should begin to loosen and break up. Use the spray liberally on tougher areas, and then leave it for at least 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, take a damp sponge and proceed to wipe the paste off your oven. It might take a few wipes to eliminate all the residue, but it should all disappear relatively effortlessly. For tougher spots you might need to give a bit of a scrub with steel wool or a scrub brush. Being careful not to scratch the surface of the oven.
The finishing touches:
Grab a wet sponge and give your oven one final clean to ensure that it’s sparkling. You might want to leave the interior to dry by leaving the door open or close it and heat it up to 200 for a few minutes, to help dry it and eliminate any lingering odours of vinegar.
For a seriously grubby oven, call in the professionals and have them do all the dirty work for you!
