Cleaning a grimy oven is one of the chores everybody really hates. Many people postpone this task as much as they can because of the idea of scrubbing old oil spills and scraping out toasted food residues for hours. Unfortunately, the dirty stove is a dangerous appliance – the built-up grime can result in foul odours, smoke, and even – fire. Nevertheless, oven cleaning doesn’t have to be a difficult one and to take eat up your free time. Just try these 10 oven cleaning hacks and see for yourself!
Our Top Oven Cleaning Tips
1. Use Dishwasher Tablets to Remove Stuck-On Food
Tablets work great at cleaning stuck-on residues from pans, pots, and cutlery in the dishwasher, and they can do the same for a dirty oven. Get one dishwasher tablet and dip half of it in lukewarm water. Rub the wet end of the tablet over the stain on your stove, and you will see the food vanish with ease.
2. Use Essential Oils to Remove Foul Odours in Your Oven
If you have prepared some especially strong-smelling food, like spicy meat or fish, you can get rid of the bad smell using your favourite essential oil. Add five to ten drops of the essence to an oven proof container and fill to the top with water. Place the liquid in a cold oven, then turn on the appliance and slowly heat the mixture for one hour. Turn off the heat and open the door to let it cool down but leave the bowl inside until. Your appliance will be purified from the strong odour.
3. Use Car Wax to Remove Grease from the Oven Hob
A dirty hob of the cooker isn’t a pretty sight and can make the whole kitchen look dirty. Cleaning of the cooktops with car wax is a great way to remove built-up grease if you are dealing with stainless steel oven. Apply a thin layer of the car product, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then wipe away.
4. Use Old Toothbrushes to Clean the Oven with Ease
Always save your old toothbrushes and keep them at hand. They turn into an indispensable tool for scrubbing stubborn old stains at hard to reach places. The toothbrush’ bristles are softer than other brushes’ hair, and this allows you to clean scorched food and old spills without damaging the surfaces of the appliance.
5. Use Oil to Remove Oil Stains
It may sound strange, but one of the most efficient ways to deal with greasy old splashes on the cooker hood or on the cooktop is to treat them with vegetable oil. This trick will even make it easier to clean the oven next time. Apply a few drops of oil on a piece of kitchen paper and gently rub the grease spots. Soak the remaining grease with a clean paper towel. To complete the job, wipe the oven with a soft cleaning cloth and a few drops of rubbing alcohol.
6. Use Baking Soda to Loosen Dry Stains
When you have to clean your oven the most crucial step is to find a way to loosen the food residues. This action just makes the further cleaning easier. Wipe out the surface with a damp sponge. Pour a few spoons of baking soda in a bowl and add just enough lukewarm water to make a thick paste. Apply this cleaner onto the scorched residues and food crusts. Let the soda mixture sit 2 hours and use a damp sponge to wipe it after the time is up.
7. Clean Old Grease Stains with Paper Towels
Stir together a generous amount of strong dish detergent and warm water. Fold a few pieces of kitchen paper towels tightly and soak them in the mixture. Wring the folded paper towels gently, unfold them carefully, and place over the grease spots of your oven. Let them sit for 1-2 hours. These DIY wet wipes will make loosening of the grease easier, and the oils will transfer onto the paper. After this, the dirt is loosened, and the oven cleaning will be easier and faster.
8. Clean the Oven Racks with Strong Dish Detergent
When the racks of your oven are covered with grease and toasted food residues, try this method to clean them efficiently. Take a large plastic basin and fill it with hot water. Add a generous amount of strong liquid dish detergent. Whisk the mixture until you have nice hot suds. Place the oven racks inside and leave them to soak for 1 hour. Scrub off the loosened dirt using a wire sponge or a coarse cleaning brush. Let the clean oven racks air-dry on a kitchen towel before placing them back inside the appliance.
9. Clean Burnt Food From the Oven Residues with Ammonia
Ammonia is another great substance to remove burnt food residues and clean your oven fast. Pour 1/2 cup of ammonia in a heat-resistant container and put it on the top rack. Place a large cook pan filled with water on the bottom of the appliance. Turn on the heat at the highest temperature, close the door, and leave it like this for one hour. Turn off the heat and let both containers sit inside overnight, without opening the door. After that, remove the pots and allow the fume to evaporate. Use face protection while doing this step because the ammonia vapours are harmful if you inhale them. Wipe the inside of the oven with a sponge dipped in a solution made of warm water and strong dish detergent.
10. Use Salt to Remove Fresh Stains from Your Oven
If you want to clean with fresh food or grease stains, before they turn into crust, then you need nothing but table salt. Wait until the oven cools down a bit and then wet the spots with lukewarm water and sprinkle a generous amount of salt on them. The substance will prevent the spills to harden and will absorb the oils, making further cleaning of the oven much simpler.
