Cleaning your oven is an important part of home maintenance. Not only does it keep the appliance in good working condition, but it also reduces the risk of fire and health hazards. But how often should you clean an oven? Cleaning an oven is a necessary task that needs to be done regularly. It is important to keep your oven clean and safe, as it can affect the taste and quality of the food you cook.
Let’s discuss why it’s important to clean your oven regularly, as well as how often you should do so. We’ll also provide tips on the best ways to clean your oven for optimal results.
When to clean your oven?
It shouldn’t be a task to maintain the efficiency of your oven and to keep it looking new. It’s important to clean your oven regularly to prevent the buildup of grease, oil drips, burnt bottoms, splatters, and hardened cheese spots.
The last thing you’d want is to have old grease set into your fresh bakes or grills. So, if you use baking sheets for clean bakes, then perfect! Just dust off the residue and on you go to the next. But if you grilled some juicy chicken drumsticks and you’ve got oil drips on the bottom and on the steel racks, we recommend that you clean that ASAP! Try not to leave them for more than 24 hours as it gets tougher to remove them easily.
Thorough clean your oven
If you haven’t had the time to clean it thoroughly after every use and you are a heavy user, try the method below when you spring clean:
- Before cleaning your oven, remove everything that’s in it. (Trays, Racks, etc)
- Have a rubber glove handy always. (Don’t want those grease under your nails)
- Prep your cleaning products (Water, Baking Soda, White Vinegar, Spray Bottle & Cloth )
#1. Baking Soda:
Baking soda is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many recipes and household tasks. It has the ability to absorb moisture, neutralize odors, and even act as a mild abrasive.
Mixing baking soda with water creates a paste that can be used for cleaning, removing stains, and even making your own natural cleaners. To make the paste, mix equal parts baking soda and water until it makes a spreadable paste.
Remember to make enough to coat the interior of your oven.
#2. Application:
To apply the baking soda mix, sprinkle it evenly over the entire surface of the oven and then let it sit for at least an hour before scrubbing or wiping it off with a damp cloth. The baking soda mix works by breaking down the grease and turning it into a brown, acidy substance that can be easily wiped away.
Make sure to pay special attention to greasy parts as these will need extra attention in order to break down all of the dirt and grime.
#3. Waiting game:
If you want to make sure that your oven is clean and free of any grease or grime, it’s important to wait at least 12 hours after covering the inside of the oven with a baking soda paste. This will give the paste enough time to work its magic and break down all the dirt and grime.
Yup, it’s a long process but we recommend you do it overnight so you don’t have to stay around and wait. Apply the paste. Go to bed and clean up the next morning!
#4. Racks & Trays
Soak your trays and racks in hot soapy water for at least 1- 2 hours for the grease to disintegrate. You can use a good store-bought cleaner to polish it up or you could also use a bit of a lemon rub to polish the rack.
#5. After 12 hours
Use a damp cloth to wipe away the baking soda paste and oven residue. A spatula or scraper may also be necessary in order to remove any stubborn residues that remain on the surface of the oven. Oh and a little tip: Do away with the scouring pads as they can scratch the oven.
For the interior of the oven glass, you just need 30 minutes to soak the baking soda and wipe it off with a clean, damp towel or paper towel.
#6. Vinegar Spray
To finish the process off, white vinegar is an excellent cleaner because it is non-toxic and natural. Simply add white vinegar to a plastic spray bottle and spritz it all over the interior of the oven. Let this sit for 10 minutes before wiping it away with a damp cloth or sponge. This will help remove any grease or grime that has built up over time in your oven. You may need to repeat this process several times for stubborn stains or build-up, but eventually, you’ll see great results!
Lastly, don’t forget to polish up the knobs and exteriors for a clean, brand-new look!
And there you go! Do this every 2 weeks or when you have that huge cookout and keep that oven looking spanking new!
Written by Darsh for the CBF Store
