There is no doubt that cleaning an oven is one of the most challenging and nerve-wracking chores around the kitchen. Whether it is a recipe that went wrong or just a messy grill, the racks will be covered with grease, grime, and burnt food. Even though you could be using the oven sparingly, it is evident that dirt and other residues will accumulate. For a cleaner home, it is important to clean your oven. It is always advisable to clean your oven after cooking to reduce the amount of work you need to do at a later date. Below are five hacks for effective oven cleaning at home…
1. Vacuum Your Oven Before Cleaning
Whichever method you are using to clean your oven, vacuuming out the dirt and food particles will ease the process. When using an oven with a self-cleaning feature, it would make a great difference if you would vacuum it after the cleaning.
2. Using Baking Soda and Vinegar
If you are looking for natural ways to clean an oven, using baking soda and vinegar is a good way to go. This comes in handy mostly when you have no oven cleaner at hand, or have no alternative than cleaning it naturally.
Mix a cup of baking soda and water to create a paste that you will line over the bottom and sidewalls of the oven, the racks, and to the inside of the glass door, and leave it for two hours. A longer period will enhance the action of the mixture on grime and grease.
Next, use a spray bottle filled with water and vinegar in a ratio of 1:1 and spray the mixture over the baking soda. The acid in the vinegar will neutralize with the paste to remove burnt-on foods, grease, and other debris. Leave it for about 30 minutes, and then use a soft damp cloth to wipe off the paste. For stubborn stains, you may need an old toothbrush as an abrasive. Rinse off the racks with running water before placing them back in the oven.
3. Using Salt
Salt can be used as a quick fix oven cleaning technique. When you notice that there are pieces of food falling over while baking, or some spills while preparing your food, you will need to sprinkle kosher salt on the sides. This will ease your cleaning and avoid stuck stains on the racks or the walls. Besides, salt has proven to be a perfect abrasive when scrubbing stubborn stains in the oven.
4. Use an Old Toothbrush to Reach Every Nook or Crevice
By dipping a toothbrush in a cleaning solution, it comes in handy in cleaning those hard-to-reach areas and corners in the oven. You can also use a toothbrush to scrub and brush off stains and burnt particles on the heating element.
5. Using Commercial Oven Cleaners
There are hundreds of oven cleaner products on the market today. With each promising amazing results, you will need to do your due diligence to identify the best oven cleaners. With these, you will need to spray the cleaner over the racks and the oven walls. After the recommended time has passed, use a damp cloth and a toothbrush to scrub the stains. Remember to rinse off with running water before placing the racks in the oven.
Thanks to technology, there are ovens with a self-cleaning feature. Even though this feature relieves a considerable amount of cleaning, you would still need to go the old fashioned way of cleaning the racks and other elements to ensure your oven maintains its shiny look.
If you don’t have time to clean your oven, you may wish to use the services of a professional, like OziClean.co.uk. Check them out…
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