Oven is the dirtiest appliance in any household kitchen, unless they don’t use it on a regular basis. Oven are good for lots of cases but it’s also prone to attract oil and smoke, black carbon buildup due to operation. So, it’s very important to know how to clean an oven properly. Because the black tar or carbon build not only decreases effectiveness of your oven but it also impose health risk due to possible of those black carbon particles get into your food.
In this article, we will tell the proper ways to clean your oven, that too, without taking help of any professional and without buying any tool that is too expensive. Scroll down.
How to Clean an Oven Without Chemicals
If you want to only use natural products to clean oven then the good news is that, there are lots of natural options such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon which are very effective in cleaning your oven without being harsh on the surface and without releasing harmful fumes which can be dangerous for small kids, old or sick person.
To clean the oven without chemicals, firstly remove your oven racks, put baking soda power all over the greasy areas whether these are oven doors, oven bottoms, your greasy racks, now, use a bottle sprinkler and spray water all over the area, just enough to form a paste. Leave it undisturbed overnight. Baking soda will break down the grease naturally. `
Now, wipe it away with cleaning towel and spray white vinegar oven the remaining residue – it will fizz out the remaining stubborn grease.
To deodorize and also to loose the buildup quickly, put lemon water (without sugar or salt) in a oven-safe bowl and heat it gently. It’s vapors will soften up grimes making it easier to wipe them clean. So, using these natural methods, you’re able to clean your oven without harmful chemicals.
How to Clean an Oven Without Oven Cleaner
If you want to avoid harsh chemicals or, you don’t have over cleaner with you right now then there are some very effective household items and kitchen ingredients that you can use to clean your oven quickly.
What you need is warm water, dish soap, salt and baking soda. These items are enough to break down grease and burnt-on food without releasing any harmful fumes in household.
To start with cleaning, your oven, grab a brush or cloth and firstly try to remove as much greasy and stuck food debris as you can. Now, take warm water, mix few drops of dish soap in it, now, use it to wipe the interior of your oven. It will soften the grime. If you encounter tougher spots or stubborn grease, spray baking soda + salt solution directly on it and let it sit for 20-25 mins. It will break down the grease and soften the buildup.
Now, gently scrub with a non-abrasive brush or cloth, avoid metal scouring pads as they can put permanent scratch to the surface. Now, rinse it clean with clean water and wipe it dry. It the oven has bad odor, you can either put a bowl of vinegar inside for few hours or gently heat lemon solution.
How to Clean an Oven Door Window
As you keep on using oven, the spillovers which putting or taking out food can fell onto oven’s windows and get baked there. Hence, the glass starts to become blurry overtime. However, not to worry as cleaning an over door window to bring it’s shine and clarity back is easier than you think. Firstly, take a microfiber cloth, rinse it in warm water with soap solution and gently scrub on the oven door, this will remove most of the debris or greasiness. Now, if there’s are some stubborn grimes, put baking soda + water paste on them and leave it for few hours, it will naturally break down the grime.
Now, wipe your oven window with wet microfiber cloth 2-3 times, finally wipe it with dry cloth to completely return its clarity back without leaving imprints of wet wiping.
How to Clean an Oven Door Glass (Inside and Outside)
Oven door glass has 2 layers and sometimes, while using it, vapors or liquids from the food seep inside, getting trapped between the oven glasses. For the outside layer of oven glass door from both side, you can use the natural methods that we discussed above or the oven cleaner to remove all the grime & grease. But, to clean up the inside, you will need to unscrew the oven glass. Only do it if you’re confident that you can do it. Otherwise, call a professional or oven manufacturer.
If you’ve decided to unscrew glass panels, unscrew the nuts and keep track of when each one sits, now, gently remove the glass panels and clean them gently with microfiber cloth and warm water + dish soap solution. Finally wipe it with clean wet cloth and then dry cloth. Now, screw it back and you’ve successfully cleaned your oven door glass from inside out.
How to Clean an Oven with Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar are two most effective cleaners to remove grease and carbon buildup from inside of oven. Add few drops of water to make paste of baking soda, now, put it in every area of your oven as well as its racks. Leave it for few hours to do its magic. The baking soda will slowly break down all the grease in your oven. Now, wipe it using a non-abrasive brush. Finally, spray vinegar in the oven and leave it for up to an hour, it will do 2 things. It will loosen up the remaining grease and it will add a delightful smell to your oven.
Finally, wipe vinegar clean and wipe the oven with wet wipe cloth. Keep it open for sometimes to let it dry from inside. Now, you’re the oven should be clean to start using it safely again.
How to Clean an Oven Quickly (Fast Methods That Work)
If you’re in a hurry, then there are few methods that you can implement to clean your oven quickly –
- Put oven-safe clean water bowl in oven and gently heat it for 10-15 mins. The steams will loosen up the grease that you can wipe clean easily using microfiber cloth.
- If you need to clean only small spills, using warm water + dish soap solution. Apply it to the spot and leave it for few minutes, it will loosen up the grease enough to wipe it clean easily and quickly.
- Some ovens have self cleaning function, check if your oven has it too. If it does, that’s the fastest and proper way to clean an oven. Just make sure that you open all the ventilation before starting the process.
- Now, if you’re okay with using oven cleaners, these are made to loosen up grease and grimes in shortest time possible. However, to use them open the ventilation, use gloves and gently apply them in most visible areas. Wipe them clean after few mins and then wipe using clean water.
How Often Should You Clean Your Oven? Tips for Maintenance
Now, you’ve got to know all the ways by which you can clean your oven. Now, about maintenance, ideally, if you use your oven at least once a day then you should clean it gently once a month and deep clean it in every 2-3 months. If you have heavy usage daily or seasonally, then at that time, deep clean every month is ideal according to the usage.
Make sure to clean your oven when kids are not nearby. Make sure to be very careful which using oven cleaners because their chemicals are very harsh, you need to deal with them as fast as you can. And if their is complementary after sale service, that itself includes cleaning of your oven, take full use of it while it’s available for your new oven.
