How to Clean Your Oven Without Breaking a Sweat and Risk

There are three main signs that shows that it is the time to give your oven a good, thorough scrub.

1. General appearance: Are there crust or residue on the bottom? Is the door coated or splattered in grease or grime?
2. Odor: When you fire up your oven, does a distinct smell arise? Catching a stanky smell before you’ve cooked anything means there’s lingering grease, dirt or food inside.
3. Smoke: A clean oven shouldn’t smolder, so this can also signify buildup.

The frequency of oven cleaning depends on how often you use it.

For people who regularly like cooking and baking in the oven, a general rule is to scrub it once every three months.

If you rarely use your oven, lets say, just a couple times a month, cleaning it about once or twice a year should be enough.

Of course pay attention to the signs listed above, and if something arises, don’t hold off on a cleaning just because it hasn’t been that long since your last one.

This saves the time and effort of getting on your knees and scouring stubborn gunk with a scrubber and also does away with the need for pricey, chemical-laden commercial cleaners.

This heat helps to melt and remove your grease and grime, but if you have a large amount of buildup, it can backfire and smoke up—and in some cases, start a fire.

If it’s been many months since you’ve given your oven a good scrub don’t risk. Roll up your sleeves and clean it manually or ask professional cleaners to help.

Then use self cleaning ones a month to maintain the condition.

Why it can be dangerous to use a self cleaning function ? 

The self-clean cycle takes about two hours (exact time may vary based on your oven type) and you should stay at home while it does its job for a safety reason.

It it nothing bad about oven self clean function, there are just certain rules you have to follow and things to be aware of.

Self-cleaning ovens can produce and emit dangerous fumes into the air with an unpleasant burning smell.

These ovens reach high temperatures and produce fumes from the burning of food particles and enamel lining.

These fumes circulate within the indoor air and can affect the home occupants.

Young children and pets can be at risk of burns when the oven is in self-cleaning mode.

The front of the oven becomes very hot during the cleaning process, so children and pets should never be left alone while cleaning.

The glass oven door is also at risk of shattering when in self-cleaning mode. However modern ovens glass doors has been strengthened to make it more resistant to heat.

However, the extreme heat caused by self-cleaning can cause the glass to shatter in some circumstances.

Toxic fumes can emanate from the oven when cleaning, which can be dangerous to someone with asthma or respiratory problems.

The inside of oven is coated in Teflon, which can withstand normal oven temperatures. However, when the Teflon is exposed to extremely high temperatures it breaks down and releases fumes. Inhaling these fumes can lead to coughing, sweating, breathing issues and flu-like symptoms.

If anyone in the household suffers with existing respiratory issues, it is advised that they stay away from the oven during the self-cleaning process.

1. The supermarket oven cleaner: This is the easiest, fastest process and will remove serious amounts of grease and grime. Oven cleaner can be quite caustic, so if you’re sensitive to harsh chemicals or prefer an all-natural approach, you may want to choose option 2 or 3 below.
2. Backing Soda based, natural, environment and human friendly oven cleaner: Mix baking soda, water, vinegar in a spray bottle. It should look like a paste. Apply the paste and leave it on 10 – 12 hours (or overnight), so make sure you give it enough time.  This DIY tip is a great if you have lots of buildup.
3. Lemons and water based cleaning solution: Mix the juice of 2 lemons and warm water, scrub your oven and leave it for about 1 -2 hours; Wipe with wet cloth after. This is another great DIY option, for an average ditry oven and if racks don’t need a cleaning.

What materials and tools you must have to clean oven?

1. Rubber cleaning gloves

Please no disposable gloves. This is especially important if you go with option 1, as you’ll want a heavy-duty barrier between your skin and the cleaning chemicals.

Use the proper gloves for cleaning.

2. Protective safety glasses and mask

You will need protective safety glasses and face mask if you go with option 1 : Clean with store or supermarket cleaner.

You won’t need these with options 2 or 3 or any other natural home made cleaning solutions.

3. Old newspapers or paper towels

You will need newspapers, old towel or paper towels to pad the floor around your oven, in case anything drips out while the cleaning.

4. Damp cloth

You will need a damp cloth to wipe off the grime once the cleaner has been applied. You may need more than one if your oven is very grimy.

5. Scouring pumice or microfiber sponge (optional)

It will be helpful if you’re tackling lots of buildup.

Step 2: Lay out newspapers or paper towels on the floor

Step 3: Put on your gloves, face mask and safety glasses. Spray the oven cleaner around the inside of your oven, covering the back, top, bottom, sides, door, corners and crevices.

If you have an electric oven, don’t spray on the heating elements. Simply lift them up and spray underneath.

If you have a gas oven, don’t spray where the gas comes through. 

Step 4: Let the spray sit for the time listed on the label (usually 20 – 30 minutes)

Step 5 : In the meantime, take your oven racks outside, spray the racks with the cleaner and place them in a sink. Leave racks in the sink for the time listed on the cleaning label (20-30 min).

Step 6: Once the time has passed, take a damp cloth, open the oven and wipe down all surfaces.

If there are extra sticky spots left, use a wet microfiber sponge or other abrasive tool to remove all grime.

Be sure to really hit every crack and crevice so that you aren’t leaving any traces of dirt or oven cleaner behind.

Step 7: Scrub and wash racks with hot water. Again, use a sponge or other abrasive tool as needed on any crusted-on chunks. Dry racks and place them back in the oven.

Step 1: Remove everything from your oven—racks, pizza stone, thermometer, etc.

Step 2: Lay out newspapers or paper towels on the floor beneath your oven.

Step 3: Grab a small bowl and mix a 1/2 cup of baking soda with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water. Tweak the ratio until you have a spreadable paste.

Step 4: Put on your gloves and using your fingers, spread the paste around the inside of your oven, covering the back, sides, bottom, top, door, corners and crevices. If you have an electric oven, don’t put paste on the heating elements. If you have a gas oven, don’t put the paste where the gas comes through. .

Step 5: Allow paste to sit for 10 – 12 hours, or overnight.

Step 6: In the meantime, place racks in your kitchen sink (or bathtub, if you have extra large racks). Sprinkle baking soda on your racks and then pour vinegar on top. This combination will foam. When the foaming stops, plug your sink or tub and run hot water until the racks are fully covered.

Step 7: Allow racks to sit for 10 – 12 hours, or overnight.

Step 8: After 10 – 12 hours, put on your gloves again and taking a damp cloth rag, open the oven and wipe down all surfaces. If there are extra sticky spots, use a wet scouring pumice, microfiber sponge, or other abrasive tool to remove all grime.

Step 9: If there are chunks of paste that won’t come off easily, put some vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it on the chunks. The vinegar will react with the baking soda and foam. Take your damp cloth again and wipe off all foam.

Step 10: Remove racks from the water and scrub with a cloth rag. Use the pumice or microfiber sponge on any tough spots.

Step 11. Dry racks and place them back in the oven.

Step 2: Heat your oven to 250 degrees.

Step 3: Once heated, place the mixing bowl inside on one of the racks. Leave for one hour.

Step 4: After an hour, turn off the oven, open the door and let it cool slightly.

Step 5: While the oven is still warm (but cool enough that you are able safely touch the inside without getting burned), put on gloves, take a damp cloth and wipe down all surfaces, including the back, sides, bottom, top, door, corners and crevices.

You can also use a wet scouring pumice, microfiber sponge or other abrasive tool to target any hard spots. Be sure to wipe thoroughly so that you remove all grease and grime.

The secret to cleaning your oven without breaking a sweat and risk

Oven cleaning is a “kind of out of sight, out of mind” mentality.

The easiest way to clean a dirty oven is to not have a dirty oven.

If you’re baking a pie or something that risks bubbling over, use a baking sheet to catch any potential drips.

If something does spill, try to clean it as soon as you can. Don’t clean a hot oven, you can get a burn, but going in while there’s still a little residual heat can make the cleanup easier.

Another tip is to place a hot, damp towel over a spot to loosen burnt-on debris. Then wipe off or remove with a scraper.

You can find lots of articles about cleaning tips online.

However, there’s no exact rules or cleaning schedule that works for every person.

How often you need to tackle the oven depends on how often you use it, what you’re cooking and how conscientious you are in your routine maintenance.

Ask professional cleaners to help

If you don’t have time to clean the oven or if you just hate it like most of us, don’t procrastinate and risk your health. Ask cleaners or cleaning service to do it for you.

Ones professionals clean you oven, you can maintain the cleaning every month or 2, using the self cleaning function or just clean it yourself. It will be not that hard and disgusting.

Call today for an estimate or cleaning advice (09) 909 6560 or contact us via email : info@lifemaideasy.co.nz

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