Cleaning your oven is a neglected task in many households but the truth is old food stuck on the oven floor is not only an eyesore, but it is also a potential fire hazard and can make food taste a little funky too.
Cleaning your oven tedious task and one of the worst household chores if you ask me, so it is no wonder it's left on the long finger for months at a time.
Right now, the oven cleaning business is booming with a professional clean costing as little as fifty quid but for many, that is not feasible. So if you're dreading the big scrub down, follow these simple steps to make your oven a dream to clean.
De-crumb.
First and foremost, before applying any pastes or liquids, it is important to remove any loose food debris from the oven first - not only will it help you see how much work is involved, it will speed up your cleaning time.
Clean your oven racks in the bath.
Line your bathtub with dryer sheets before adding your oven racks. Soak the grimy and slimy racks in hot water and leave to sit overnight. The next morning drain the water and use the sheets to wipe the racks clean. The power from the antistatic in the dryer sheets helps to separate the dried foods and stains from the racks. However, it is extremely important to rinse your racks thoroughly once finished.
Get the toolkit out.
Check the ovens manufactures guide and distinguish whether or not the door from the front door can be removed - if so, get hinchy with the hinge. Removing the door will give you better access for all those hard to reach places making room for an even better deep oven clean.
Dishwasher tablets.
Once you know this hack you will never go back! Simply wet a dishwasher tablet with hot water and scrub it against the glass door as if it is an eraser, it will help eliminate built-up grime and make cleaning so much easier.
Vinegar and baking soda.
This is one of the top cleaning hacks that has stood the test of time but one that many still don't seem to know about. Vinegar acts as an acidic liquid while baking soda is an alkaline and when the two are mixed together, they react to help lift and remove stubborn grease or grime.
Simply mix the baking powder into a paste with warm water, spreading the mixture all over the interior of the oven, avoiding the heating elements, of course, and leave it to sit overnight.
The following morning, use a damp cloth to remove the paste. If needed, spray any stubborn areas with vinegar - it will react with the dried in baking soda to help loosen it up.
Prevention is the key.
Once your oven is in tip-top shape, use a non-slip oven liner to catch any drips or spills that can be wiped up easily and of course, give it a quick clean regularly. Wipe interior surfaces after each use when it's cool enough with a damp cloth so there won't be too much work when it comes to needing a proper clean.