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Cleaning the oven is one of those tasks many of us try to avoid, yet having a clean oven is important for safety reasons and efficiency, as well as it being nice to cook in. The problem with ovens, over time, is that grease and grime will build up, making cleaning more difficult and therefore unpleasant to clean. In this article, we walk you through it step by step to care for even the most obstinate buildups. If one acts accordingly, then it is pretty easy to have an oven as white as new. Let’s begin with the details.
Why Should You Clean Your Oven?
Before proceeding with cleaning, let’s first understand why one should clean their oven:
Improved Cooking Efficiency: A clean oven disperses the heat evenly, and the results are that your meals get well-cooked.
Improved Safety: Layers of grease may become a fire hazard if not cleaned regularly. Keeping your oven clean reduces the risk of smoke and possible fires.
Better Flavor: Lingering smells from old food spills can affect the taste of the food you’re cooking.
Prolonged Oven Life: Regular cleaning will ensure that your oven continues to function properly and will prevent costly repairs or replacements.
Now that you know the benefits, let’s get to the actual cleaning process.
Step 1: Prepare Your Cleaning Supplies
You will be needing the following supplies in cleaning the oven:
Baking soda
White vinegar
Small bowl
Warm water
Dish soap
Sponge or non-abrasive scrub brush
Old cloths or paper towels
Rubber gloves
Spray bottle
Plastic or silicone spatula
Otherwise, you could use a commercial oven cleaner if you want, but the natural cleaners like baking soda and vinegar do their job amazingly well without all harsh chemicals. Once you have taken supplies from the above list, proceed with the following steps.
Step 2: Prepare Your Oven for Cleaning
Turn Off and Let the Oven Cool Down: First of all, ensure the oven is turned off and cool to help you avoid burns.
Remove Racks: Take the oven racks out and relocate them. You’ll be cleaning them separately, as we will be able to depict later in this post.
Protect the Floor: Set some old towels or newspaper under your oven for any drips when cleaning it.
Step 3: Make a Green Oven Cleaner
For a natural and effective oven cleaner, follow these steps:
Baking Soda/Water Mix: In a small bowl, mix together ½ cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water. Mix this to form a thick spreadable paste. If too thick, add a little more water until proper consistency is reached.
Add Dish Soap for More Power: Give it an extra boost of cleaning by adding a squirt of dish soap to the baking soda mixture. This will make the grease-cleaning process less tedious.
Step 4: Apply the Baking Soda Mixture
Wear Gloves: Baking soda can be drying on your hands, and thus wearing gloves will protect them.
Smear the Paste Inside the Oven: With the mixture made, use a sponge or your hands to spread it on all interior oven surfaces, excluding heating elements. Pay great attention to the areas where grease is persistent. The paste should be thick in such a way that it covers the surface area well.
Let it sit overnight: Allow the baking soda paste to sit in the oven for at least 12 hours-overnight. The resting time gives a chance for the mixture to break down stubborn stains and grime, hence easy to remove.
Step 5: Cleaning Oven Racks
While the baking soda paste is in action in the oven, use that time to clean the oven racks.
Soak Racks: Fill your bathtub with hot water, and add a few squirts of dish soap. Submerge the oven racks in the soapy water, allowing them to soak for 2-4 hours to loosen up all the grease and grime.
Cleaning the Racks: Remove any remaining residue from soaking with a sponge or scrub brush. For stubborn spots, sprinkle a little baking soda right onto the rack to help it out. Rinse the racks off with warm water and then dry off with a clean, dry cloth.
Alternative Cleaning Solution: If you happen to be cleaning especially greasy oven racks, soak them in water mixed with white vinegar added to it. Vinegar is slightly acidic and may dissolve the grease and stains on the rack more easily than hot water does.
Step 6: Wipe Out the Baking Soda Paste
After the baking soda mixture has sat overnight, it’s now time to complete the inside cleaning of the oven.
Damp Cloth: Take the maximum amount of the baking soda paste out by using a wet cloth. You will start to find big chunks of grease and grime coming out with it.
Scrape off Grease in Spots: In places where grease is sticking, take a plastic or silicone spatula and carefully scrape that grease off without scratching the surface of the oven.
Spray with Vinegar: Fill white vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz it over the oven surfaces. The acid in the vinegar forms a reaction with any baking soda that might be remaining in the oven, creating a foam that contributes to loosening any residue.
Wipe Clean: When vinegar is applied, it will start breaking down the foam and leftover paste immediately. Now, with a wet cloth, just wipe the areas. Keep washing the cloth again and again to avoid accumulation of dirt on it and in order to clean further with good efficiency. Repeat this until the oven is clean.
Step 7: Cleaning of Oven Door
Application of Baking Soda Paste on Door: If the oven door is also very dirty, the same baking soda paste is applied on the interior part as well for 2030 minutes.
Wipe with Damp Cloth: Wipe off the paste and grime with a wet cloth; if needed, spray some vinegar to remove further grime.
Polish Glass (Optional): You may want to clean the glass door for streak-free shine with equal parts of vinegar and water. Spray and then wipe with a microfiber cloth until it is spotless.
Step 8: Finishing Touches
Inserting Racks: Place the racks in the oven when all is well cleaned and dried.
Check for any residues inside: Wipe the interior again to see that all the residues are gone. This way, any cleaning substance that might have stayed inside will not affect the taste of your food when you use the oven again.
Turn the oven on: At low heat, about 200°F or 93°C, for 15-20 minutes-the heat will evaporate any remaining moisture.
Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Oven Clean Longer
Regular maintenance will make your oven clean and also make the next deep-cleaning session much easier. Here are tips to follow:
Wipe Spills Immediately: Wipe up spills and splatters after every use. By doing this, you will prevent them from hardening and further complicating the cleaning.
Use Oven Liners: Put a non-stick oven liner in the bottom of your oven. These liners catch spills and crumbs, and can easily be removed to clean.
Deep Clean Quarterly: If you use your oven a great deal, try to deep clean it once every three months. This keeps the build-up at bay, and cleaning becomes faster and easier.
Conclusion
Cleaning the oven is not the most glamorous chore, but follow these easy steps to brilliant results without harsh chemicals. If you clean your oven on a regular basis and follow these care tips, you’ll have an appliance that works better, cooks your food more evenly, and keeps your kitchen smelling fresh. If you are in Dubai, consider pairing oven cleaning with professional kitchen duct cleaning in Dubai for a comprehensive top-to-bottom refresh that leaves your kitchen much safer and the air quality much better. So roll up your sleeves, grab your supplies, and enjoy the satisfaction of a sparkling, like-new oven!
By following these steps, your oven will remain in its best condition, both aesthetically and functionally, for a considerable period of time. Indeed, it will save one from long-term hassle and effort, but simultaneously, it will ensure a cleaner and safer kitchen area. Happy cleaning!
