How To Clean An Oven

If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy cleaning their oven all that much because you haven’t figured out the best way to get it done, you’ve stumbled across the right article. Even though it’s a job that takes longer to complete than the cleaning of most other household appliances, learning how to clean a greasy oven effectively is an important skill to learn. Reach for the best tools, pair them with the right steps, and you’ll have yourself a recipe for success for the age-old question: how do I clean an oven?

Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning An Oven

Before we look at the best techniques for oven cleaning, let’s answer some of the most common questions about oven cleaning.

How Often Should I Clean My Oven?

The more frequently you use your oven, the more often you should clean it. This is a rule of thumb guide to live by when it comes to knowing how often to clean your oven. There are, however, a few signs to watch out for should you need more help answering this question:

• Physical appearance: if your oven has food crust forming on the bottom or grease and oil marks on the door then it’s time for a clean.
• Smoke: if your oven is releasing smoke whenever you cook then it’s time to give it a clean.
• Smell: your oven should not be giving off an evident smell once turned on before cooking any food. If this is the case, then it’s time for a clean.

Why Is It Important To Clean My Oven?

Having a clean oven improves the quality of your food and the aesthetic aura of your house. There’s nothing worse than having guests over for a weekend lunch or dinner cooked in a dirty oven, leaving their taste buds craving something else while wishing they weren’t surrounded by the strange, lingering smell. Don’t forget to learn how to clean and descale your Nespresso machine so that you can offer your guests delicious coffee at the day’s end.

How Can I Prevent My Oven From Getting Dirty So Often?

The easiest ways to stop your oven from getting dirty so often are by lining the interior with foil or using an oven lining product before firing it up to cook. 

Using Baking Soda And Vinegar To Clean An Oven

For this method, you’ll make a powerful homemade cleaning paste that will cut right through all of the unwanted grease and grime. Make sure you set aside time when the oven is not going to be used. Follow these 8 easy steps to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar:

The Tools You’ll Need: Baking soda Water Vinegar A small bowl Rubber gloves A cloth for cleaning Old towels or newspaper

1. Take out any removable items from your oven such as racks, thermometers, etc. We’ll look at a way to clean the oven racks below.
2. Place old towels or sheets of newspaper on the floor beneath your oven. 
3. In a small bowl, make your cleaning paste by mixing half a cup of baking soda with 3 to 4 tablespoons of water. 
4. Using your rubber gloves, spread the cleaning paste all over the inside of your oven. Make sure to steer clear of the heating elements while applying the paste. 
5. Let the paste sit in your oven overnight.
6. Once the time has passed, use a damp cloth to wipe off the paste. 
7. Spray vinegar onto the more stubborn chunks of paste that aren’t as easy to remove. Use your cloth to then wipe off the foam that forms.
8. Allow the oven to dry, place the removable items back in, and you’re good to go!

Using Lemons To Clean An Oven

This method is a lot easier to use, and more suited to ovens that don’t need as much of a deep clean. Use the following 5 steps to clean your oven using lemons:

The Tools You’ll Need: Water 2 Lemons A medium bowl A cloth for cleaning

1. Preheat your oven to 120℃.
2. Place 2 lemons cut in half in an oven-proof bowl filled with water.
3. Once your oven is heated, place the bowl inside on one of the racks and let it sit for an hour.
4. Once the hour has passed, turn off your oven and wait for it to cool down slightly.
5. When your oven is cool enough to put your hand in, remove the bowl and use a damp cloth to wipe down the entirety of the inside. 

How To Clean Your Oven Rack

If you use the first method above to clean your oven, you can use the time waiting to clean your oven racks. Follow these 4 steps to clean your oven racks:

1. Place your oven racks in your sink if it’s large enough, otherwise, you can use a bucket or bathtub.
2. Sprinkle baking soda and vinegar on the racks to form a foamy combination.
3. Once the foaming stops, fill up your sink or tub with hot water and let the racks sit overnight. 
4. Once the time has passed, clean the substance off the racks with a cloth and then dry them off. 

Pro-Tip You can also use dishwashing liquid or regular soap if you don’t have baking soda and vinegar. When using these products, soak the racks for a couple of hours before applying the products and scrubbing them down.

The oven forms an integral part of the kitchen and is ultimately one of the most important components in creating a dining masterpiece. Add the steps listed above to your schedule when learning how to clean a kitchen so that your oven’s life span is prolonged. Help others take care of theirs by sharing these oven cleaning methods with them.