How to clean an oven in five easy steps

Introduction:

Whether your oven is self-cleaning or not, it's important to clean it regularly to avoid build-up and dangerous fires. Not to worry though, cleaning your oven is a breeze with these five easy steps!

Step 1: Take out the racks

Step 1 of cleaning your oven is to take out the racks. This will make it much easier to clean the interior of your oven. If possible, you can leave the racks to soak in some hot soapy water while you clean the interior of your oven. Then, turn your attention to the racks themselves. Using a wire scrubber or a used toothbrush, give both sides of the rack a good scrubbing to remove any burnt-on spills and grimy buildup.

2. Make a DIY cleaner

A homemade oven cleaner is a great way to get your oven spick and span with no harsh chemicals. If you’ve read up on how to clean a refrigerator or even how to clean a pillow, you’ll know that one of the best natural cleaning methods is to use baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda foams up when exposed to vinegar, which can lift out tough greasy stains. It’s also a great exfoliant because of its small granules, meaning it’s perfect for scrubbing out baked-on grime. To make a DIY oven cleaner, combine baking soda and water to make a thick paste. Start with a generous amount of baking soda and slowly add warm water until you’re happy with the thick consistency. Apply the paste directly to the dirty surfaces of your oven, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then scrub away!

3. Apply your cleaner

Once you've mixed your baking soda and water together, it's time to get to work. Slather your mixture over the inside of your oven in a thick and generous coating, making sure you wear gloves if you apply by hand. If you have a paintbrush available, it'll come in handy for getting into all the corners and between the rack shelves of your oven. But be careful not to get the mixture on the door - that's a more sensitive area. We'll tell you how to clean that shortly. You'll need to leave the mixture to do all the hard work for a few hours, at least. Leave the door of the oven open as you do this, as it will allow the mixture to dry out a little.

4. Get scraping

Now it's time to clear out the debris. Use a plastic spatula or an old card to scrape off the baking soda solution. Be thorough and get rid of all the residue. If there are any stubborn spots, spray a bit of water (or better yet, vinegar) to loosen it up. Inspect your oven for any missed spots and take care of them now. You're almost done!

5. The finishing touches

The finishing touches: Top up a spray bottle with some vinegar for this step. Having a bottle of vinegar will always come in useful, whether it’s for cleaning your barbecue grill or your microwave. Give the inside of your oven (including the door, this time) a generous spritz, and using a firm plastic brush, scrub away any remaining grime that’s still stuck to the inside of your oven. If anything proves difficult to shift, sprinkle some baking soda and top it with a spray of the vinegar once more. Leave that to bubble away—the baking soda and vinegar work together to break down any stubborn dirt or grease. Once everything is looking sparkling clean, give the oven a final rinse with hot water to remove any traces of vinegar or baking soda.

Conclusion:

Cleaning your oven doesn't have to be a daunting task. With these five easy steps, you can have your oven looking and smelling like new in no time!