Commercially bought oven cleaning products will work but the fumes can be dreadful. Even the products that claim to be odourless tend to leave a stringent smell. Not great when you’re about to cook that perfectly prepared roast!
Instead, why not try some of these environmentally friendly methods using products that you’ll most likely have in your cupboard.
Oven cleaning with baking soda and vinegar.
Using baking soda and vinegar is a great home based solution and well worth trying. It will require a bit of elbow grease but you won’t have the fumes to deal with and it’s an environmentally friendly way to clean your oven.
Step 1: Remove the oven racks and thermometer before getting started.
Step 2: Combine half a cup of baking soda with 3 tablespoons of water to make a paste.
Step 3: Put on some cleaning gloves and smear the paste throughout the oven interior avoiding the heating elements.
Step 4: Allow the baking soda paste to set overnight or for a minimum of 12 hours.
Step 5: Using a damp cloth, wipe the baking soda mixture off. If required, you can use a plastic spatula to get rid of the more stubborn grime.
Step 6: Finally place standard white vinegar in a spray bottle and squirt any areas that still look dirty. The vinegar will react with the baking soda and form a foam.
Step 7: Wipe the interior down with a clean damp cloth and allow to dry.
Oven cleaning with steam
Steam can also be effective at cleaning ovens that are not overly grimy. Great if you have a newish oven and are trying hard to keep it clean after each use.
You simply place an ovenproof bowl filled with water on the lowest rack. Turn the oven onto high and leave for half an hour. Then turn the oven off (don’t open the door) and leave it to cool down. Use a damp, clean cloth to wipe the grime off. It’s that easy!
Oven Cleaning Tips
It’s unhealthy to allow your oven to build up carbon (grease) as it can eventually taint your food.
If you’re using a conventional oven cleaning product, make sure you keep pets and children away and the kitchen well ventilated to remove odours.
Remove the oven racks and wash them separately in warm soapy water, then dry them before you replace them in the oven.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions if you have a self-cleaning oven.
You can use warm, soapy water to clean the inside and outside of the oven glass.
Make sure the oven is cold before you start cleaning.