Oven Cleaning Hacks & Simple Solutions

Before you can really go to down with the stubborn mess in an oven that likely hasn’t been clean for months (if not years), get rid of any loose charred leftovers lurking at the bottom by vacuuming with all appliances removed. Think of starting work on a clean slate.

Begin by mixing half a cup of bicarb with water to create a thick paste, and using an old paintbrush or cloth spread all over the inside of your oven, from the door to the bottom to the inside walls, but avoid heating fixtures. For best results, leave the paste to do its work overnight (or a minimum of two hours) and then it’s time for the magic trick. In a spray bottle mix equal parts white vinegar and water and spray onto the paste to creating a foaming action. The fizzing will lift away stubborn dirt and grease particles and make wiping away with a damp cloth much easier.

It's common for spillages to occur on the surface of the oven when you are cooking or baking and salt can be a quick fix. Simply sprinkle the salt on the spill and when the oven has cooled, you'll find it easier to remove the mess.

Fill up an oven-safe pan with water, and add the juice of two lemons and the lemon halves too. Then pop the pan in the oven and turn it on. Wait until the water boils before you take the pan out. The steam will loosen the grime and grease inside your oven and will help you remove it more easily. Let the oven cool down before wiping it down with a damp cloth.

Instead of awkwardly trying to scrub off months worth of burnt on grime awkwardly over the kitchen sink, make things easier for yourself by soaking them in a hot bath with a normal dishwashing tab. Like the vinegar solution above, this will soften hardened dirt and make it much easier to wipe clean the metal.

Using hot water, wet a dishwasher tablet with hot water and scrub it against your oven door as if it is a sponge. This will help to eliminate grime.

Many of us use an old toothbrush to clean the bathroom, but it’s also useful for kitchens. A manual toothbrush is the perfect tool for scrubbing off concentrated marks, lather up in the bicarb solution for extra effectiveness.
Now cleaning with traditional oven cleaner or even a sponge and washing up liquid should be much easier.

Once you've tried all these time, money and effort saving hacks, wipe the inside of your oven with your regular all-purpose anti-bacterial kitchen spray for a sparkling oven that you won't need to look at for another few months. Happy cleaning!