The oven often gets too little attention during the kitchen cleaning routine, despite being one of the most used tools in cooking. If you live with a dirty oven, it's time to take advantage of Hello Clean's effective housewife tips for cleaning ingrained oven grime. We've gathered several tried-and-tested methods, from soap and lemon to more unexpected tricks like Coca-Cola. Read on to find the method that suits you best.
Clean ingrown oven: Soap
A popular housewife tip is oven cleaning with soap. This method is simple and works almost like a self-cleaning oven with catalysis or pyrolysis. Here are the steps for using soap:
Step-by-step: Cleaning the oven with soap
- Prepare the spray solution: Mix one part water and two parts soap in a spray bottle.
- Applying the solution: Spray an even layer inside the oven, including the oven roof where grease and dirt often accumulate.
- Heat up the oven: Preheat the oven to 100 degrees and leave it for about 20 minutes.
- Let the oven cool down: Wait until the oven is cold, then wipe off the dirt with a damp cloth.
Voilà! Your oven is now sparkling clean and ready to use again. You'll definitely notice that food tastes better when the oven is clean.
Clean ingrown oven: Lemon
If you don't have soap at home, you can use lemon to clean your ingrained oven instead. The acidity of lemon helps to dissolve grease and dirt effectively.
Step-by-step: Cleaning the oven with lemon
- Prepare the lemon juice: Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into an ovenproof dish.
- Heat up the oven: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees and leave the tin in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Wipe clean: When the oven has cooled down, wipe the inside with a damp cloth.
The lemon method brings a fresh scent to the kitchen and is a great option for those who prefer natural cleaning products.
3 methods for easy oven tray cleaning
Cleaning the oven tray can be a challenge, but there are several housewife tips that make things easier. Here we review three favourites: baking soda, vinegar and Coca-Cola.
1. Cleaning the oven tray with baking soda
Baking soda is a classic in home cleaning and works great for dissolving ingrained dirt on oven trays.
- Mix: Make a paste of baking soda and water.
- Apply: Coat the top and bottom of the baking tray with the paste and leave to work for 24 hours.
- Clean: Wash off the tin. For extra stubborn dirt, you can apply a little vinegar and scrub with a sponge.
Baking soda is also perfect for cleaning the oven door. Follow the same steps but apply the paste to the glass and leave for 30 minutes before wiping with a wet cloth.
2. Cleaning the oven tray with vinegar
Vinegar is both cheap and effective for removing ingrained dirt on the oven tray. Here's how to do it:
- Apply vinegar: Cover the tin with a thin layer of vinegar.
- Warm up: Preheat the oven to 50 degrees and leave the tray in the oven for about four hours.
- Clean: Let the tin cool down and wash it clean.
3. Cleaning the oven tray with Coca-Cola
In a previous #Clean hack, we at Hello Clean advised that cleaning silver with ketchup. In this method, we also want to suggest a housewife trick that is a little unconventional - but oh so effective!
- Apply Coca-Cola: Cover the tin with a thin layer of Coca-Cola and leave for a few hours.
- Clean: Scrub the tin with a sponge. Coca-Colan forms a sugar paste that makes scrubbing easier.
By following these tips, you can easily and effectively get a clean and fresh oven. Choose the method that suits you best and enjoy a sparkling clean oven!
Frequently asked questions about ingrown oven
How often should I clean my oven?
To avoid dirt and grease build-up, it is recommended to clean the oven once a month. If you use your oven frequently, you may need to clean it more often.
Can I use chemicals to clean my ingrown oven?
Yes, there are many chemical oven cleaners on the market that are effective in dissolving ingrained dirt. However, be sure to follow the safety instructions on the packaging and to ventilate the kitchen well during cleaning.
What is the best method to clean an ingrown oven?
The choice of method depends on your preferences and what you have at home. Soap and lemon are good natural options, while vinegar and baking soda are more powerful in dissolving really ingrained dirt.
Can I use these methods to clean the glass on the oven door?
Yes, methods such as baking soda and lemon are particularly good for cleaning the glass of the oven door. They dissolve grease stains without scratching the surface.
