You are cooking your favorite meal when you find that the oven has been covered with a greasy and burnt-on mess. Not only does it influence the taste and the quality of your food, but it can also be dangerous to your health and decrease the effectiveness of your oven. You might be sick and tired of rubbing the extensive stains or just using the self-clean feature, so you should know how to deep clean ovens the proper way.
It may appear to be an overwhelming task, and you may have to wash your oven with your hands, using strong chemicals. Be it the grease baked on or the food spillage that cannot be removed, or the dirty oven that feels like it has seen its day, this guide will enable you to approach each grime with a lot of confidence. Good to get that shiny oven of the new one? Let’s go!
Why Deep Cleaning Your Oven Matters
Deep cleaning is not only about aesthetics, but it is a critical aspect of the maintenance of the oven that helps you health-wise, safety and even the quality of your cooking.
Health and Safety Reasons
- Minimise the harmful toxins and bacteria that accumulate over the years and thus food contamination is avoided.
- Reduce the chances of fire buildup through grease accumulation and this may catch fire easily.
- Increase the quality of air in the house by reducing smoke and fumes during cooking.
Improved Cooking Efficiency and Reduced Smoke
- The increased heat flow results in quicker and more cooked food.
- Fewer smokes and smells when baking or roasting, which makes your kitchen a safer place to be.
- The maintenance of your oven will make it last longer without corrosion and damage due to grime.
How Often Should You Deep Clean Your Oven?
- Going deep every 3-6 months, depending on the usage.
- Cleaning more frequently should be considered in case you cook a lot or your way is often covered with spilled sauce and burned food.
- With frequent light cleaning after every usage, the deep cleans may be prolonged.
How to Prepare for Oven Cleaning
Before beginning to clean your oven, a few things are worth putting together and setting up your cleaning space so that the job will run without any problems and incidents. The preparedness will save your time and allow you not to be in a last-minute rush to the store.
Supplies You’ll Need
As far as the selection of the best cleaner for your oven is concerned, there are some choices. The products used by the commercial oven cleaners are designed to deal with tough greases and food that has burned and thus will be effective in heavy-duty cleaning. Instead, they can use natural cleaning chemicals such as baking soda and vinegar that provide a softer, more environmentally friendly method, but still, they obtain excellent results.
With regard to the hard-to-clean baked-on residues, we’re particularly looking at the oven grease cleaners that are often referred to as degreasers and are superb at removing thick coatings of dirt and dirt without harming your oven surfaces. Baking soda, specifically, has a wide range of applications as it can be utilized to make a light yet efficient scrub that would help loosen debris without harsh chemicals.
Safety Tips Before You Start
Safety should always come first when cleaning your oven. Always wear gloves to protect your hands from strong chemicals and grime. Protective eyewear is also recommended to shield your eyes from any splashes, especially if you use commercial cleaners. Make sure the room is well-ventilated by opening windows or turning on exhaust fans to avoid inhaling fumes or vapors that can be released during cleaning. Additionally, carefully read the labels and instructions on any cleaning products you choose to use to ensure proper application and avoid hazardous mixing of chemicals.
Should You Use the Self-Cleaning Feature?
In case your oven has a self-cleaning mode, then it can be an easy method of getting rid of dirt by high heat to burn off residues. Cleaning a self-cleaning oven can be difficult, but one should follow the instructions of the manufacturer to the letter. Although this feature proves handy, it produces extremely high temperatures and fumes and should not be applied on a regular basis. Manual cleaning may suit you better in case your oven is so dirty or if you would like to be more in control of the process. This means that you can focus on certain areas of the problem and apply cleaning agents that meet your needs and environmental interests.
How to Deep Clean an Oven Without the Self-Cleaning Function
In case you have no self-cleaning option or are more at ease with a natural cleaning process, then follow the following step-by-step procedure of cleaning oven without self-cleaning.
Step-by-Step Deep Cleaning Method
- Take out the oven racks and put them in the soapy water.
- Prepare a paste of baking soda (mix baking soda with water)
- Put the paste on the inside, particularly on the oily areas in abundance.
- Allow to rest at least 12 hours or overnight.
- Wipe the paste using a damp cloth or scrub brush.
- In case of stubborn areas, spray the vinegar (vinegar and water) to activate the baking soda and thus cleaning the area becomes easier.
- Rinse with a clean damp cloth.
- Wipe down completely and change racks.
Natural vs Chemical Oven Cleaners
- Natural ingredients: Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda pastes.
- Chemical cleaners: If the grime is tough and baked on, then use a potent oven degreasers, care should be taken though.
- Both are effective, and you can select one of them according to your convenience and dirtiness.
How to Clean Baked-On Grease in the Oven
- Prepare a paste made of baking soda and coated the greasy parts.
- Let it sit for 12+ hours.
- Spray vinegar; and it will fizz and soften the grease.
- Wipe with a damp cloth.
- Repeat accordingly on the stubborn residues.
How to Clean Different Types of Ovens
It is important to clean your oven depending on the kind of oven. The way gas oven, electric oven and self-cleaning oven all need slightly different care, is so that they can be cleaned in a comprehensive manner without losing or damaging any part.
How to Clean a Gas Oven
Begin by taking off the oven racks and placing them in warm and soapy water to loosen dirt and grease. On the inside surfaces, a commercial degreaser or a paste made of natural baking soda will take on baked in dirt. Generously apply cleaner and leave it to dry depending on the necessity. Next, wipe the surfaces using a soft brush so that it does not scratch the finish of the oven. After loosening the grime, wipe everything using a wet cloth and ensure you have completely dried the oven before putting the racks back.
Cleaning an Electric Oven
The same is the case with cleaning an electric oven. Take out the racks and wet them to facilitate cleaning. Grease and leftover in the oven can be well cleaned with the help of a baking soda paste. During cleaning it is particularly important to be cautious in and around the heating elements, not touching them or exposing them to large quantities of moisture which can cause damage. Scrub and wipe with the cleaner after which dry the inside completely and then put the racks back.
How to Remove Grease from the Oven
Commercial degreaser or a paste of baking soda can be used to clean it naturally. Use it on oily areas and allow it to dry after which it is applied on and scrubbed and wiped with a damp cloth.
How to Clean a Filthy or Extremely Dirty Oven
If the ovens are extremely dirty, then put on a thick paste of baking soda and leave it. Squeegee or rub off the dirt, and wipe and run under water.
Best Way to Clean a Dirty Oven
Commercial cleaners are quick, efficient, and safer and baking soda and vinegar are safe and greener in the environment. Always wash the light to take care of the surfaces of your oven.
Aftercare and Maintenance Tips
- Clean up spills right away so as to avoid the accumulation and stains.
- Place drips and crumbs in oven liners so that it is easier to clean up.
- Wipe clean surfaces of ovens after cooking to ensure that it is clean.
- clean the door of the oven and the glass every week to take off grease and fingerprints.
- Clear the crumbs and food scraps on the floor and crevices of the oven on regular basis.
- Apply a little dish soap on a damp cloth to do touch-ups quickly.
- Abrasive steel wool or rough scrapers should never be used to clean the surfaces of ovens as they may result in damage.
- Chemical oven cleaners should not be used directly as a substitute for natural acids, lemon or vinegar.
- Precautions should always be taken such as using gloves and ventilating the place when doing the cleaning.
Conclusion
Maintaining a clean oven not only makes a good impression on your appearance but also safety, health and performance in cooking. Be it the natural products, such as baking soda, or other commercial products, the correct methods matter. Also, you need to remember that it can save you time and money in the long term as you can learn how to deep clean ovens safely and effectively.
Looking for expert help? Ouvre Deep Cleaning Experts is a professional deep cleaning of the oven.
FAQ’s
The best time would be to prepare your home either the previous night or in the morning before the cleaning takes place. This is to make sure that spaces are clean and prepared to the cleaners without the last-minute rush.
The Majority of professional cleaning companies carry their supplies, but it is better to check that before the date. In case you want particular products (eco-friendly or hypoallergenic), make the company know so that they can suit to your requirements or bring your products upon agreement.
To be safe and efficient, animals have to be kept in another room, or have someone take care of the pets outside the house when doing the cleaning. This will not cause distraction and no accidents.
Concentrate on the cleaning of major spaces like countertops, floors and rooms that are used most. Professional cleaners are also trained to work with certain clutter present but the less cluttered areas can be cleaned better and faster.
