You can be the most careful cook in town, but your oven is bound to get dirty from time to time. Even if you don’t spill anything while roasting or baking, the sides, back, and top of your oven can still become coated with grease and grime. Fortunately, regular cleaning will ensure that your oven will always be in top condition. Remember, different types of ovens require different cleaning methods and it’s important to stick to a cleaning schedule. Here are some oven cleaning advices.
Steam Cleaning
If your oven has a steam cleaning function, you may already know just how well it works when you need to remove grime. All you need to do is add some water to the bottom of the oven. Run the steam cycle and let your oven do the rest. The water will boil and the steam will fill your oven. This will loosen that stubborn dirt so that you can wipe it all away with ease. Some people like to add fresh lemon for extra grease removal power.
Self-Cleaning
If you own an oven with a self-cleaning feature, then it’s important to read the instructions carefully. This feature is known to take its toll on any oven which is why it should only be used occasionally. For regular cleaning, use mild soapy water instead and make sure that you clean your oven after each use to prevent dirt from building up oven repair.
Textured or Continuous Cleaning
There are some ovens with a special surface that can burn off spills over time. You need only wipe down the inside of your oven with a damp cloth. While your oven will burn off the grime, it will not completely remove it and this is why you need to wipe the interior down regularly. Remember not to use strong chemicals or abrasive cleaning supplies.
Regular Ovens
Ovens that do not have any kind of special self-cleaning feature will need to be cleaned regularly the old-fashioned way. This can require a fair amount of effort but there are a number of powerful oven cleaners on the market that can make the job that much easier. If you don’t like the idea of using strong chemicals, you could go green instead. Make a paste using baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the interior of your oven and let it work overnight to loosen all that grime. Wipe off the following morning. If need be, you can use vinegar to remove any dirt that didn’t come off the first time. You can also use this dry paste along with vinegar to make a foamy substance which works well when scrubbing. Don’t forget to wipe your oven down with clean water and leave the door open to air dry once you are done.
Don’t Forget the Racks!
Your oven racks will also need to be cleaned regularly and this is best done by removing them and soaking them. Dissolve some degreasing soap in hot water and let the racks soak for about two hours. Give them a good scrub, rinse, dry, and pack back in the oven.
