How to Clean an Oven

Tap to Read ➤ Mamta Mule

It's important to keep an oven clean, since stale food bits can harbor bacteria from within, or where grime can get lodged in crevices that could eventually lead to problems. Let's take a look at how an oven needs to be cleaned.

Cleaning an oven is just as important a chore, as cleaning floors and utensils. Dirt, grime, and all other kinds of foreign matter, live within an oven that hasn't been cleaned thoroughly. Neglecting this act of cleanliness will only leave you with one hell of a filthy oven. There are other ways of how you can clean an oven using homemade concoctions; these can be made with easy-to-find ingredients that won't find you spending on expensive cleaning products.

Homemade Oven Cleaners

Disinfectant Use a rag dipped in a solution of one part water with one part Dettol (antiseptic germicidal), and wipe the interior and exterior of the oven; let it stand for 20 minutes. Use a damp cloth to wipe away any traces of the mixture.

Bleach This mixture should be used only if you need to clean really tough stains. Wear protective gloves and a face mask while performing this. Take 1½ tsp. of bleach, ½ tsp. of dishwashing liquid, ½ tsp. of lemon juice, and 1 qt. of warm water in a bucket and mix well. Apply this solution using a sponge for the insides of the oven, and let it stand for an hour. Clean away the mixture using a damp cloth, and then another to get rid of any dampness.

Lemon Juice Take a medium-sized microwaveable bowl and fill it halfway with water. Juice an entire lemon; add it to the bowl of water. Place the bowl in the microwave oven (this method may not work for large, conventional ovens) and set it on high for 1 minute.

Stains and foul odors should be immediately eliminated with this method. The steam helps to dislodge and eradicate pesky bacteria, stains, and smells. Take a rag and clean away the moisture clinging to the insides.

Baking Soda Add ½ a cup of baking soda to a bowl of ½ a cup of water. Apply this mix to the insides of the oven, including the door, using a soft cloth; leave it on overnight. Scrub the mixture away using a scourer and a little soapy water to scrape it off. You can use a wallpaper scraper for stubborn stains. Use a damp sponge after you're done to get rid of any residual matter.

Vinegar Make a paste using baking soda and water, using the same measurements as the previous method. Apply this paste to the interior of the oven; let it stand for 2 hours. Take white vinegar in a spray bottle and spritz the insides of the entire oven. Frizzing is a totally normal reaction. Just clean it away using a damp cloth, followed by a dry one to remove any remaining traces.