When was the last time you gave your oven a good deep clean? We use these appliances everyday for baking, roasting and reheating but when it comes time to oven cleaning, it’s a daunting task.
Whilst it may be easy to simply close the oven door when you’re done and forget about washing it, it’s imperative that your oven gets cleaned at least every six months.
How often should you be cleaning your oven?
How often you should clean your oven depends on how often it’s used. A general rule of thumb is that you should clean your oven every three to six months. However, if you’re a more avid baker then your oven may need disenfecting on a month to month basis.
Whilst you can leave the cleaning as long as six months, the longer you leave it, the longer grime and smells can quickly build up.
What is the best method to clean your oven?
There are hundreds of ways you could clean your oven but the three generic (and most effective) ways are: the oven’s self-cleaning mechanism, oven cleaners and the vinegar-baking soda method.
- Oven self-cleaning: Some ovens have a self-cleaning mechanism which is ideal for those of us who despise putting in elbow grease. The self-cleaning mechanism works by heating the oven to 400-500°C which heats up the baked grease and grime until it carbonates and turns to ash. Be sure to keep the area well-ventilated whilst your oven is on self-cleaning mode to avoid strong fumes accumulating in your house.
- Oven cleaning products: Using a store-bought oven cleaner can save you a lot of time and elbow grease. Store-bought products co specifically formulated to quickly break down the baked-in grime and grease.
- Vinegar and baking soda: If you want to skip chemicals, a combination of vinegar, baking soda and water can also make for a paste to scrub your oven with.
How to clean your oven
If your oven doesn’t have a nifty self-cleaning feature, then you’ll be disinfecting your oven by hand either with a store-bought or homemade cleaning solution. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to properly clean the oven.
- Remove the racks: Firstly take out all the oven racks and soak them in boiling water with dishwashing liquid. After an hour or so, scrub off the debris and wipe them, ready to go back in the oven after you’re finished.
- Apply your cleaning solution: Whether you’re using the baking soda paste or store-bought products, apply the solution all over your oven – ideally wearing gloves.
- Leave the paste on for 10-12 hours: Now, leave your solution on your oven for 10-12 hours to eat away at the built up grime and grease. After 10-12 hours, using a warm damp cloth, wipe away the cleaning solution.
- Spray down with vinegar: Using a spray bottle, spritz the oven with vinegar and wipe down with a warm damp cloth to pick up any residue.
