With the arrival of self-cleaning ovens in the 1960s, and later with the commercialization of less harmful oven cleaners, oven cleaning became much easier. But, as convenient as these two inventions are, nothing ever replaces a good old-fashioned elbow grease cleaning!
Put on your gloves, leave the toxic oven cleaners aside and get ready to tackle the grime: here's the step-by-step approach to effective oven cleaning, which you can later use to clean your microwave oven as well.
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How to clean the racks of a dirty oven?
Don't despair: that stubborn grime that seems insurmountable can be removed without scrubbing like a madman or exposing yourself to the harmful fumes of conventional cleaners. Not only are natural products like baking soda and white vinegar cheaper, but they're also safer than any of the oven cleaners sold in supermarkets.
First, clear the oven racks to make them easier to clean. Then:
- Place newspaper under and around the oven; ;
- Vacuum up the small pieces of dry grime inside the oven; ;
- Soak the grates removed earlier in hot, soapy water to soften the dirt. A bathtub works perfectly, allowing the grates to be fully submerged; ;
- Leave the grates to soak for a few hours before scrubbing them with a nylon cleaning brush. If stains persist, leave the grates in the water overnight. ;
- Once they are thoroughly cleaned, set them aside to take care of the rest of the oven.
How do you clean the inside of a dirty oven?
More than anything else, cleaning the inside of an oven requires patience and time. Tackle the grime with baking soda and white vinegar. Unlike many homemade cleaning recipes, you won't mix the baking soda and vinegar together here, but rather start by cleaning the oven with the former and finish with the latter. This formula works well on the oven door and glass, which you prepare by adding 60 ml of water to 100 g of baking soda. Then:
- Generously coat the inside of the oven with the cleaning paste thus formed and leave it to rest until the next day; ;
- Wipe away the dried paste using a plastic spatula and a sponge lightly dampened with water if it proves difficult to remove; ;
- Spray the oven with distilled white vinegar and remove any remaining baking soda, grease and dirt; ;
- Now move on to the oven door glass, which you will clean using a paste made of lemon juice and baking soda. Apply the solution in circular motions and let it sit for 20 minutes before wiping it off.
How to clean the bottom of a dirty oven?
Of all the parts of the oven to clean, the least exciting is usually the bottom, which is often the dirtiest, frequently covered in accumulated grease and crumbs. Take heart, though: 3 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap will help you get the job done! Once you've concocted your mixture:
- Spread it over the entire surface to be cleaned, taking care not to get any on the heating elements; ;
- Once the bottom of the oven is well covered, leave it to act for at least one hour for recently cleaned ovens and several hours for really dirty ovens; ;
- Using a slightly damp sponge, remove your homemade cleaner from the bottom of the oven; ;
- Take your white vinegar and spray the stubborn stains to remove them thoroughly; ;
- If some tasks are proving difficult, don't hesitate to repeat the entire process.
How to clean the outside of a dirty oven?
Now that you know how to clean the inside of an oven, what about the outside? While it's true that most of the grime is inside, it's always a good idea to give the exterior of the oven a wipe down. After all, it's hard to consider an oven clean when its hinged door is covered in discolored grime, isn't it?
Clean the oven's hinged door
Enamel oven doors, which can be cleaned with soap and water, are not treated the same way as stainless steel doors. While the following cleaning solution usually works without problems, it's best to consult your oven's instruction manual before attempting to clean it. Once any doubts have been resolved, you should:
- Use a damp microfiber cloth to treat fingerprints, dust, and light dirt; ;
- Choose an ammonia-based window cleaner for greasy stains; ;
- Use only the grain of the cloth to avoid marks; ;
- Only dry the outside of the door leaf with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to better avoid water stains.
Entrust the cleaning of your oven to a professional housekeeping service in Montreal and surrounding areas!
With the advice given above, you should now be able to clean your oven like a pro! However, keep in mind that you can also leave it to experienced residential cleaning professionals. Le Chiffon Vert, a home cleaning company in Montreal, Repentigny, L'Assomption, Mascouche and the immediate surrounding area, travels by appointment directly to clients who do not have the time or energy to take care of household chores.
Don't hesitate to call on our professional team of housekeepers For all your housekeeping needs. You can now Request a free estimate for all cleaning services offered by Le Chiffon Vert!