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8 Oven Cleaning Hacks That Actually Work
Cleaning the oven often involves thorough cleaning and scrubbing due to the buildup of grease, smoke, and food debris that are accumulated from regular use. Since ovens are not typically included in monthly cleaning routines, they are often overlooked and more likely to accumulate significant dirt and grime. However, it doesn’t have to be intimidating as experienced cleaners in Wollongong and Newcastle have a range of oven cleaning hacks to simplify the process, ensuring your oven stays clean and sparkling at all times.
Using the right tools and techniques, these oven cleaning hacks can help you clean your oven quickly and efficiently without breaking the bank. In this blog, we'll share our favourite oven cleaning hacks to make your job easier. From natural homemade cleaners to store-bought solutions, you'll find the right solution for your oven.
What is the best way to clean a dirty oven?
Here are some of the best oven cleaning hacks to try if you want to clean your dirty oven effectively:
1. Create a baking soda paste
If you use your ovens often, you don't want to spend too much on expensive oven cleaners. In fact, you can make your own cleaning solution using water and baking soda. To make a baking soda paste, mix baking soda with a few tablespoons of water until it forms into a paste. You can also add a few drops of dishwashing liquid for a more effective cleaning. Apply this paste to the oven racks and let it sit for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing off with a sponge or cloth.
2. Apply the lemon hack
Lemons are probably one of the best things to use when cleaning your ovens. They are not only good at disinfecting and removing grime and stains but they also leave behind a pleasant citrus smell. You can make your lemon cleaning solution by combining equal parts of water and lemon juice, then transfer it to a spray bottle. Spray this oven cleaner onto your oven door and oven racks and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping off with a damp cloth or sponge.
3. Clean your oven with a dishwasher tablet
Using a dishwasher tablet is great if you don't have the time to create a homemade cleaner. Since a dishwasher tablet is readily available in your home, you can use it to clean your oven quickly and easily. Simply place a dishwasher tablet into a bowl filled with water and mix until it forms a paste. Apply this mixture to your oven racks and let sit for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing off with a sponge or cloth. For extra tough grease stains, you can add some baking soda to the mixture for an even tougher cleaning solution.
4. Sprinkle some salt
Using salt as an oven cleaner offers a quick fix to remove burnt-on grease and food residue from your oven walls. While baking, occasional spills or leaks can occur on the oven's surface. Simply sprinkle a generous amount of salt on the leak to absorb any excess fat, oil, or grease. Once the oven has cooled down, you can easily wipe away any remaining residue as well as the salt.
5. Steam clean with white vinegar
Steam works great for cleaning your oven door as it loosens the grease stains so you can easily wipe them away with a damp microfibre cloth. To use this oven-cleaning hack, pour one cup of white vinegar into a bowl and place it on the bottom rack of your oven. Set your oven to 250°F and steam it for 30 minutes. Then, let the oven cool before wiping away the grease stains.
6. Use an oven rack cleaning kit
Oven racks are essential for maintaining the overall cleanliness and safety of your oven. Unfortunately, they are often neglected and can become caked with grease, grime, and other debris. To make sure your oven is as clean as possible, you should use an oven rack cleaning kit specifically designed to remove all dirt and food particles from the racks.
7. Use the self-cleaning feature
Some ovens are built with a self-cleaning feature designed to make the cleaning process easier. If your oven has one, all you have to do is set up the self-cleaning feature of your oven and let it do its job. After the self-cleaning cycle is complete, give the glass door and all the surfaces a final wipe-down to ensure you remove any remaining dirt or residue.
8. Put oven liners
Put oven liners on the bottom part of your oven rack to catch any spills or drips. These liners are heat-resistant and can be taken out and cleaned as required. Remember to clean and replace them from time to time to ensure your oven is clean and no potential fires can occur.
What are the best cleaning tools to use for a very dirty oven?
When tackling a dirty oven, using the right cleaning tools can make the job easier and more effective. Here are some of the best cleaning tools to use:
Paper towel
If the dirt and stains are fresh, you can use a paper towel to clean them right away. Paper towels are not only absorbent, but they are also disposable so they are useful for removing dirt and grease, particularly from your oven door. Furthermore, they can easily pick up the dirt without much effort.
Microfiber cloth
When cleaning your oven, avoid using harsh sponges and scrubbing pads like steel wool and wire mesh ball pads as these can damage your oven. If possible, use a microfiber cloth as it is incredibly soft and absorbent. Microfiber cloths can also get rid of up to 99% of bacteria which is actually three times more effective than a regular paper towel. Plus, it is reusable and can be washed in the washing machine for multiple uses.
Old towel
Old towels are also good for oven cleaning as their fibres can grab tough stains and residue without damaging your oven surface. You may think that an old towel is not as effective as a microfiber cloth but it is actually three times more effective than a paper towel. Plus, old towels are cheaper and more accessible than microfiber cloths.
Old toothbrush
An old toothbrush has small, soft bristles which makes it ideal to scrub hard-to-reach areas in your oven. This oven-cleaning hack involves dipping the brush in a homemade cleaning solution and then scrubbing it to remove food particles and grease from the oven door and walls. Make sure to use an old toothbrush as a new one may have stiffer bristles that can cause scratches on your oven's surfaces.
Does baking soda and vinegar really clean ovens?
Vinegar and baking soda are two of the most effective cleaning agents that you can use to clean your oven without using harsh chemicals. These two ingredients contain natural cleaning properties that are known to easily break down grease and grime. When mixed together, the acid from the vinegar breaks down baking soda, producing carbon dioxide which is effective at removing tough stains.
Takeaway
When it comes to cleaning your oven, there are several oven cleaning hacks that you can follow to make it more manageable, less time-consuming, and more effective. Using the right tools and materials, you can clean your oven easily in no time.
But while these oven cleaning hacks can surely make the job easier, finding time and energy for this household task can be challenging when life gets too busy. That's why, in such cases, it's worth considering to book a professional cleaning service like Elleisha's Property Services to take care of your oven cleaning needs.
With years of experience in cleaning residential and commercial properties in Wollongong and Newcastle, we specialise in all types of house cleaning services including oven cleaning. Our experienced team of professional cleaners in Newcastle and Wollongong use the best equipment and techniques to ensure we only deliver the best results. Contact us today to book a specialised oven cleaning service for your kitchen.
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