How to Clean an Oven
If you don’t have a self-cleaning option, have you ever wondered how to clean an oven ? Here’s a safe and simple 3-step process!
Self-cleaning ovens are amazing, because you simply push a button (or turn a knob) and all of the work is done for you in a matter of hours.
But what if you don’t have a self-cleaning oven? What if you have to do the dirty work all by yourself?
After renting half a dozen apartments and moving into homes with very old appliances, I’ve only recently had the luxury of a self-cleaning oven.
That means I’ve had a lot of work when it comes to cleaning my oven.
Once I learned that oven cleaners are some of the most toxic cleaning products available, I knew that I didn’t want to use a oven cleaner that will end up hurting me or my family. Even if it makes cleaning handy.
I just assumed cleaning an oven would be hard work, with or without a cleaning spray. But I was surprised to discover a safe and homemade alternative that was super simple. (It’s also practically free!)
How to safely clean an oven in 3 super simple and safe steps
When cleaning my oven without a commercial cleaner, I use three safe and simple steps:
1. Scrape away any burned food and residue.
I either pick it up with a paper towel, scrape it away with a plastic scraper called the Lil’ Chizler, or I brush it into a small, handheld dustpan.
2. Sprinkle baking soda all over the oven. Then, carefully pour white vinegar all over the oven. Watch it fizz! But don’t use too much vinegar … it’s better to start off with just a little bit instead of dealing with a pool of vinegar.
Warm the oven for a few minutes. (Setting the oven to 250 degrees for five minutes seems to work well.)
Once the fizzing slows down, scrub the baking soda and vinegar mixture with a wad of crinkled up aluminum foil. (This is an easy way to reuse aluminum foil.)
3. Wipe everything away with an old cloth rag.
Typically, I use ratty old dish cloths or holey, unmatched socks – then I throw the rag away once I’m done with the oven cleaning, since it’s a filthy mess.
Surprisingly, using just a little bit of baking soda and white vinegar along with aluminum foil and an old rag is all you need to clean your oven!
The process isn’t difficult – and it doesn’t require any more elbow grease than a nasty cleaning spray. If you get into the habit of cleaning your oven every few months, it won’t even take much time at all.
If you save this cleaning for once or twice a year, it will take a little longer.
Regardless of how long the job takes, though, it’s simple – and you don’t have to use any harmful spray cleaners.
If you were to describe how to clean an oven safely, what is your cleaning process?
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All images courtesy of Unsplash, Pixabay, and Hilary Bernstein.
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