Is your oven encrusted with grime? Clean it effortlessly using a very simple method
Cooking food in the oven always leads us to having to clean it, of course. More often than not, food residue (splashes, spitting oils, etc.) gets burned, charred and scorched to the surfaces of the inside of the oven. This baked-on, scorched grime and charring has two major negative implications: charred food poses a health risk; and thick grime increases the power consumption of the oven.
But cleaning the oven can be a tough job and given this, we provide some tips below to lighten your burden. Read on to find out more:
1. Empty out the oven
This is going to be a thorough cleaning, so it's a good idea to remove not only the oven's grills but all its detachable parts.
The grills need to be washed separately. To this end, fill a basin (or the sink) with hot water, add a few drops of dish soap and a glass of vinegar. Leave the grills to soak in this mix while you continue to take care of the oven. With a scrubbing brush, remove as much grime as you can.
A trick to making it easier to clean the oven: use paper towels
Each of us has a favorite detergent/product when it comes to cleaning the oven. Whatever your favorite detergent, once you have removed the bulk of the dirt with a brush, spray the detergent on the walls and bottom.
As an alternative to regular detergents, you can also fill a spray bottle with one part vinegar and three parts hot water, adding just a drop or two of dishwashing liquid.
At this point, comes the real trick: cover all the internal surfaces with paper towels. If they don't stick properly, place them on the relevant surface and then spray them in place with the mix. Place towels on the door too, then close it as gently as possible.
Wait half an hour or so, and you will notice that the grime will leach into the paper towels (turning them yellowish). At this point, and protecting yourself with gloves, remove the towels, wiping off as much loose grime as you can. Finish off with a damp cloth and more detergent for any remaining residue. The wipe down with another wet cloth to finish. Then clean the grills which have been soaking.
Once dry, the oven will be as good as new, and without you having to struggle to scrub vigorously on your knees! Reassemble the grills and the job is done!
