Ovens take a lot of abuse. They’re expected to heat evenly, producing searing hot air but zero smoke. To keep your oven heating effectively and avoid unevenly cooked food, it’s necessary to clean out the baked-on gunk that accumulates with use. A good cleaning also lessens the likelihood your oven will smoke, catch fire or make food taste burnt. So, how can you clean your oven without spending hours scrubbing?
The longer an oven has gone between cleanings, the more work it requires. Self-cleaning ovens are, as their name implies, the easiest to treat. For these guys, there are usually only three steps:
- Make sure the oven is empty.
- Close and lock the door.
- Turn the oven dial to the cleaning cycle.
The cleaning cycle on these ovens heats to extremely high temperatures, burning away the mess. Self-cleaning isn’t always best for some newer ovens, however manufacturers keep offering self-cleaning features due to demand. But the hidden heating elements inside new ovens mean that regularly using the self-cleaning capability can shorten the life of the oven. In those cases, skip the self-cleaning and go for a manual cleaner.
The next option is a spray-on oven cleaner. These caustic sprays eat through grime chemically, so they should never be used without adequate protection and ventilation. Some new varieties are low-VOC, which is great for people seeking less-irritating oven cleaners. To use these sprays:
- Make sure the oven is empty.
- Follow the instructions provided by the cleaner’s manufacturer.
- Wait as long as necessary for the cleaner to foam up, dissolve the mess or otherwise do its thing.
- Thoroughly wipe and rinse out the residue.
If sprays aren’t your bag, it’s also possible to go completely chemical-free. You can create a foaming oven cleaner using nothing more than soap, vinegar and baking soda:
- Combine a tablespoon of castile soap, a quarter cup of vinegar and one and a half cups of baking soda. Add just enough water to make it the consistency of toothpaste.
- Immediately apply the paste with a brush or rag.
- Allow it to sit for at least six hours.
- Thoroughly wipe and rinse out the residue.
The foaming reaction from the vinegar and baking soda helps lift grime, while the soap breaks down grease. Vinegar’s also great for getting rid of stains from acidic foods like tomato sauce.
Whether you’re a diehard cook or only use your oven to heat up frozen dinners, there’s no reason to neglect cleaning your oven. There are plenty of options out there, so you’ll never have to endure a burnt-tasting meal or a kitchen full of smoke again. A bonus of a well maintained oven is extended use and life. However, sometimes things happen.
Whenever you have issues with your oven, a warranty from American Home Shield can assure that you won’t have to worry about high-cost repairs.
Post Author: andyc.
