Let’s face it, cleaning the oven isn’t very high on everyone’s to-do list. Alas, the more you use your appliance, the more it is bound to deposit grease and grime inside it, which can cause smoke and alter the taste of your food.
The good news is that you don’t need to use expensive chemicals to have a sparkling oven, as there are just as good (if not better) natural ways to organise that.
So, what are the easiest eco-friendly tricks when it comes to cleaning an oven at home?
Let’s dive in and find out!
You can easily clean your oven overnight by combining two of the most potent green cleaning ingredients you likely have in your kitchen: baking soda (bicarb) and white vinegar.
Lemons are one of the most used natural cleaning hacks. The citric acid found in them is both antibacterial and antiseptic and also helps add shine to your appliances. Lemons are also the best choice when removing grease and making your oven sparkle again.
How to create a DIY oven cleaner with lemon
You can create your own lemon cleaning agent and replace the need for any pricey chemical products.
Cleaning with lemon not only restores shine to glass and metal but also brings a fresh, clean smell to your kitchen once you are done.
Cleaning your oven with salt is another natural way to remove spills and burnt-on food bits. Plus, it’s a common ingredient found in every kitchen. If you spill food in your hot oven and can’t clean it immediately, just sprinkle some table salt on it.
Sodium is an adequate eco-cleaning ingredient because of its abrasive and absorbent properties. It keeps stains from setting, and if used in combination with white vinegar, it can clean even the most stubborn stains and greased-on bits.
How to use:
Sugar soap is usually used to clean walls and prepare them for paint, as it can easily remove years of built-up dirt and grime. It’s a strong de-greaser that can easily lift anything from light oil in the garage to grease stains and built-up grime in your oven.
However, it’s not exactly a natural oven cleaning method, but it is effective, especially if you want to give your oven a thorough cleaning.
To create your own safe cleaning solution, mix 1 part sugar soap with 10 parts water, and clean away. You can pour this diluted sugar soap directly onto the sponge or the cloth for stubborn grease stains and caked-on dirt.
Sugar soap can also be used to clean:
Using the power of steam to clean your oven is a natural, eco-friendly way to remove the built-up dirt and grime from your appliance’s interior. However, this method’s effectiveness depends entirely on the type of oven you have, the amount of build-up inside, and the steam cleaning method you choose.
Many modern ovens have a steam-clean setting, which is intended for routine maintenance.
Using the power of white vinegar is another eco oven cleaning hack that does wonders for your appliance’s interior. All you need is a wide pot or a casserole dish, some water, and distilled white vinegar.
Steam cleaning your oven naturally with lemons is another really effective way to remove all the built-up gunk inside.
Dishwasher tablets are another excellent way to clean your oven. They are made of concentrated dishwasher detergent and are an effective degreaser. It turns out you only need a pressed powder tablet or two (not the gel ones) and some warm water to remove any tough and stubborn stains effectively.
Unfortunately, every appliance has a lifespan, which means that eventually, your oven will stop working simply because it’s old. The average life expectancy is around 12-15 years, and with the proper maintenance, you can expect to make it last as long as possible.
Here are the do’s and don’ts when it comes to extending your oven’s lifespan:
Remember, a clean oven does not only have a longer lifespan, but it also saves money from electricity bills (as it is working more efficiently). This means regular maintenance is of utmost importance when it comes to increasing your appliance’s longevity and effectiveness. And, as an added bonus, food always tastes much better when cooked in a clean oven than in a dirty one.
Clever marketing has tried to convince us that chemical cleaning products are the only means to get the job done. However, not only are these products expensive, but sometimes they are downright toxic. That’s why using the power of natural oven cleaning means proves to be the better option for your home.
So, the next time you clean your oven, maybe put on the rubber gloves and use one of these cleaning tricks to achieve sparkling-clean and safe results.