Tips to keep your oven in top condition
Cleaning the oven is unlikely to be high on the priority list of things we’d love to do. It’s not the most exciting household chore and can be both dirty and difficult - that’s the reason it’s often neglected for so long. Hopefully, this list we’ve put together of tips to help you clean your oven will put a stop to that, ensuring your oven remains in fantastic working condition and increases its lifespan.
Make your own oven cleaner
Instead of reaching for costly oven cleaners you can save yourself the money by making your very own highly effective oven cleaner. All you’ll need is a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda. This combination is fantastic for removing all the grime and grease that has built up over time in your oven. Just smother the paste on, leave it for 30-60 minutes, then wipe it all away. You could also add essential oils or citrus juice to the mixture to help combat any bad odours and to help cut through more stubborn stains.
The magic of lemon juice
Scrubbing stubborn oven dirt and grime over and over is no fun, so make use of lemon juice to make things a lot easier for yourself. This does take a little preparation but is so worth it. The night before the big clean, fill a heatproof bowl up with water and squeeze plenty of lemon juice into it. Next, place the magical mix into the oven and gently warm it overnight at a low temperature. The steam that’s produced from the bowl will loosen stubborn areas of dirt, making the scrubbing process the next day a breeze.
Oven hobs as good as new
Baking soda has many great uses and adding shine to a ceramic or induction oven hob is one of them. Pour some baking soda over each oven hob, add a little water and gently wipe with a soft, clean cloth. Steel burners that could do with a clean can be zipped into a plastic bag overnight with a drop of bleach and water. In the morning, carefully remove them from the bag, then wipe them over with soapy water before rinsing them with clear water. As good as new!
Keep on top with a regular clean
A regular clean of both the interior and exterior of your oven is the best way to keep it in the best condition possible and will make the cleaning process easier as you won’t have such a messy build-up of grime and oil to banish. Experts recommend giving your oven a deep clean at least once a month.
Tackle bad odours
For fish lovers or those who have cooked something with a somewhat unpleasant smell, a good tip is to add a few drops of vanilla or orange essence in some water and gently heat it in the oven for about an hour. This simple little mix will cleanse the inside of your oven as well as freshen the air throughout your kitchen and home.
Even self-cleaning ovens need a hand
Many modern ovens now come with a self-cleaning option, which works by burning away the dirt at an extremely high temperature. This leaves ashes which don’t just magically disappear unfortunately, so you will have to make sure you remove these with a damp cloth. The outside of your oven will benefit from a wipe down as well from time to time to ensure it remains gleaming and stain free.
So, there we have it! A few simple tips you can take on board to make sure your oven remains in the best working condition possible for as long as possible, as well as fresh, safe from bacteria and sparkling clean. Give them a try!
