While conventional oven cleaners could leave harmful residual vapours, one all-natural cleaner might be better.
Natural cleaning expert Melissa Poepping said: “Think of it as less of a chore, and more of a preservation of your appliance.”
Left-on burnt foods can look grimy, and you might think a lot of scrubbing might need to be involved to lift the dirt.
Poepping’s recommendation is to make a baking soda paste by mixing three parts baking soda with one part warm water – and an essential oil for a fresh smell.
“For cleaning the oven glass, I also like to make a spray of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar with a few drops of added lemon oil for scent,” said Poepping.
How to clean the oven
First, remove the oven racks and puts them in warm water with dishwashing liquid; you can leave them to soak while moving on to the next stage.
Next, spread the baking soda paste along the oven’s interior – avoiding the oven door – which you can leave on for 12 to 14 hour for a deep clean.
For ease, it’s helpful to leave the baking soda paste on over night so the cleaning magic can happen while you sleep.
To remove the baking soda paste the next morning, use a plastic scraper, wetting as needed, to remove food debris and wipe down the oven with a damp cloth.
Moving onto the oven door, use the water, white vinegar and essential oil mix to wipe down the oven door to a sparkling clean oven.
“These ingredients are great, all-natural cleaning agents,” Poepping stated on the Martha Stewart website.
As for how often you should clean your oven, Poepping said: “You should still aim to deep clean your oven regularly.”
With regular cleaning, the oven will become easier to clean as you won’t be tackling as much built-up dirt and grime.
