Cleaning your oven is likely up there on the list of household chores you’d least want to tackle. But it’s necessary, especially if you regularly use it. Based on how often you fire it up for cooking or baking, plan to clean it every three to six months.
Spills and stuck-on foods in your oven can lead to inefficiency — think longer cook times — unpleasant odors, germs or strange-tasting foods.
Using your oven’s self-cleaning feature might be an option, though you may want to steer away from it during the hottest times of the year. If you prefer a DIY solution without the fumes and the additional heat, we’ve got it, and we’ll tell you how to make it sparkle again, step by step.
How to Clean the Oven Interior
Make sure the oven is turned off and cool. Remove the oven racks, and wipe down the interior with a solution of one-half cup of baking soda and three tablespoons of water. Coat the oven with the mixture and let it set overnight, then wipe it down with vinegar and a damp cloth.
How to the Clean Oven Racks
Wipe the racks down with a soapy sponge and hot water. For more stubborn stains, first soak the racks in hot water, dish soap and baking soda. Allow them to soak for 15 to 30 minutes before you scrub with a sponge. Stuck-on food may require a little elbow grease.
How to Clean the Oven Door
Wipe down the exterior with a sponge with soap and hot water. Clean the space in between the panels, going so far as removing the glass. Scrub stains and spills with baking soda and white vinegar. Allow it to fully dry before replacing. Finish with a glass cleaner for extra shine.
How to Clean Oven Knobs and Handles
Don’t forget about the parts of the oven that get the most traffic. Here, food buildup, oil smears and fingerprint smudges accumulate. Wipe them down with baking soda and a damp sponge when you tackle the rest of the oven, but give them a routine clean in between.
Once you’ve spent the time to make it sparkle, plan to spot-clean so the little messes don’t build up to bigger ones. Plus the cleanup process will be even easier the next session.
Sweet Home Cleaning Service prides itself on keeping homes on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, including Fairhope, Point Clear, Montrose, Daphne and Spanish Fort, as well as Foley, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, sparkle all summer long. Contact us today with any questions you have about how we can help you!
