Let’s face it, cleaning the oven is one of those tasks most of us avoid. It can be messy and difficult – but not with our handy tips! Follow our 5-step guide on how to clean your oven and it’ll sparkle like new in no time.
1. Prepare
Make sure the oven is cool before you start. Gather rubber gloves to protect your hands, oven cleaner (or baking soda), a scouring sponge and plenty of hot soapy water. Put a cloth or kitchen paper on the floor to protect it from drips.
2. Shelves
As well as cleaning the main oven you´ll need to clean the shelves. You can buy shelf cleaning gels in most supermarkets – you simply put the shelves in the bag supplied with the gel, coat them in the gel, shake and leave. The results are amazing – your oven shelves will look brand new.
If you’re feeling energetic the alternative is to scrub the shelves with a wire scourer and baking soda. The results will be just as good – but you’ll need a little more elbow grease!
3. Scrape
Gently scrape off any spills and burnt on food with the sponge or scourer. Be careful not to scratch the oven surface. Dampen stubborn spills with water and leave for a while before removing them.
4. Oven cleaner
You can either use a shop-bought oven cleaner or make your own. Commercial oven cleaner tends to be strong so make sure the kitchen is well ventilated to avoid inhaling fumes.
It’s easy to make your own oven cleaner and it’s just as effective. Make a paste from baking soda and water, apply to the oven surfaces and leave overnight. Then simply wipe off with a damp cloth the next day. A light spray of white vinegar will cause any remaining residue to foam, so you can wipe away the final spills.
5. Oven door
Don´t forget the door when cleaning your oven. Many can be carefully removed and soaked in warm soapy water. Again the baking soda solution will remove any stubborn stains.
And finally – give the outside of your oven a wipe with a damp cloth or a stainless steel wipe for that final shine.
