All You Need to Know About Cleaning Ovens
All You Need to Know About Cleaning Ovens
Cleaning ovens is certainly not going to top anyone’s list of fun things to do, but it is necessary evil in the world of housework. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to shorten the amount of time you spend doing this chore. While it is a pain in the neck, it doesn’t have to be something that you avoid like the plague. Here are some tips to make cleaning your oven a bit more bearable:
Cleaning Regular Ovens
- Slide on a sturdy, PVC glove. This type of glove covers the arm too.
- Air out the room by opening a window and flipping on the fan over the stove. When using oven cleaner, you need very good ventilation.
- Lay an old towel on the floor under the oven to catch any bits that may fall out.
- Remove the oven racks and place them in the sink.
- Spray the racks with oven cleaner and let them sit for a few minutes. With a scrubber, slough away any food bits that you see.
- Spray the inside of the oven and allow the product to work for the amount of time recommended on the can.
- Scrub away the food and carbon using a nylon brush. Ovens with baked on gunk may need to be rubbed with a plastic scraper.
- Wipe down the oven and the racks.
- Replace the racks and that’s it.
Cleaning a Self-Cleaning Oven
The self-cleaning mode on some ovens actually makes it a bit easier to keep this appliance clean but it will still need a deep cleaning from time to time. What happens during the self-cleaning mode is the oven produces a high temperature that burns away spills and crumbs. Sometimes residue is left behind that must be cleaned away. Here’s how to clean this type of oven:
- Open a nearby window and flip on the hood fan. The self-cleaning mode can create smells of a different kind but they are still fairly disgusting.
- Take out any skillets, racks or dishes.
- Place the racks in the sink and spray them with oven cleaner.
- Use a soapy rag to clean the inside of the oven. Remove all the loose foods and debris.
- Close and flip the oven to self-cleaning mode. On some models this is a digital mode that has to be activated. Allow the oven to cycle through self-cleaning. This may take several hours.
- Scrub the racks with a metal scrubber, removing any bits of food.
- Dry the racks and set them aside.
- Open the oven when the process is complete and allow it to cool completely.
- Use a clean, soapy rag to wipe down the inside one more time.
Never use oven cleaner inside a self-cleaning oven, as you could damage the interior. Cleaning this appliance isn’t exciting but it is necessary to keep it operating properly. Clean the oven regularly and especially if it begins to cook food unevenly or smell.
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