We all love baking, but when the hypnotic magic of the delicious scents is over, we face the need to clean the oven, which translates into a nightmare. It’s precisely at that moment when we would like to have magical powers to make the dirt and grease that accumulates in its walls and doors disappear.
We regret to inform you that we don’t have any magic spells that can assist you in that task. But we can share with you 3 foolproof and almost magical tricks that will transform all that hard work into a walk in the park.
The 3 tips worth a million
The first tip we’ll give you to clean the oven is: don’t leave for tomorrow what you can clean today. Yes, it isn’t easy, but the more you wait to remove the grease left behind from that chicken you baked on Sunday, the longer it’ll take you to remove it.
The next thing we’ll tell you is that you don’t need expensive or special products to restore the good face of your oven. Just keep reading and get ready to clean your oven with substances that won’t damage the planet and that you’ll certainly have at home.
Tip 1.- The miracles of a blend of baking soda and vinegar
This is a foolproof and effective mixture to clean the oven without toxic cleaning products that could cause you allergies.
To clean with them you must prepare the following:
- In a bowl, mix half a cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water until a paste is formed.
- Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of white vinegar and water.
After completing the previous steps, empty the oven. Remove grills, trays and anything that could make cleaning it difficult.
Then, cover the interior of the oven with the paste prepared with vinegar and baking soda. Avoid fans and heating elements. You should not squeeze, just place the paste with emphasis on the dirtiest areas. Let it stand for 6 to 12 hours and after the time is up remove the mixture with a damp cloth.
If you still notice a few dirty areas, spray over them the mixture of vinegar and water you put in the spray bottle and then wipe it off with water.
Tip 2.- The priceless power of lemon
Lemon -famous for being an excellent natural degreaser- is a powerful ally in the task of cleaning your oven. To do this you’ll need a soft sponge, 3 lemons and a plastic spatula.
Squeeze two of the lemons into 1/3 water and put this mixture in an oven safe container. For added effectiveness and to take full advantage of the lemons, you can include the peels.
As we explained before, the first step is to remove everything from the appliance. With the oven empty, place the container with the mixture inside the oven and heat it for 30 minutes at 120oC.
When the time is up, allow the oven to cool down and remove the dirt with a scrubbing sponge. Use the spatula wherever there’s excessive dirt or grease accumulated, and you’ll see how easily you can remove it. After completing this step, proceed to dry the oven with a clean cloth.
Tip 3.- The incredible magic of soft drinks
It’s common knowledge that cola soft drinks have incredible cleaning powers. As far as ovens are concerned, a good trick to degrease the racks of the oven is to soak them in cola for 15 minutes.
Wait 15 minutes and just rub the racks with a sponge, rinse them and dry them. Your problem has been solved.
We hope these simple tips will turn the task of cleaning your oven into something so simple that you won’t hesitate anymore to use this appliance as many times as you can