Cleaning your oven is a hectic task. You have to deal with elbow grease and food debris.
Cleaning your oven with vinegar is not suitable for every type of oven. As you have to deal with the tangy smell afterwards.
So, how do you clean your dirty oven using natural ingredients? Should you try the infamous TikTok hack? And, most importantly, how to wipe all the stains from the oven door?
If you are looking for deep oven cleaning hacks, we got you covered. In this article, we will guide you with our tested methods. And also let you know whether the viral cleaning hacks are worth it or not.
TikTok Oven Clean Hack – Is It Any Good?
To be honest, I wasn’t sure about giving this solution a try. But here’s how to do it and know if it really works.
- Cut a lemon in half and put it into the bowl half-full of water
- Put it into your oven for 30 minutes at 120°C
- Let the steam do it work
- Open the door and use a sponge to get all the dirt and debris
Lemon water is also best for cleaning the oven door. It is recommended to use lukewarm water for the best results.
Editor’s Opinion
No doubt, it is an easy and quick cleaning solution. But, it is only suitable for microwaves. Don’t expect that only water with lemon is suitable for cleaning dirty oven trays.
How To Clean The Worst Oven?
If the condition of your oven is the worst, then you need to make a little extra effort. Removing all the tough stains around the heating element is a sensitive task. As it can easily be damaged.
So, here’s how to clean your really dirty ovens without any fuss in 5 easy steps.
1. Use A Good Vacuum
Never underestimate the power of a good vacuum. It may sound unusual to vacuum-clean your freestanding gas cooker or oven, but it works magic.
The vacuum will get all the food chunks and visible disintegrated food particles.
This will make your work very easy and cut down the cleaning time to half.
How To Use Vacuum Cleaner For Your Oven?
Start by vacuuming at full speed to collect any dried food crumbs. It is best to wipe all grease and oil using a paper towel.
Never use the vacuum directly on a hot tray with grease. Don’t forget to clean under the surface and behind your oven.
2. Make The Cleaning Solution
There are many oven cleaners available in the market. No doubt, they are effective, but they do have harsh chemicals in them.
That’s why it is best to use natural ingredients. You can make a thick mixture by mixing any one of the following:
Best Homemade Oven Cleaner
- Baking Soda With Lemon
- Salt, Vinegar, And Baking Soda
- Water And White Vinegar Solution
Best Professional Oven Cleaning Products
3. Apply The Cleaning Agent
Once you choose your preferred material, then it’s time to apply it to the surface.
Make a thick paste or solution and apply it to your oven’s interior, tray, and glass door. If you have a self cleaning electric oven, then always use homemade cleaners.
We strongly recommend you not use any detergent or soap for cleaning. As your oven will smell soapy when you next bake anything in it.
4. Give It A Good Scrub
Now, it’s time to scrub the surface evenly. Use a soft brush or sponge for scrubbing.
Be very gentle, and don’t damage the heating element by applying intense pressure. We strongly suggest you not use any metal sponge.
Kitchen Magician’s Effective Oven Cleaning Hack
Once you’re done with the scrubbing, running your oven at medium heat for 30 minutes is best. By doing so, the heat will loosen up any leftover grease. Then, scrub the surface again once it cools down.
5. Don’t Forget To Rinse
Most Brits make this mistake and don’t rinse the oven’s tray and interior with water. This results in a weird, pungent smell.
That’s why it is essential to wipe the surface with water and dry clean it with a damp cloth afterward.
How To Clean An Oven Quickly?
- Pick all visible food particles and wipe all grease with a damp cloth.
- Then, make a thick paste by mixing baking soda and lemon juice.
- Apply it to the oven surface and leave it for 20 minutes.
- Scrub the oven tray and interior with a soft sponge.
- Run your oven to medium temperature for 30 minutes.
- Rinse it afterwards with water and wipe it dry clean.
Dishwasher Tablet In Oven
Recently, there has been a viral hack all over the internet using a dishwasher tablet in the oven. Eventually, it is a great hack to clean all the grease. Here’s how to use it.
How To Clean Your Oven With A Dishwasher Tablet?
- Fill a bowl half full of warm water.
- Add a dishwasher tablet to it.
- Dip a sponge into it and start scrubbing the surface.
- The grease will come out within minutes.
- Then, wipe the oven surface with a dry cloth.
Oven Door Cleaning Hack
Often we neglect the door. There are a lot of fingerprints and dirt marks on them. That feels very rugged while opening and closing the door.
You can clean it with baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice. Furthermore, you can also use the same mixture to clean kitchen tiles.
How To Clean an Oven Door?
- Make a mixture of baking soda and lemon.
- Add dish detergent to it and stir it a bit.
- Apply it to the door and leave it for 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle water on it after every five minutes.
- Then, wipe it out with a damp cloth.
Oven Rack Cleaning Hack
Across the U.K, people mostly use bathtubs to clean the oven cleaning racks. But can you clean your racks without the bathtub? Luckily, yes, there are two ways.
How To Clean Oven Racks Without Bathtub?
- Apply the biodegradable solution to racks.
- Cover them with tin foil for several hours.
- Scrub the racks from every side.
- Then, wash it with water and dry it with a damp cloth.
It is best to leave the racks overnight for the best outcome.
Oven Rack Cleaning Bags
Now there are racks of cleaning bags available. They have a chemical filled in them that wears out the rust and food debris. All you need to do is leave the tray and racks in the oven overnight.
Then, you need to wash it with water. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work well with the glass oven trays.
Toaster Oven Cleaning Hacks
Like many Brits, I also prefer to use a mini oven for baking. But their compact size makes them very hard to clean. But, it is essential to clean them after every two months.
How To Clean A Toaster Oven?
- Handpick all the visible food particles.
- Take out all the trays from the toaster mini oven.
- Make a paste by mixing baking soda and vinegar.
- Apply it all over the surface and wait for 40 minutes.
- Then, scrub it with a sponge.
- Wipe the interior afterward with a wet damp cloth.
Air Fryer Oven Cleaning Hacks
If you are a fan of healthy food, then most probably you must have an air fryer. They are convenient and use minimal oil.
Unfortunately, this leads to tough stains at the bottom, which are very hard to clean.
How To Clean An Air Fryer Oven?
- Get all the oil from the bottom using tissue paper.
- Scrub a little at the bottom.
- Fill the air fryer with hot water.
- Put a dishwasher tablet on it and stir it.
- Then, rinse it afterward.
TikTok Viral Air Fryer Cleaning Hack
The TikTok cleaning hack is good, but it’s not magic. All you need to do is put detergent and water into the air fryer and plug it in, which could be dangerous. So, we don’t recommend it.
Oven Cleaning Hacks FAQs
What is the best thing to clean the inside of your oven with?
Baking soda and vinegar is the best thing to clean the interior of your oven. Both are great cleaning agents that work perfectly and collect all dirt and debris.
What is the fastest way to clean your oven without chemicals?
The fastest way to clean your oven is by using baking soda and lemon juice. You can also add a pinch of salt to speed up the process. Never use detergent for cleaning.
Is it best to clean the oven hot or cold?
Never try to clean the hot oven. Applying the cleaning solution to a warm surface will result in fumes. So, ensure that your oven is cool.
For better cleaning, the rule of thumb is to keep the oven slightly warm, which is safe to touch.
Will baking soda harm a self cleaning oven?
It is best not to use baking soda or any cleaning agent in your self cleaning oven. Mostly, the heat and steam will loosen up the burnt oil and convert the leftover to ash.
Can you use the oven straight after cleaning it?
Yes, you can use your oven just after cleaning. But, it is best not to use it right away. Give your range cooker a rest of at least 30 minutes.
Why does the oven smoke after cleaning?
If your oven makes smoke after a deep clean, you need to rinse it with water. There could be a leftover cleaning paste around the heating element. When your oven gets heated up, the paste burns and creates smoke.
How often should you clean your oven?
It is best to clean your oven at least once every two months. To extend the shelf life, it is recommended to deep clean it once a month.
Wrapping It Up!
There are several ways to clean your oven. But, it is best to rely on trusted oven cleaning hacks.
Being a professional, I strongly recommend not relying on the TikTok hacks. While applying the cleaning solution, be very gentle around the heating element.
Baking soda and vinegar are the best for your oven. Never use detergent in your oven, as you may end up with a soapy smell.
We hope that our oven-cleaning hacks help you. Well, in the meantime, keep on baking and cleaning your oven every month.
