Ovens are a great addition to any kitchen. It allows you to bake, a crucial step in plenty of recipes. And while it can open up many different meal options for the home, it’s also important to learn how to clean and maintain it regularly. The last thing you want is for your next dish to smell like the last one, especially if they have completely different flavor profiles. Here are the steps you should take to clean your oven like a professional.
Step 1: Prepare the Materials and Equipment
The first thing you need to do before you clean your oven is to prepare the necessary equipment and tools. You won’t be needing much other than a cloth rag, some newspapers or paper towels, and an oven cleaner. Even the best oven cleaners can be disagreeable to some peoples’ noses, however, so using a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and water can be a good substitute. Place the newspapers and paper towels below the oven on the floor. Finally, you’ll need some plastic bags to place the oven racks in.
Step 2: Remove the oven racks
Remove all the oven racks from your oven. Spray a good amount of cleaner evenly throughout the racks, and place the racks inside the plastic bags. Seal the plastic bags shut, and let them sit while you do the next step. Apply the vinegar and baking soda solution instead if you’re using that.
Step 3: Clean the inside of the oven
Spray the inside of the oven evenly with the oven cleaner. Be sure to cover as much area as possible, not leaving any spaces untouched. Then, wait for the specified amount of time suggested in the oven cleaner (most brands recommend anywhere between 20 and 30 minutes, but be sure to double-check first). If you’re using the vinegar and baking soda mixture, let the oven and racks sit for 12 hours, or overnight.
Step 4: Start wiping
After the specified amount of time, start wiping down the surfaces with a damp cloth. The cloth should remove any traces of the oven cleaner. However, this may not remove any tough and stubborn particles or lumps. These lumps may have appeared from dishes that you previously made or simply dust that just gathered over time. For these stubborn formations, use an abrasive brush or a microfiber sponge to get rid of them. A hard scrubbing should do the trick.
When you’re done with the interior of the oven, do the same thing for the racks. Remove the racks from their plastic bags and wipe them down with a damp cloth. Any particles or substances should be removed with a rough sponge, brush, or anything similar.
Step 5: You’re Done!
And that’s it! After you’ve wiped everything down, the oven should be good as new and ready for your next batch of casserole, turkey, or anything else that you’ve been planning on baking. If you only occasionally use the oven, you really won’t need to clean it more than once or twice a month, but if you regularly use it, then clean the oven whenever you feel the need arises.
