Green Cleaning And Routine Maintenance For Your Oven
Have you been putting off cleaning your oven for a while now? Is it getting hard to ignore the black buildup and burnt odor? It is important to clean this kitchen appliance on a regular basis, but you may be feeling hesitant because of the harsh chemicals used in oven cleaners.
Substances like monoethanolamine and sodium hydroxide are found in oven cleaning products. They can cause irritation in your nose and throat, burning in your eyes, chemical burns, and more. If you want a safer way to clean your oven, read on to learn about two effective natural oven cleaning methods.
Use A Mixture Of Baking Soda And Vinegar
Baking soda and vinegar are used in dozens of different home cleaning recipes. This is because each ingredient offers many benefits. Vinegar kills numerous types of germs and bacteria, and these substances are common in kitchen appliances. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive agent, so it can remove the buildup of food within your oven.
Mix about one-half cup of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water to create a paste. Coat the entire inside of your oven with this paste, and let it sit in your oven overnight. You can remove your oven racks and simply wash them in the sink using warm, soapy water.
After twelve hours pass, grab an old rag to wipe off excess paste. Then mix one part vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the inside of your oven with this mixture; foaming will occur when the vinegar hits the baking soda. Wipe down your oven again using a clean rag. You may need to spray and wipe your oven two or three times to totally remove the baking soda.
Use Lemon To Cut Through Stubborn Grease
Aside from food building up, grease is a common culprit found in ovens. Instead of buying a chemical-filled degreaser, simply use lemon juice to cut through grease buildup. Juice two or three lemons, and mix the juice with a cup or two of water. Put the mixture in a baking dish, and let it bake in your oven. A low temperature of about 250 to 300 degrees for 30 minutes should do the trick.
Turn your oven off and let it cool off completely. The vapor from the lemon juice and water mixture loosens up stubborn grease, so you can easily wipe or scrape it off. Once your oven is cool, grab a rag or a plastic scraper to clean up the grease. You may also want to spray your oven with water and wipe it down after this to remove any excess residue.
More Information About Oven Care And Maintenance
In addition to keeping your oven clean, it is important to make sure it is properly maintained. Fixing any mechanical issues as soon as they arise is the best way to ensure your oven lasts as long as possible. If you suspect that something may be wrong with your oven, do not write it off. Call up an appliance repair service to come take a look.