As cooler weather arrives for residents of Kennesaw, Georgia, more people will be putting their ovens to use and will want to start with a clean oven. While your oven is central to your kitchen and your ability to prepare great meals for your family and friends, it is also a real headache to clean. Burnt-on grease, drippings, and food particles can make cleaning your oven one of the hardest cleaning tasks that you might have. While the thought of cleaning your oven might seem overwhelming, it is worth the effort. Here is all that you need to know about how to properly clean your oven.
Using your oven’s self-cleaning function
Many newer oven models have a self-cleaning function. If your oven has this feature, you can press a button to start the process. Your oven will heat to a super-heated temperature of around 880 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating the oven up this high incinerates burnt-on food particles and grease. When the cycle is finished, you can easily wipe away the leftover ash with a cloth. Voilà, you have a clean oven. However, using the self-cleaning function means that you will not be able to use your oven for around five hours, and it can fill your kitchen with an unpleasant smell.
If you have a self-cleaning oven, you should never use a chemical oven cleaner or liner, because doing so can damage the oven’s enamel coating. You might also need to remove the racks and oven pans before starting the cycle and clean them separately. Finally, if your oven has stubborn baked-on grease, you may have to run the cycle more than once to clean it.
Using a chemical oven cleaner
If you do not have a self-cleaning oven, you can try using a chemical oven cleaner. There are a variety of brands available that you can purchase at your local retail store. Start by removing loose particles before spraying the oven cleaner evenly so that it coats the entire interior. Allow it to sit for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can then use a damp cloth to wipe the grease and grime that has been lifted away by the cleaner. If you use a chemical oven cleaner, you should make sure that the room is well-ventilated because of the potency of the chemicals. Chemical oven cleaners use lye, which is one of the most dangerous household cleaning substances sold.
Make your own oven cleaner
If you want to avoid using harsh chemicals, you can make a safe oven cleaner to clean an oven. Make a paste out of baking soda and water. Liberally apply it all over the interior surfaces of your oven and allow it to sit for a minimum of 30 minutes. For added cleaning power, spray vinegar over the top of the baking soda paste. Once the paste has been allowed to work for 30 or more minutes, scrub the surfaces using a non-abrasive scouring pad followed by a damp cloth.
Cleaning the racks and knobs
To clean the racks, you will want to remove them from your oven. Soak racks in a tub filled with boiling water and dish detergent. Allow them to soak for two hours before scrubbing them with a stiff brush. Dry them before you place them back in the oven. If you don’t want to have to fill your bathtub with boiling water, you can use a paste of baking soda and water sprayed with vinegar. Make sure to allow the mixture to remain on the racks for 30 or more minutes.
To clean your oven’s knobs, do not spray them with cleaners. If you do, the liquid could short out your oven’s control panel. Spray the cleaner onto a cloth and use the cloth to clean the knobs. If the knobs are removable, take them off to clean them.
Cleaning the oven’s glass door
The glass on your oven’s door can be scratched. This makes it important to avoid using abrasive cleaners or scrubbing too hard. You can use a baking soda paste and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Then, use a soft cloth to wipe it away and rinse with water. You will then need to buff it to make it clear. You can also use a chemical oven cleaner on the glass. After it sits, wipe it with a damp cloth before finishing with glass cleaner.
If grease has streaked between two pieces of glass on your oven door, you will need to take some extra steps. With the oven door open, unscrew the screws on the top of the door while it is resting on your legs. Once you have unscrewed it, you’ll be able to reach the layer between the glass panes. You can use a long-handled sponge to clean away grease that has accumulated between the glass pieces.
If you do not have a self-cleaning oven, finish your cleaning project by inserting oven liners in your oven. This can make the oven-cleaning job much easier next time.
Expert cleaning services to clean an oven
Most people dread cleaning their ovens because of the time and effort it requires. To make sure your oven and the rest of your home receive the proper care, talk to the professionals at the Prestigious Cleaning Team. Request a quote today by calling 770.422.5326.
