Oven cleaning can seem a daunting task but if you follow these easy steps and do some
simple preventative measures it can be a breeze.
Start with by taking out the pieces in the oven that are removable. These are the
racks, burners and drip pans. Place the drip pans and racks in soapy water and let them soak.
If you have a self cleaning oven or continuous clean oven, turn it on and let
it do its work. If not, preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the
directions of the oven cleaner you have purchased. This is usually about 200 degrees.
Once preheated, turn the oven off and spray the oven cleaner on the inside of the
oven. Let the chemical work for around ten minutes. Then using a damp sponge, wipe
your oven clean.
If the oven is extremely dirty, you may have to repeat this process. After
you have finished, wipe the inside down with a dry cloth.
As you move on to the range top clean out any debris and food that may
have gotten through the drip pans. Then take a sponge and a solution of soapy
water and wipe down the cook top. Do not use scouring pads as they can harm
the finish. Oven knobs should come clean easily but you may need to remove
them and soak them in soapy water for a few minutes. After you have finished,
take a dry cloth and wipe off the cook top.
Go back to your drip pans and oven racks which have been soaking. Wipe them
off with a damp sponge. If they are very bad, a bit of steel wool will normally
do the trick. Now just reassemble everything and you are done.
Remeber to always wear gloves when using oven cleaning chemicals. Make sure
that you have plenty of ventilation to get rid of fumes created by the cleaners.
If you don't have a place large enough to soak oven racks, you can wrap towels
soaked in soapy water around them. If you have a self cleaning oven, clean the
glass and outer surfaces before you turn it on to the clean cycle. Otherwise
you will have to wait for it to completely cool before cleaning these surfaces.
Don't use oven cleaner on a self cleaning or continuous clean oven. It can harm the finish.
Once this is done you can stay one step ahead of your oven cleaning. A little
preventative maintenance can make things go much smoother when next the next
time comes to clean out your oven.
When spills happen clean them up as soon as possible. Wipe your oven down
with a damp sponge after every use, after it has cooled, of course. If you
spill something inside your oven, pour some salt on the liquid. The salt
will absorb the spill and you can wipe it up with a damp sponge later after
your oven has cooled. If you will be cooking something directly on the rack
in your oven, place a cookie sheet underneath it to catch spills as they happen.
If you do this regularly the next time you clean will be a breeze!
