I don’t know about you, but I honestly can’t remember the last time I gave my oven a good scrub down. Like most ovens these days, mine comes with a self-cleaning feature (though I still don’t use it as often as I should). However, if you’ve ever used the self-cleaning function, you’ll know that the door is often still quite grimy and greasy.
I tend to ignore it for the most part, but surprisingly, that doesn’t make the problem go away! If this sounds all too familiar, I’ve got some good news. There’s an incredibly easy way to cut through all that nastiness.
It’s worth noting having a dirty oven isn’t just about appearances. The burnt, stuck-on food and grime can impact the taste of your food, especially for desserts and baked goods.
More importantly, having a dirty oven can be damaging to your health. According to Local Expert Cleaning, the smoke being released when old spills burn off contains harmful gasses like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide. Dirt ovens also emit carbon and methane, among other pollutants that contribute to climate change.
Alright, now that I’ve thoroughly scared you into cleaning your oven, let’s talk about how often it needs to be done. Melissa Maker, host of the YouTube channel Clean My Space, says stovetops should be cleaned after each use. This is easy enough, simply wipe them with your regular cleaner and a microfiber cloth. You should also wipe the front of the unit down once a week.
The real trouble comes when you take a peek inside your oven. Melissa tells us, “The inside of the oven should be cleaned every 3 months, or when you notice burnt-on food or smoke when you are baking.” Yikes! I definitely don’t clean my oven four times a year.
So, what’s this easy trick to avoiding all of that nastiness? Jillee, from One Good Thing By Jillee, uses something surprising to cut through the grease… a detergent tablet! Yes, the chalky little tablets you put in your dishwasher can do incredible things for your oven as well.
This is such an easy process. Jillee tells us to make sure to use a detergent tablet without the gel – as it’s messy and doesn’t have the same outcome. You’ll also need a bowl of warm water and a microfiber cloth.
After you have your materials gathered, simply use the tablet like a sponge. Leave it in the plastic casing it comes with (it’ll dissolve soon enough), and dip the tablet in warm water. From there, just scrub away! You’ll have to apply a bit of pressure, but it’s nothing compared to scrubbing off the grime with a plain old sponge.
As I mentioned earlier, the thin plastic casing around the tablet will dissolve, but that’s a good thing. Don’t be afraid of the crumbs! Use them to get into the lining and in between all the nooks and crannies. You’ll find that this method is a lot less messy than using liquid dish soap or even foam oven cleaners.
After you’re satisfied that all of the grease is gone, go ahead and wipe the door down with a clean microfiber cloth. You’ll be amazed at the difference this little trick makes! Amazed and probably a little grossed out. At least, I was. I didn’t realize how bad things were until I cleaned it all up, as is so often the case.
I hope this little tip is helpful for you and your cleaning endeavors! For more cleaning tips, check out this article on where to begin cleaning an insanely messy house.