Cleaning Your Oven Before Easter: This Easter weekend promises to be particularly pleasant and if you are not going away, you probably are hosting a fun family gathering at home. Everyone knows family events include a lot of cooking and most of that cooking happens in the oven. Oops, you haven’t cleaned the oven recently! Not to worry, just keep reading. We will help you get that done before Easter.
Racks go First
Your starting point is the oven racks. Take them out and soak them for about an hour. If you don’t want to use heavy chemical cleaners, warm water with soap and a few drops of citrus essential oil or white vinegar should do the trick. The racks are usually tough to clean because they get greasy or accumulate burnt-on and other stains from cooking. Having them submerged in that solution for 30-60 minutes should weaken all dirt and save you some effort. While you are waiting, move on to other parts of the oven.
The Oven Pit
Cleaning the actual oven is not a child’s play either. Sometimes there is a lot of scrubbing involved, even if you use professional cleaning products. The well-known oven cleaning sprays, sold at almost any supermarket, may seem like the best solution at a glance. They do get the job done in most cases. However, they are extremely toxic and could be dangerous if you inhale too much of the fumes. Good old white vinegar and baking soda could be able to help here without posing a threat to your health. The soda is abrasive, so it would aid the removal of stubborn burnt-on stains. For better results and to reach tricky places, use an old toothbrush. Once all the scrubbing is done, wipe the oven pit clean with a microfibre cloth.
The Oven Door
You may be the most careful cook or baker and yet your oven glass door will eventually get dirty. Not only does it look unpleasant, but it also prevents you from checking your food through the glass. Make a paste from a bit of water and baking soda and apply gently on the door. Use the soft side of a sponge or a microfibre cloth to scrub. You must take it easy to avoid any deep scratches on the glass. You can use vinegar or squeezed lemon juice to tackle the grime.
Deodorising the Oven
Now that the pit and door are clean, and your racks are ready to go back in, there’s only one thing left to do. Eliminate any lingering bad smells. Instead of using artificial fresheners, turn to nature once again. Put water in a heat resistant bowl or a pot and pour a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Then place it in the oven and turn the heat on to about 120ºC. An hour or two should be enough to completely deodorise your oven with no chemicals and hazardous solutions.
