Best Way to Clean the Oven

To clean the oven properly here is a process that will make the boring task quick, easy and safe and it will not damage the surface (which makes it even harder to clean in the future). 

Preparation:

1.      Before you begin, check the amount of vinegar and baking SODA (not powder) on hand.  You will need quite a bit, at least one jar of the soda and probably half the container of vinegar.

2.     Remove the racks from the oven (small one too on the counter next to the toaster) and put them on the top shelf of the dishwasher.  The little ones you may need to fit in on the bottom.

3.     Remove the other elements from the top of the stove and fit them carefully into the bottom part of the dishwasher (being careful not to let them interfere with the movement of the washing spray arms). 

4.    You will likely be able to fit in the exhaust filters in too. 

5.     Before you fiddle with them, turn off the power at the powerpoint in the cupboard with the salt, I believe. 

6.    Then carefully remove both filters and put them on top of the oven racks at the top of the dishwasher. 

7.     Put in the dishwashing soap and turn on the Pots and Pans cycle.  Do not turn it on yet.

8.    Leave the roasting tray inside the oven at the bottom (if it is not at the bottom, just put it on the bottom).

9.    Fill the tray about half full with some of the vinegar and turn the oven on to about 200 degrees and close the door.

10.            Let the vinegar do its work for about 40 minutes, the kitchen will spell of vinegar and if its warm enough outside, you might better open the window and doors. 

11. Also, I need to know when you turn the oven on so I can go and hide away from the fumes.

More Preparation

12.            By letting the hot vinegar begin to soften any baked-on stuff it becomes quite an easy task.  So very little scrubbing is needed.

13. Get two cloths from under the package of dishwashing pellets under the sink on the right side of the cupboard.  They are clean and fresh, just a little raggedy from previous use.

14.            Get the big blue ice cream container (in the corner cupboard, beside the sink where my rubber gloves are) and fill it with hot soapy water and drop one of the cloths in for later. 

15. You may wish to use the green rubber gloves (your size) when you scrub, but the vinegar and soda are not toxic in fumes or on your hands but I always do to keep my hands dry. 

16.            Find two of the red cereal bowls and a small saucepan (not the shiny Scanpan one). 

17. Fill one of the bowls with about half the container of baking soda and wait till the next steps are complete.

18.            Once the 40 minutes has passed, turn off the oven and let it set for about another 20-30 minutes. (The idea is that it will still be hot on the surface, but not too hot for you to touch).

19.            Once it is cool enough to touch the surface of the inside of the oven, CAREFULLY remove the tray of vinegar.  Please do this slowly so as NOT to spill any on you. 

20.           Carefully pour the hot vinegar into the small saucepan to use for the next steps.

21.            Put the oven tray now empty -- with vinegar on top of the racks in the top of the dishwasher. 

22.           Put in a dishwashing pellet and turn on the dishwasher – the ‘pots and pans’ cycle -- and let it do it’s magic while you do yours.

Cleaning without Scrubbing with a Scratchy

a.     Take the bowl of baking soda and add water a little at a time, stirring thoroughly, until you make a thick paste of the mixture. 

b.    Dip a portion of the cloth in the vinegar and then in the soda mixture (which will fizz a bit) throughout the process, so there is always enough of the mixture on the cloth.

c.     While the oven is cooling, clean the outside of the door, dividing the surface into quadrants about 10 x 10 inches and then move on to the next using the soda-vinegar cloth.  The soda is gritty enough but so fine that it does not scratch. 

d.    After you are satisfied with the results of a quadrant, wring out the cloth in the blue container and wipe the soda-vinegar mix off and move onto the next quadrants.

e.     Once finished, you need to disconnect the oven from the electricity, the plug is in the cupboard to the left of the oven.

f.      Then clean the inside surface of the oven door in the same way you did the outside. 

g.    Then begin the surfaces inside the oven, scrubbing with the vinegar-soda mixture until you’re satisfied.  I usually start with the floor of the oven, because it seems the worst and the easiest to take pride in cleaning, but you will find a way that suits you.

h.    By the time you are finished with the oven, you could wipe down some of the stove surfaces if they need it and around the exhaust fan, although the fan is a bit of a lost cause because of so much frying in grease.

i.       Take a break and when the dishwasher is complete, open the door of the dishwasher and let the steam escape and then reassemble the stove, oven and exhaust fan.

j.       You should feel very proud of this accomplishment and I will be able to breathe again.  Hope you are up to the task!