A woman who dreaded the powerful chemical fumes from traditional oven cleaners has shared a remarkably simple alternative that left her oven sparkling. Mollie Scott, a social media user with over 161,000 followers, demonstrated her method in a TikTok video posted on 26 December 2025.
The fear of harsh chemical cleaners
Mollie confessed that she was genuinely scared of using standard oven cleaning kits, which she found "really intense." Her main concern was the lingering chemical odour that often triggers coughing fits, a common complaint for many people tackling this chore. This fear led her to search for a gentler, yet effective, solution using products already found in most UK homes.
The two-ingredient method revealed
The hack is straightforward. First, spray the interior of your cold oven with a standard cream cleaner. Mollie used Cif's foam cleaner for her demonstration. The crucial second step is to then cover the sprayed surfaces tightly with cling film. This creates a sealed environment that allows the cleaning agent to work on the grime without drying out.
After leaving the cling film in place for one hour, Mollie peeled it back to find the results astonishing. She described how the baked-on dirt and stains had literally begun to "melt away." A final wipe with a sponge and cloth removed all residue, leaving the oven interior looking brand new.
Public reaction and proven results
The video quickly garnered attention, with viewers flocking to the comments to express their amazement. Many stated they were inspired to try the hack immediately. One user commented, "Just tried this on my oven! Worked a treat!" while another simply wrote, "This has influenced me to buy Cif and clean mine."
While acknowledging that strong chemical kits like Oven Pride are effective, Mollie emphasised the benefit of her method: achieving a deep clean without the harsh side effects. She was "gobsmacked" to learn she could avoid the coughing fits and intense smells associated with specialist products.
During the one-hour waiting period, Mollie efficiently cleaned the oven racks, grill pan, and trays separately, making the entire process quick and comprehensive. This simple, low-fume approach using Cif and cling film offers a practical and less intimidating alternative for achieving a spotless oven.
