Oven Pride Complete Oven Cleaner proved the most effective product in a head-to-head test against Elbow Grease Oven Cleaner and white vinegar, leaving an oven looking as good as new.
Sophie Harris, Senior Lifestyle Reporter, tested the three methods on her two ovens after regular baking and home cooking left the appliances covered in stubborn grease, food splashes and charred deposits that a quick wipe could not shift.
Elbow Grease Oven Cleaner
The Elbow Grease kit, bought for approximately £2 from Home Bargains, features a fume-free formula. Harris placed the oven racks in the supplied bag, poured two-thirds of the cleaner in and sealed it, then wrapped the bag around the rack and left it for two hours. After two hours, the bag was tilted to recoat the racks and soaked for an additional four hours, though leaving it overnight gave the best results.
While the racks soaked, the interior was cleaned by pouring the remaining liquid in and letting it sit for four hours before scrubbing with a sponge and rinsing with hot soapy water. The racks came out remarkably spotless, but the oven's interior left something to be desired, with a strong fragrance and a considerable amount of baked-on grease remaining.
White vinegar
White vinegar, a budget-friendly staple of the cleaning cupboard, barely made a dent. Harris spritzed diluted vinegar throughout the oven, left it for an hour and scrubbed, but it shifted only a negligible amount of grease on the glass, with the bulk of the staining remaining firmly in place. It might be sufficient for a light freshen-up or routine maintenance, but not for a thorough deep clean.
Oven Pride Complete Oven Cleaner
Oven Pride, picked up for £3.45 from B&M, worked considerably faster than the Elbow Grease product. The racks were placed in a bag to soak and the leftover liquid poured directly into the oven, visibly dissolving stubborn marks inside and on the glass door. Left overnight, though it could have been wiped away much sooner, the oven looked as good as new, with the baked-on stains completely vanished.
Although slightly pricier than the other two alternatives, it was worth every penny, saving considerable time and effort.
