Baking soda is an inexpensive natural ingredient that can make oven cleaning easier without using toxic chemicals, according to Samira Kazan, a cook and founder of Alpha Foodie.
Why baking soda works
Kazan said she researched and experimented to learn how to clean an oven with baking soda, and it works every time. Baking soda is mildly alkaline, which helps break down grease and soften burned food, making stains easier to remove.
Grease hardens into a sticky coating on oven surfaces when heated, and it does not mix well with water, so many cleaning products are ineffective. Baking soda weakens that hardened residue without harsh scrubbing.
Combining with other ingredients
For best results, mix baking soda with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. White vinegar creates a bubbling effect when combined with baking soda, loosening stains further. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent that gently breaks down grease residue.
However, do not mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together, as this creates peracetic acid, a toxic gas.
How to clean the oven
First, remove trays and wire racks and soak them in hot soapy water for about an hour, then dry. Mix one part baking soda with two parts water to form a thick paste. Spread the paste inside the oven, targeting burned or grimy spots, but avoid the heating elements. Let the paste sit for at least one hour, preferably overnight.
Dampen a sponge or cloth and wipe away the paste. Then spray the oven with white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to make any remaining baking soda residue bubble. Rinse again and dry with a clean cloth. The oven should be sparkling clean without scrubbing.
