Oven shelves can be a nightmare to clean, with baked-on grease ruining food and triggering smoke alarms. But a simple overnight trick from a Great British Bake Off star promises to make them 'clean as a whistle' without harsh chemicals.
The No-Scrub Solution
Nancy Birtwhistle, winner of the fifth series of The Great British Bake Off in 2014, shared her eco-friendly method with Yours Magazine. Her advice: 'At the first signs of baked-on foods on oven shelves, throw them onto the lawn overnight. A quick wipe the next day and they are as clean as a whistle.' Nancy, a grandmother of ten, avoids toxic chemicals to protect the planet.
Expert Opinions Diverge
Not all cleaning experts endorse this method. Petya Holevich from Fantastic Services told Ideal Home Magazine: 'While grass has some abrasive properties, it isn't specifically designed for cleaning, and there's no guarantee it will effectively remove stubborn grime and grease.'
Ian Palmer-Smith from Domestic & General added: 'The moisture in the grass may help remove some debris, but you're unlikely to notice significant improvements.'
Isabella Forgione from AO warned that leaving shelves outside could worsen the problem, but she recommends natural alternatives like lemon juice and white vinegar. 'Mix baking soda and white vinegar to create a paste. Apply it to the oven racks and leave it overnight. Then wipe away residue with hot water,' she advised. For stubborn grease, she suggests applying lemon juice directly, letting it sit for a few hours, then scrubbing and rinsing.
While Nancy's lawn method may not satisfy all experts, the consensus is that natural solutions can be effective without the need for harsh chemicals.
