Ovens are typically among the most challenging appliances to clean in any household, as grease from cooking spills over and then gets baked onto surfaces whenever the oven is switched on again. What many people fail to realise is that grease undergoes a chemical transformation when subjected to heat, turning into a burnt, thick and incredibly sticky residue.
Grease takes on an almost varnish-like quality, meaning it cannot be shifted with water-based solutions, leaving you scrubbing away for hours with harsh chemical cleaners that sting your eyes. However, there is actually a natural yet highly effective method to eliminate grease stains without forking out a fortune or wasting hours scouring away at your oven.
Jules Gordon, a professional cleaner and founder of Eco Cleaning Fairies, has shared that you can deep clean an oven with a little bit of washing up liquid and a little shake of soda crystals. Washing-up liquid is formulated to tackle stubborn food marks on dishes and contains surfactants which help lift grease away by reducing its stickiness. Soda crystals are powerfully alkaline, meaning they can dissolve the fats and oils present in grease, softening stains rapidly and making them far simpler to remove.
What is brilliant about these cleaning products is that they will dissolve any food residue in your oven, allowing you to wipe everything down without spending ages on the task. Using soda crystals and washing up liquid means you will never dread cleaning your oven again, as even the most stubborn stains can be tackled in around 30 minutes.
Soda crystals are widely available in the cleaning or laundry aisle of most supermarkets, though they may also be labelled as washing soda or sodium carbonate.
How to clean your oven
Start by filling a basin with hot water, then add a squirt of washing up liquid and some soda crystals. Remove all trays and grills from the oven. Place any smaller trays or grills into the basin and leave them to soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
For larger trays and grills, sprinkle soda crystals over them, dip a scourer into soapy water and give them a gentle scrub. Next, place them inside a clean bin bag and leave them to soak for approximately 20 minutes. It may seem odd, but bin bags trap moisture, preventing the soda crystal solution from drying out and allowing it to break down stubborn grease and grime effectively.
Meanwhile, fill a bucket with hot water, washing up liquid and soda crystals. Dip a cloth into the mixture and use it to wipe down the inside of the oven. Start at the top and work your way downwards. Use a scourer to tackle any greasy patches, which should lift away with minimal effort.
Rinse the oven thoroughly with clean water and ensure it is completely dry before switching it back on. Buff the oven door with a dry cloth, though some people swear by scrunched-up newspaper as a tried-and-tested method for polishing glass.
Take out the trays and grills and place them in either the sink or bin bags. Give them a good scrub with a scourer, and it will be far simpler to shift any stubborn marks. Your oven will now be gleaming and entirely stain-free, meaning you will never have to dread cleaning it again.
