A woman has shared a simple alternative to vinegar and baking soda for cleaning oven glass, and cleaning experts are backing her discovery. Becca Dwyer, posting in the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook group, revealed that soda crystals left her mother's oven door "sparkling" after other methods failed.
The problem with vinegar and baking soda
Becca tried Pink Stuff paste, Elbow Grease cream, dishwasher tablets, aerial pods, and a baking soda and vinegar mix, but nothing shifted the dark, almost black grease on the oven glass. She then tried soda crystals, which she said "worked so much better than anything I've tried."
Experts at Dri-Pak agree that the vinegar and baking soda combination is not effective. They explained: "One thing that isn't really the best solution, despite lots of internet tips, is to use bicarbonate of soda and then add white vinegar. The effect will be reduced because the acid white vinegar is neutralising the alkalinity of the baking soda and it's that that dissolves the grease."
Soda crystals as a powerful alternative
Soda crystals are excellent for dissolving grease and tackling burnt-on food, according to the experts. To use them, households can make a concentrated solution or apply liquid soda crystals to the oven door and inside the appliance, leaving them for at least 20 minutes before wiping clean. For stubborn areas, dry soda crystals can be applied directly as an abrasive.
Soda crystals are available online, with prices starting at £2 from Savers and £2.35 from Big Green Smile. Liquid soda crystals cost £2.45 at Big Green Smile and £2.99 at Ethical Superstore.
Lemons are another natural option for cleaning oven glass, with one cleaning influencer claiming she will never return to shop-bought oven cleaner after seeing how effective they are.
