Have you noticed your oven isn’t working as efficiently as it used too? Maybe it’s just not heating as well or your oven bakes unevenly. Before you jump to conclusions and splurge on a new unit, you may just need to clean it first. You probably already have your preferred oven cleaning method, but we’re here to tell you how to clean an oven so it runs at peak performance once more!
How to Clean an Oven: Our Top 4 Tips
#1. A Warning About Self-Cleaning Ovens
Yes, your oven may come with a self-clean feature, and yes, it can help burn away some stuck-on grime. However, we highly recommend you avoid using this feature, especially before the holidays. Why? Because the extremely high heat can potentially damage components in your oven. Wires, fuses, and other parts can potentially fail, leading to costly repairs.
Instead, we recommend using a little elbow grease and cleaning your oven with a natural oven cleaner. Learn how to clean an oven with the following 3 DIY natural cleaners.
#2. Baking Soda & Vinegar
There’s a good reason why baking soda and vinegar are used for many natural cleaners. They power through tough grease and grime! Plus, they don’t contain nasty chemicals or fumes! Here’s how to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar:
- Combine 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 Tbsp dish soap, and 1 Tbsp white vinegar
- Coat the inside of your oven with the paste and let it sit for a few hours
- Wipe it clean sponge or cloth
#3. Ammonia
When you think of how to clean and oven, your first thought probably wasn’t using ammonia. But this is one of the easiest oven cleaning methods. Just follow these steps:
- Pour about a 1/2 cup of ammonia in an oven-safe bowl
- Let sit in the oven overnight with your oven OFF
- The next morning, you’ll be able to wipe the oven clean with ease
#4. Vinegar Steam
Using vinegar steam is just ask easy as using ammonia, and is one of our preferred methods. There are few fumes, and using vinegar steam makes cleaning your oven a breeze. Here’s how you do it:
- Vacuum out any loose debris and burned food from the bottom of your oven
- Mix 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water in an oven-safe dish
- Place the dish on the bottom rack, heat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, and let it sit for a few minutes
- Turn your oven off, remove the dish, and spray the vinegar solution on the interior of your oven
- Close the door and let it sit for 30 minutes
- Once the oven has cooled, wipe clean, and you’re done!
By performing these four quick cleaning steps, you’ll breathe new life into your oven. If you do have additional problems with your oven, feel free to give our team at A-Tech Appliance Parts & Service a call today.
