How to clean the oven: 4 natural remedies

An easy, economical and ecological solution

By Martina Lombardo

A dirty oven worsens the quality of food, gives off bad odours and loses its normal efficiency. If you are looking for the right detergent to use, stop! Use natural remedies: easy, cheap and ecological!

Why it is important to clean the oven

The oven is the magical place where delicacies and delicacies come from, enriching our table at lunches and dinners. Often, however, cleaning the oven is not given the importance it deserves, and there are many reasons for this.

A dirty oven can give off unpleasant odours and alter the taste of food. Although not an exciting task, cleaning the oven is, therefore, a necessary action to preserve the efficiency of the appliance. In fact, regular cleaning keeps the oven’s performance high and improves the quality of the food cooked in it.

When to clean the oven

The first question that arises is: when is the right time to clean the oven? Obviously, the frequency with which it is used also determines the number of times it needs to be cleaned. For regular users, regular and frequent cleaning is recommended: once a week. For infrequent users, once a month, or every other month, should be sufficient.

However, there are some signs that tell us that our oven needs cleaning.

Firstly, the general external appearance of the oven. You look to see if there is any incrustation or residue on the walls or on the fan and if the appliance door is dull and dirty.

The second sign to watch out for is the smell. If we notice that the oven smells, even before we have cooked something, it means that there is a persistent layer of grease, dirt or food residue.

Finally, if you notice smoke coming out of the appliance while using it, this is a clear sign that it needs thorough cleaning.

Cleaning the oven naturally is more effective

Some ovens have self-cleaning programmes. These raise the oven to high temperatures so that the heat melts away layers of grease and dirt. Although convenient, self-cleaning programmes are only effective in cases of low levels of dirt and for quick daily cleaning.

Sul mercato esistono prodotti specifici per la pulizia di questo elettrodomestico. Tuttavia, questi prodotti, la maggior parte dei quali in genere presenta componenti chimiche, potrebbero rovinare il forno, intaccando le sue funzionalità. Inoltre, il loro successo nella pulizia non è garantito.

Perciò, la soluzione più economica ed efficace per pulire il forno in modo efficace e accurato è quella di usare rimedi naturali. Ovvero, creare prodotti fai-da-te con ingredienti naturali e che comunemente abbiamo in casa. Le soluzioni, oltretutto, sono completamente ecologiche!

Natural remedies for cleaning the oven

First of all, to clean the oven it is advisable to have some tools at hand, such as gloves, sponges, cloths and… a lot of elbow grease!

Below are four natural remedies that we have identified as being the most effective for deep cleaning:

• WATER AND LEMON: fill a suitable container for placing in the oven, or use a simple baking tray, with water. Squeeze three large lemons inside and place in the oven at a temperature of 180°. It will take only 30 minutes for the water to evaporate and stick to the dirt, softening it. After this time, turn off the oven and wait for it to cool enough to work with without burning yourself. Take a cloth soaked in the remaining hot lemon solution, or a scraper, and start removing dirt from the walls.

• WATER AND VINEGAR: take a saucepan, which is also suitable for the oven (if this is not the case, transfer the mixture to a baking tin afterwards) and heat up some water. When it comes to the boil, add a glass of wine vinegar. In the meantime, heat the oven to 150° and put the water and vinegar solution in. After 15 minutes, part of the mixture created will begin to evaporate and the incrustations will soften, so that they can be easily removed with a cloth or sponge dipped in the same solution.

• WATER, BICARBONATE AND COARSE SALT: mix bicarbonate, salt and water in a cup until a thick, creamy mixture is obtained. Place the mixture on all the walls of the oven with a damp cloth and leave it to act for one hour. For best results, it is best if the appliance is warm. After this time, remove the bicarbonate and salt cream with a damp cloth or sponge. If the glass of the door should still be opaque, repeat the operation by adding a dishwashing detergent to the mixture in place of the water.

• BICARBONATE AND VINEGAR: Combining these two ingredients creates a chemical reaction that is perfect for dissolving deposits and grease on the walls and cracks of the oven. You can prepare the mixture in a separate bowl or first place the bicarbonate on the parts of the oven to be treated; then, spray the vinegar and start degreasing with the help of a sponge. It is important that the mixture is ‘active’ at the moment of use, i.e. that the chemical reaction manifests itself with bubbles. You can also soak a sponge in the solution and then scrub the areas to be cleaned. Remember to always use gloves!

To increase the power of these natural detergents, you can add or replace the water with dishwashing detergent, perhaps wetting the sponge or cloth with which you are going to clean the oven.

Cleaning the oven has never been easier

You didn’t think cleaning your oven was so easy? From now on, you won’t have to spend hours in the supermarket aisles choosing the right product for your appliance.

These remedies use ingredients that are in everyone’s home and therefore easily available. In addition, because they are made from natural elements, they are cheaper than bought-in products.

Do-it-yourself detergents are also environmentally friendly: they are not contained in plastic packaging, which would then have to be disposed of, and as they are not chemical products, they do not release harmful substances.

Choosing to use these four natural remedies will not only improve the efficiency and appearance of your oven, it is also a small step towards protecting the environment.