Our kitchen is one area of the house which usually gets cleaned on a daily basis. We clean the counter after we are finished preparing food, we clean the stovetop after we are finished cooking a meal, and we clean the sink after we are finished washing dishes. However, there is one thing in our kitchen that we often neglect to clean for weeks, even months, at a time - our oven. The oven is one of the most commonly used kitchen appliances and one of the least commonly cleaned appliances. Even though we use the oven often, many of us skip cleaning it after meals. Sometimes this is because we feel it is unnecessary, sometimes it is because we are too lazy, and sometimes it is because we just don't know what products are safe to use inside of our oven. If you are at the point where it is time to clean out your oven but you are not sure how to go about doing it than you have come to the right place. This article will describe to you how to clean your oven so that you can finally do the job that we all seem to forget so easily!
Like any other appliance, the best way to keep your oven clean is to prevent it from getting dirty. When you are cooking, try to line your oven with aluminium foil as often as possible. Doing so will prevent any food from splashing or dripping onto your oven, causing a huge mess. If a spill does occur, wait for the oven to cool completely and take a damp cloth or sponge to wipe off the food. Try not to leave the spill for too long or the food will dry and become difficult to remove.
Even if you keep your oven clean, there will come a time where you will want to give it a very good cleaning. How you clean your oven will depend on which type of oven you own. There are typically three different types of ovens; continuous cleaning ovens, self-cleaning ovens, and regular ovens. Continuous cleaning and self-cleaning ovens are relatively easy to clean. Regular ovens are also easy to clean, however, they may take a little more effort on your behalf.
Continuous cleaning ovens are the easiest to clean and, because they are constantly cleaning themselves, rarely need to be cleaned by the owner. To clean this type of oven all you need is a damp cloth and some dish soap. Wipe down the inside of the oven with water and dish soap, making sure to rinse well so that no soap is left inside when you are finished.
Self-cleaning ovens are also very simple to clean. With a self cleaning oven you will need to remove the oven racks and set your oven to cleaning mode. The cleaning process will generally take a few hours so make sure that you already have dinner prepared. Once the cycle of the oven has finished, make sure to give the inside of your oven a good wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any excess chemicals that may be left over from the wash.
If you do not have a continuous cleaning oven or a self-cleaning oven, you will have to do the work yourself. When cleaning any type of appliance always make sure to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from any harmful chemicals. When cleaning the oven on your own you will want to buy a cleaner that is specifically used for cleaning ovens (these can usually be found at your local grocery store). Read and follow the directions on the back of the cleaner bottle. When finished, make sure to wipe down the inside of your oven thoroughly to avoid any chemicals from being left behind. If you do not want to use a cleaning product, a mixture of vinegar and baking soda should suffice.
Although we often forget or put it off, cleaning the oven is a necessity. Whether you have a continuous cleaning oven, a self cleaning oven, or a regular oven, they all need to be cleaned regularly. Regardless of how busy you are, take an hour every few months and make sure that your oven is clean!
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