Introduction
Cleaning an oven can be a tedious and time-consuming task. Over time, baked-on grease and food splatters can accumulate, making the oven look dirty and dingy. However, you can clean your oven easily, naturally and effectively using just two common household ingredients – baking soda and vinegar.
I find that using baking soda and vinegar is the best way to clean my oven. The combination of an abrasive baking soda and the acidic vinegar allows me to remove even the most stubborn messes without harsh chemicals. In this article, I will provide steps on how to clean your oven with baking soda and vinegar.
What You Need
Before I get started, here is what I need to clean the oven:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Spray bottle filled with vinegar
- Damp cloth or sponge
- Rubber gloves (optional)
Baking soda is a mild abrasive that will help scrub off all the grime. Vinegar will react with the baking soda to foam and lift off baked-on food. The acidity in vinegar also helps dissolve grease and food particles.
Steps to Clean the Oven
Here is the step-by-step process I follow to clean my oven with baking soda and vinegar:
Remove Oven Racks and Accessories
First, I remove all racks, pans, aluminum foils or anything else from the oven. This gives me full access to the oven walls and bottom surface.
Sprinkle Baking Soda
Next, I sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda all over the bottom surface and oven walls. I make sure to cover all nooks and corners thoroughly.
Spray Vinegar
Then, I spray vinegar directly onto the baking soda. I use a spray bottle to control the application. The vinegar makes the baking soda foam and bubble.
Let It Sit
After spraying vinegar, I let the mixture sit for around 15-20 minutes. This allows the baking soda and vinegar to work together to loosen up all the grease and food particles.
Wipe Away
Once the mixture has sat for sometime, I use a damp cloth or sponge to scrub the foamy mess away. I make sure to wipe down all surfaces thoroughly. The cloth easily wipes away the grime.
Rinse
Finally, I take a clean damp cloth, wipe down the oven again and rinse thoroughly to remove any residue. This leaves me with a sparkling clean oven!
Replace Racks and Accessories
After the oven has completely dried, I return the racks and other accessories back in place.
Tips for Best Results
Here are some useful tips to get the best cleaning results:
- Wear gloves to protect your hands from the harsh alkali baking soda and acidic vinegar.
- Apply vinegar directly onto the baking soda to activate the bubbly reaction.
- Use warm water in the damp cloth or sponge to better dissolve grease.
- Rinse the oven thoroughly after scrubbing to prevent residue.
- Repeat the process for stubborn, baked-on stains.
- Clean the oven door window separately with vinegar and water.
Benefits of This Cleaning Method
I prefer using this DIY baking soda and vinegar method to clean my oven because:
- It’s all-natural – No need for harsh chemical cleaners that can be toxic.
- Cost-effective – Baking soda and vinegar are inexpensive household staples.
- Removes tough stains – The chemical reaction dissolves even baked-on grease and food.
- Non-abrasive – Wipes away grime easily without scrubbing intensely.
- Odour removal – Leaves behind a clean, fresh scent.
So skip the caustic oven cleaners and let baking soda and vinegar make that oven sparkle! It’s an easy, affordable and effective way to remove grease and return your oven to its former glory.
