Skip to main content

How to clean a dirty oven

I am not one for using many chemicals if I can get away with it and have always found cleaning my oven to be such a chore and hate the thought of using harsh chemicals on it.

Not any more, the secret is Bicarb of Soda

Materials

  1. Large quantities of bicarbonate of soda (not the little supermarket baking pots),
  2. Warm water.
  3. Bowl
  4. Cloth
  5. A paint brush
  6. A scraper or some sorts, I use a plastic pollyfiller knife, but a wallpaper scraper is fine

You can get larger quantities of bicarbonate of soda from your local chemist or online.  I have used Summer Naturals in the past.
Method
  • Mix the bicarb and water into a thick paste, so that it doesn't drip
  • Use the paint brush to coat the paste across the oven door and walls
  • Leave for at least 30 minutes to allow the brown residue to begin to soften and melt
  • Scrape off the paste
  • For any stubborn areas reapply the paste and repeat.
  • Using a clean cloth make sure you remove all residue
  • You can also do the same with the shelves and racks, but I would advise leaving for an hour or so and making the paste lightly thicker, so you can get it on.  Also a butter knife is the perfect scraper for them.
If you have any suggestions for oven cleaning, I would love to hear them.





Comments

  1. Oh my oven is a disgrace at the moment and I hate commercial oven cleaners. Will try to source some bicarb at the weekend and give this a go!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I put off cleaning my oven because the chemicals are so horrible (that's the only excuse, honest *cough*). I remember cleaning out ovens in a Saturday job years ago and had to wear a face mask and goggles. Will definitely try it with bicarb now. A good old fashioned tip!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I trained my son as one of his 'earning his pocket money' jobs! Seriously, if you use those wire wool cleaners that are similar to nylon scourers with bicarb, that also works really well on the oven racks and gets all the burnt on residue off grill racks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh wow what a lovely idea! A great way to have the kids earn their pocket money! And also teaching them some great life skills at the same time! I am definitely going to try this - I've been using professional companies (I don't mind recommendign to anyone in my area: oven cleaning sheffield or oven cleaning sutton coldfield) but great to see this tip and implemented so well :D Sarah x

      Delete
  4. Great tip. It had never even occurred to me to use bicarb before! Emma :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great tip Jen, thanks! I’m doing our oven this weekend with my brother and we have been looking for tips that won’t upset my breastfeeding wife - and there are more than enough to keep us going here lol. Our son has been baby led weening... it's brilliant, but we seem to be cooking proper meals so much more now. That's not a bad thing, but this is our first time cleaning it ourselves so it’s a bit daunting considering in the past we’ve always used companies to do it! I’d definitely recommend http://www.cleansmartsolutions.co.uk (oven cleaner kent) or http://www.flash-cleaners.co.uk (oven cleaning birmingham) if you’re close by to them, but if you’re going for the DIY route like we are going to try, this page looks perfect! Thanks again :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey! Love the cleaning tips, I actually came here looking for advice one carpet cleaning. I think I'll give this a go! I just moved to London, until now I've been using oven cleaning sheffield which are great, but no longer in my area sadly, can anyone suggest a decent London cleaners please?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love comments and will try to respond to all

Popular posts from this blog

Bissell Vac and Steam Machine Review and Giveaway

I have hard floors downstairs which I love.  They are much more practical than carpet with 2 mucky boys and a dog. Over the past 8 years I have tried all sorts of ways to keep them clean and I think I have finally found the product that does that for me. It is the  Bissell Vac and Steam Machine .  This amazing suel action machine vacuums and steam cleans either independently or at the same time.  It means that I have done away with my vacuum and steam cleaner downstairs (which I gave to my brother in law). What I like: You can either vacuum or steam clean or do both It is lightweight and easy to manoeuvre The handle is adjustable great for a home with people of different heights and for getting the kids involved. You need no chemicals The pads are washable and reusable It comes with a two year guarantee It warms up fast (within 30 seconds) so no long wait to start cleaning It costs under £100 It is space saving.  No need for a separate vacuum, steam cleaner or mop. 

Tissue paper poppy badges

Remembrance Sunday will soon be upon us and my boys take part in the annual church service and march as Beavers. This year MadDad will also be marching in his capacity as Manager of the U7's football team.  We are great believers in remembering what people have done for us and the boys have been busy making tissue paper poppies at Beavers.

Don't feel pressured in to spending at Christmas and a giveaway

According to a recent survey by  Whyte & Mackay    46.2% of people confess to feeling pressured into spending £100-£200 more than they can afford.    I have to admit that this really shocked me, but them with the rising cost of things and also the unrealistic expectations of people it is often very hard to keep a lid on spending. Other irritations were: ·          Christmas dinner preparations (25%) . The most common complaint is when mum-in-laws unfavourably compare the way dinner is served to the ‘proper way’ (i.e. her way). ·          Cruel present choices (24%). The majority felt that parent-in-laws purposefully bought presents for them that they wouldn’t like, from terrible Christmas jumpers to regifting items already in their cupboards. ·          Fighting over board games (15%). The most frenetic choice is the team game of charades with 34% of those who have fought with their parent-in-laws coming to blows. Monopoly is the board game that seems to cause the least amoun