In many homes, the oven is a hardworking appliance that sees a lot of daily use. From baking family dinners to reheating leftovers, it’s a kitchen essential that often bears the brunt of food spills, splatters, and burnt-on messes. Over time, these stubborn stains can build up, making your oven look dingy and less inviting to use.
If you’re anything like me, you may avoid cleaning your oven simply because of the harsh chemicals found in many commercial oven cleaners. These products often contain strong toxins, fumes, and abrasive ingredients that can be harmful to your health and the environment. Plus, their chemical smells can linger in your kitchen long after you finish cleaning.
That’s why I’m excited to share a simple, natural, and effective homemade oven cleaner recipe that will get your oven sparkling clean without any of the nasty side effects. It uses everyday ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen and won’t cost you a fortune.
Why Make Your Own Oven Cleaner?
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about why making your own oven cleaner is a smart choice:
Non-toxic and Safe: Homemade cleaners made with natural ingredients like lemon juice and vinegar are gentle on your lungs and skin. You won’t have to worry about breathing in harmful fumes or wearing gloves to protect yourself.
Environmentally Friendly: By avoiding harsh chemicals, you reduce the amount of toxins released into the environment. Natural ingredients are biodegradable and better for your home and planet.
Cost-Effective: Buying a bottle of commercial oven cleaner can cost $5 to $10 or more, and you might only use a small portion of it. The ingredients for this DIY cleaner are inexpensive, multipurpose, and last a long time.
Easy to Make and Use: You can mix this cleaner in just a few minutes, and it’s ready to spray and wipe away grime and burnt-on residue. Plus, it doesn’t require any special tools or skills.
What You’ll Need
For this homemade oven cleaner, gather these simple ingredients:
1/4 cup of dish soap: Dish soap is excellent at breaking down grease and lifting away grime. Use a natural, biodegradable brand if possible.
1/2 cup of lemon juice: Lemon juice acts as a natural acid that cuts through tough stains and adds a fresh scent. The citric acid also helps dissolve mineral deposits and food residues.
1 cup of vinegar: Vinegar is another natural cleaner with mild acidity that loosens burnt-on food and grease. It also disinfects surfaces without harmful chemicals.
1 1/4 cups of water: Water dilutes the mixture and helps it spray evenly.
Spray bottle: A clean spray bottle to mix and apply the solution.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Mix the ingredients: Combine the dish soap, lemon juice, vinegar, and water in the spray bottle. Shake gently to mix well.
Spray your oven: Remove any loose debris or crumbs from your oven. Spray the cleaner generously inside your oven, focusing on areas with grease and baked-on residue. Don’t forget the inside of the oven door, where spills often collect.
Let it sit: Allow the solution to work for 15-20 minutes. This soaking time helps break down tough grime and makes scrubbing easier.
Wipe clean: Using a damp cloth or sponge, wipe away the loosened dirt and residue. For stubborn spots, you may need to scrub gently with a soft brush or non-abrasive scrubbing pad.
Rinse if needed: After wiping, you can use a clean wet cloth to rinse any leftover cleaner from the oven surfaces.
Dry and admire: Dry the surfaces with a towel and admire your sparkling clean oven.
Tips for Tough Oven Stains
Some ovens accumulate years of baked-on grease and burnt food, which may require a little extra effort. Here are some additional tips to help tackle tough grime:
Make a baking soda paste: Mix baking soda with a little water to form a thick paste. Spread this on heavily soiled areas and let it sit for an hour or more before scrubbing and wiping clean. Baking soda is mildly abrasive and helps lift stubborn spots without scratching.
Use a vinegar spray after baking soda: Spray vinegar over the baking soda paste to create a fizzing reaction that further loosens grime. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Repeat as needed: For extremely dirty ovens, repeat the cleaning process a few times until the oven is spotless.
Clean oven racks separately: Remove your oven racks and soak them in hot soapy water. Scrub with a brush or sponge to remove grease and food residue.
Avoid harsh abrasives: Do not use steel wool or harsh scouring pads inside your oven as they can scratch the surface.
Maintaining a Clean Oven
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