The oven needs a good cleaning at least once a year or every six months. Here are some tips to help:
- If you have a self-cleaning oven, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and maintaining your oven. Otherwise, make sure the oven is completely cooled, and then wipe up spills inside the oven with warm water and a microfibre cloth.
- To remove grease stains, spray on a degreaser and let it soak in for 5-10 minutes. Then try cleaning off the grease. If the spot still doesn’t come off, sprinkle it with baking soda and an equal quantity of vinegar and scrub gently with a microfibre cloth while the mixture is fizzing.
- Broiler pans should be washed after every use. If there is built-up spillage, remove the pans and let them soak in hot soapy water, then wipe clean and return them in their place.
- If you use a commercial oven cleaner, be sure the kitchen is well ventilated because these products are usually caustic. Follow the instructions on the product and never use oven cleaner in a self-cleaning oven, as the product will clog the pores in the coating and may damage the surface.
- Remove racks from conventional oven and scrub in the sink. Or, spray oven racks in a plastic garbage bag for easier cleaning (and to keep the mess inside the bag).
- Wipe the inside walls of the oven with a clean cloth.
BONUS CLEANING TRICK: If your pie, casserole or other food boil over in a hot oven, here’s a short-cut to cleaning it up; carefully sprinkle salt directly onto the spill. Then, when the oven is cool, brush off the spill and clean up anything that remains with a damp cloth. Done!
