Electric Oven Maintenance – Little and Often

Yes, it is a job we all love to hate. Cleaning the oven usually gets left until we’re forced to do it because the fire alarm goes off as soon as the lasagne goes in. But it doesn’t have to be a nightmare job that takes hours and hours. Here are a few quick tips that will take the pain out of oven maintenance.

Please Note – These tips are for Non-Self-Cleaning Electric Ovens.

Salt

As soon as you discover a spill inside your oven pour salt onto it and leave. When the oven is cool you will be able to wipe it off easily.

Warm Soapy Water

Giving the oven a quick wipe with warm soapy water when it has cooled after cooking will get rid of most spills before they can bake on.

Ammonia Oven Cleaning Solution

If the oven has baked on residue and the oven needs a serious clean you can try this ammonia clean. While still quite odorous this does not involve spraying chemicals. Do this in the evening so the oven can soak overnight.

• Warm the oven to around 100 C and then turn off.
• Carefully place a pan of boiling water on the lower shelf.
• Place a bowl with 1/2 cup of ammonia on the top shelf.
• Close oven and allow to sit overnight.
• Ensure your kitchen is VERY WELL VENTILATED before opening the oven. Open all windows and doors if possible.
• Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin and a mask.
• Remove shelves and wipe oven over with 1/2 cup of ammonia, a few drops of dishwashing liquid dissolved in 1/2 a bucket of water (approx 10 litres).
• The residue should come away easily.
• If the shelves are still not coming clean pour a little ammonia into a large garbage bag, place shelves in the bag and tie them up. Leave overnight. Wipe over. Job Done.

Commercial Oven Spray Cleaning

These products are great for really neglected ovens. There are a few products on the market that claim to be ‘Fume Free’ with no caustic fumes but most still have a chemical odour.

It is advisable to wear protective gloves and masks when using these products. Always protect any surfaces around the oven by covering them with newspaper or cloths, including the floor underneath the oven. Most are spray, leave and wipe cleaners and sometimes you will need to repeat the process to completely clean your oven.

With a little bit of care, your oven maintenance can be pain-free.

For more information on Electric Oven Maintenance and Repair