Have you ever needed to clean something but knew that it would be a daunting task to tackle? That is how my oven was. I have a self cleaning oven but unfortunately, every time I turned it on, the high heat required to clean the oven would start a small fire at the bottom of the oven. Not wanting to burn the house down, I would turn off the self-cleaning oven and let it cool down, spot treat it and move on.
Well, the worse thing happened the other day. I was pre-heating the oven to make Steakhouse Quality Steaks at Home. The oven has to be heated to 500 degrees but whatever was at the bottom of the oven caught fire. That is when I knew that I was going to have to pre-clean the self-cleaning oven. Grr!
Store-bought oven cleaners are a very toxic product. It occasionally contains lye and ammonia to “eat away” at the residue in your oven. If you have ever used one of these product you know that they are very intense and get into your lungs and remains in your home. What most people don’t realize is that long after you’ve chemically burned off the residue at the bottom of your oven, traces still remain and intensifies as you bake in your oven, getting into your food. There is nothing like a pie with the hints of lye and ammonia, right. Gross.
Not wanting to fill my house with unnecessary toxic substance, I set out to find an alternative. Here is an easy, economical oven cleaner paste that you can make at home using staples such as dish soap, vinegar, and baking soda.
This job will take a bit of work but it is well worth it. What you put in the oven, you will have to wash out. But you will be amazed just how easy the muck wipes off with little to no scrubbing at all.
Materials:
- Paintbrush (you can pick up a package at the dollar store and throw away when finished)
- 2 medium glass bowls
- Sponge or scrub brush
- Dry cloth or paper towels
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp liquid dish soap
- 1 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup white or apple cider vinegar
- 1/8-1/4 cup water (use just enough to make a paste that is “paintable” but thick)
Instructions:
- Remove oven racks and wash separately
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Wipe out the bottom of the oven with a dry cloth, removing any loose debris.
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Place soap, baking soda, and vinegar into the glass bowl and stir.
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Slowly add water until the mixture makes a paintable thick paste
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Paint the oven surface with the mixture.
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Let it sit 6-8 hours
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Fill a bowl with clean water.
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Dip your sponge or scrub brush in the water and then gently scrub the oven surface.
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Wipe with a clean cloth and repeat until the oven is clean (The water in the bowl may need to be changed a few times).
I love this. Our landlords left our new house in a less than desirable shape… including the oven. I can’t use most store bought cleaners because they give me an instant sinus headache, so this recipe is exactly what I need to clean out that cooker. Thank you so much for posting this :)
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Wow, this is awesome… thanks for sharing! I will be sure to try it ;)
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Oh that’s a really good idea! My oven sure could use it and mine doesn’t have a self-cleaning option. I won’t miss the toxic throat burn from the chemical cleaners!