On the market, you can discover so many modern types of ovens, all of them guaranteeing flawlessly prepared meals. However, the longevity of your functional appliance could be compromised if you don’t know how to clean it with the most appropriate techniques. Oven cleaning mistakes are among the common reasons why a pricey oven might break down too soon, so you should steer clear of these six dangerous mistakes non-experts often make:

• Don’t place aluminium foil – perhaps you have heard of a widely known approach for keeping the bottom of the oven clean while baking a meal – using aluminium foil. While some people believe that catching spills with aluminium foil is a smart trick to postpone oven cleaning you should never do that. When placing the foil at the bottom of your machine you are likely to end up with overcooked or undercooked dishes because of the uneven distribution of heat the foil might cause. Furthermore, this method can lead to blocking the airflow inside the oven and damage the heating element. So instead of trying to preserve the oven spotless while cooking, just invest more time in regular cleaning.

• Don’t spray the cleaner directly on the knobs – spraying your favourite oven cleaning product directly on the knobs can lead to pricey damages to your oven’s control panel. That’s because the liquid substance might find its way behind the knobs and cause serious electrical problems. Instead of sticking to this habit, take a clean cloth or a rag and use it to transfer the cleanser from it to the knobs.

• Don’t count on the self-cleaning function all the time – there is no doubt that ovens with self-cleaning features provide simplified maintenance, but the truth is nothing can beat manual cleaning. Relying solely on the self-cleaning function is a mistake you should correct as soon as possible, or else you risk the oven malfunction. While cleaning itself, your oven reaches extremely high temperatures meant to loosen up stubborn grime. Obviously, the dirtier your oven is, the more dangerous self-cleaning becomes. Instead of expecting the oven to do the heavy lifting for you, you should stay devoted to cleaning and address your oven’s cleaning needs on time. Not until you are certain the oven is clean enough should you take advantage of the self-cleaning feature.

• Don’t overlook regular cleaning – as you have already discovered, keeping the oven clean is the best you can do for a fully functional machine. On the contrary, a neglected appliance is likely to malfunction, since burnt-on food residue might block the heating elements, thus overloading the oven. Instead of waiting for the last moment to disinfect the oven, follow a strict cleaning routine and disinfect the machine at least twice a month.

• Don’t be aggressive with the glass door – although the material used for manufacturing an oven’s glass door is extremely durable, special attention must be paid when addressing the surface. Aggressive cleaning products can scratch the glass while slamming the door carelessly can cause microscopic cracks. Assuming the fact that you want to preserve the glass door in top condition, be gentle in the way you treat it.

• Don’t forget the racks – if you are used to cleaning your oven’s interior, but you tend to skip the tacks, this is another risky approach you should reconsider. Poorly maintained racks can easily catch fire, which will lead to costly repairs. Instead of overlooking the racks, make them part of your oven cleaning routine. Disinfecting the racks is not a challenging job – take them out and soak them in hot water mixed with white vinegar. This powerful eco-friendly ingredient will break through tough food residue, allowing you to clean the racks effortlessly.

A properly cleaned oven will last longer, which is why dangerous cleaning mistakes need to be avoided at all costs. As long as you stick to the right cleaning techniques, you will be able to enjoy a durable appliance.

© Fast Oven Cleaning

From scrubbing burnt-on grease to ensuring a fresh scent, deep cleaning the oven is one of the most daunting chores you have to tackle. A dirty oven may ruin the taste of your meals or even cause a fire in the kitchen, that’s why you need to make sure your machine operates safely. Are you familiar with the most effective oven cleaning methods? Just follow the steps below and your appliance will get stain-free in no time:

• Empty the oven - you should start with an empty oven, which means that all detachable parts should be removed from the interior before you do anything else. Remove the thermometers, as well as your oven's racks. To save valuable time, you can clean the racks now, since the process may take a while. Soak the racks in your bathtub or the sink in a solution of hot water and half-cup dishwashing soap. The dish soap would cut through the grease, making the racks easy to wipe clean. After you empty the oven and soak the racks, you can move on with the next step.

• Decide on the cleanser - while it is perfectly good to apply a store-bought oven cleaning solution, you can also take advantage of a homemade cleaning paste you should prepare with half a cup of baking soda mixed with a few cups of water. This solution is the eco-friendly way to go, but if you prefer using a commercial cleanser, do your best to find one containing as few chemicals as possible.

• Apply the solution - once you have decided on your cleaning product, it's time for you to address the interior of your oven. Cover the appliance with the cleanser, but be extra careful and steer clear of the heating elements of your oven. If you have chosen to go with a commercial oven cleaning product, you need to read its label, so that you can discover the right method for applying the cleanser. It is important to follow manufacturer's guides for application, otherwise, you wouldn't be able to remove build-up grime completely. In case that eco-friendly cleaning paste of baking soda is what you have decided on, spread a generous amount in your oven's interior and let the mixture sit there for at least twelve hours or overnight, if possible. Baking soda requires time to break through grease, thus allowing you to scrub grime effortlessly.

• Go back to the racks - several hours have passed since you soaked the racks, so now dirt is supposed to be simple to remove. Take the racks out of the bathtub or the sink and start wiping them clean with a cloth. If grime seems stubborn to remove with a cloth, take a bristle brush to eliminate residue. Once your oven's racks look as shiny as new, rinse them thoroughly and let them dry before you return them to the oven.

• Disinfect the oven - the racks are ready now and you can continue sanitising your oven's interior. Assuming the fact that you have waited long enough for your cleaning product to do its magic, you should now wipe the dirt away. Get a damp cloth and collect what's left of the solution, together with loosening dirt. With a powerful cleanser and a relatively clean oven, a single wipe or two would be enough, but if your oven hasn't been disinfected for a while, use a spatula to tackle tough messes. Since the oven's exterior needs to be just as clean as the interior, don't forget to wipe the surface of the appliance with a damp cloth and an appropriate solution.

For the sake of your health, you shouldn't let dirt and grease spend months in your oven. Every now and then take advantage of this step-by-step guide, so that you can rest assured your oven is safe to work with.

©Fast Oven Cleaning

The need for people to move, from a less environmental-friendly routine to a more environmental-friendly one, which considers the health and safety of the people and environment, has become a subject of discussion all over the media space. The concern is that most of the traditional cleaning methods and solutions have been discovered to pose severe threats to humans and the environment. Eco-friendly cleaning methods and solutions are organic and have no health implications. I remember on one occasion, where I used a particular chemical cleaner that was recommended by a friend after I told her about my messy kitchen. The day after I cleaned my oven with the suggested solution, when I turned on my oven to heat my casseroles, the after-taste of my food was that of the chemical cleaner. Since that day, I am using only green cleaning approach for my oven or no cleaning at all. 

Many conventional cleaning solutions are not particularly environmentally-friendly, and some contain very toxic chemicals. A popular example of a conventional oven cleaning chemical is the Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether. This chemical poses danger for aquatic animals. I am sure you wouldn’t want to be responsible for the death of over ten thousand fishes. 

Let us consider some eco-friendly methods of cleaning your oven at home;

 Baking soda: Combine baking soda and water until you get a paste-like solution. Don’t worry, baking soda can be found in almost every grocery store. Use the paste to coat the oven’s surfaces and let it sit for some time. Using damp, clean cloth or brush wipe the surfaces.

• Vinegar: To get rid of burn spills and spots in your oven, you will only need vinegar. Spray the spot with vinegar, and let it sit for a few hours. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth. Your oven will be as clean as new. That is awesome.
• Vinegar, mixed with baking soda is the perfect combo: This is a magical combination. Spray the inside of the oven with vinegar, and then sprinkle with baking soda. Leave for some time to allow the two ingredients to do their magic, and then wipe with a damp cotton cloth.
• Salt: Leave your oven to cool down after using it for some time. Mix a small amount of water with cooking salt and spread throughout the oven, and leave for some time. Wipe with a clean damp cloth.
• Baking soda and Ammonia: To carry out this procedure, you need to warm your oven at about 200C, and then turn it off. Put ammonia in an oven-safe dish and place on the middle rack. In a second oven-safe dish, pour boiling water and place on the bottom rack. Close your oven and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Then remove the two dishes, Sprinkle baking soda in the oven and then wipe with a clean damp cloth.
• Baking soda, vinegar and dish soap: mix baking soda, white vinegar and a small amount of dish soap. Apply the solution inside the oven. Leave for some time, and then wipe with warm water and clean cloth.
• CONCLUSION

Cleaning your oven using eco-friendly methods is very easy, contrary to what you must have heard from friends. The methods outlined above are safe and don't pose any serious health threats. Consider using them to clean your oven.

© Fast Oven Cleaning 

Cleaning is an essential part of our everyday lives. Without it, we cannot leave a healthy, germ-free and allergen-free living. But what if your oven or kitchen need cleaning after a cooking session? The first thing that comes to mind is using expensive top-shelf products to get rid of the grime and grease. But what if you don't need to spend so much money on cleaning products and still get the excellent cleaning results you are after? The secret is baking soda. With the potent power of baking soda, you can quickly get rid of harsh stains, that sometimes even expensive commercial cleaning solutions cannot deal with.

Baking soda is not only suitable for oven cleaning, but you can also clean almost everything with it. In this article, there are smart tricks of how to use baking soda to clean oven, counter and stove.

Oven cleaning:

For this, all you need to do is take one and a half cup of baking soda and two and a half or three tablespoons of water. Mix the baking soda with the water until it turns into a paste. Take the racks out of the oven and apply the paste all over the walls of the oven. Avoid the heating elements. You can even apply the paste on the glass of the oven door. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes and wipe with a wet towel or cloth. If there are tough stains left, apply the paste again and scrub with a soft brush.

You can leave the mixture overnight to avoid scrubbing. Just wipe the hardened paste in the morning, and you will be amazed by the results.

Stove:

Wait for your stove to cool down. Apply the same paste on your stove, let it sit for 30 minutes and wipe with a clean cloth.

Counter 

Before using this method, you must make sure that your counter is not made of natural elements like stone or it is not made of some porous materials. Baking soda can damage these materials. If your counter is made from one of these materials, you must stick to specialised cleaning solutions.

However, if you can use baking soda, add 3 tablespoons of white vinegar to the previous mixture, apply, let it sit for 10 minutes and wipe with a wet cloth. The mix of baking soda and vinegar gets rid of all the germs and bacteria. 

Final words: 

Baking soda is one of these kitchen ingredients we very often neglect or even forget that we have. Mix it with water, apply on your stove or in your oven and soon you will be amazed by the end results.

© Fast Oven Cleaning

If you plan on cleaning your oven, you shouldn’t be too quick on grabbing that damp cloth and start wiping down on everything. The same goes for using the self-cleaning function of your oven if it has one. There are several things that you should know before you self-clean your oven. Here are 9 things that you should consider:

1. Knowing the right time to self-clean the oven

For those who don’t know, the self-cleaning functionality of an oven basically burns off any residue or spills during the cooking process with the use of extremely high heat. Homeowners should know that it is necessary to clean the oven manually when there are spills on the sides and at the bottom. Using the self-cleaning functionality will cause the spills to cake and make them harder to remove. The self-cleaning feature is best used when there are residue odour or soil buildup after cooking.

2. How often you self-clean depends on oven usage

It is not necessary to use the self-cleaning function after every cooking. If there isn’t any bad smells or soil buildup, using the self-cleaning functionality will only be a waste of energy and time. You should determine whether there is reasonable gunk. It is best to use hot, soapy water and wipe down the oven to give a nice, clean surface.

3. Knowing what type of self-cleaning your oven has

In general, there are two types of self-cleaning varieties - one variety uses heat while the other one uses steam. And some models have both options in one single unit. Either way, self-cleaning has its parameters and limitations. Read the user manual for more information. As a rule of thumb, always remove larger food debris before using the self-cleaning function.

4. Take out those oven racks first

Before you set your oven to self-clean, take out those oven racks.
Since self-cleaning deals with high temperatures, the oven racks could lose their sheen. Aside from that, they wouldn’t normally glide right in, like they used to. If the racks do become a little rough to slide in, use a little olive oil to let it glide easily.

5. Know more about high-temp self-cleaning

Older ovens that have self-cleaning functions use high temperatures to burn off food debris. The debris then turn to ash, which could be easily collected that the bottom of the oven. Temperatures could reach as high as 400-500°C, and the process takes anywhere from 2-4.5 hours. As a precaution, never leave anything on top of the range during a high-temp self-cleaning session.

6. Odours produced during self-cleaning can be dangerous

During the process of high-temperature self-cleaning, be sure to have the windows opened the whole time. The odours produced during the process can be harmful to animals and to people as well. Carbon monoxide is produced during the process, which could also pose a threat to humans. The traditional self-cleaning cycle will produce more dangerous fumes that ovens that use steam for self-cleaning.

7. Know more about steam self-cleaning

Unlike high-temperature self-cleaning, the process that uses steam is faster and produces no fumes. It is generally necessary to have a high frequency of self-cleaning if steam is being used. Also, after the self-cleaning process, the dirt accumulated at the cavity of the oven needs to be cleaned with a sponge.

8. Don’t use cleaners in a self-cleaning oven

If it’s labelled as a self-cleaning oven, there’s no use for cleansers at all. Not only will it interfere with the self-cleaning functionality, but it would also leave some nasty chemicals behind as well. Heavier food particles must be cleaned out before self-cleaning.

9. Don’t self-clean before a holiday or a dinner party

Despite being a function built into the oven itself, self-cleaning can be tough on some of the components of the oven. And sometimes, the oven may break down after using self-cleaning. So if you’re planning on having a big dinner party, don’t self-clean beforehand to avoid any inconveniences.

© Fast Oven Cleaning