I just made a rare attempt at cleaning my oven. It is clean-er, but not as clean as I would have liked for all the effort it takes.

How often, and with what do you you clean your ovens? Do you use the spray on nasty chemicals from the stupidmarket, or do you have some ecologically friendly but effective alternative? Does it really get the oven clean, or only 75% clean?

bluegreen said:

I just made a rare attempt at cleaning my oven. It is clean-er, but not as clean as I would have liked for all the effort it takes.

How often, and with what do you you clean your ovens? Do you use the spray on nasty chemicals from the stupidmarket, or do you have some ecologically friendly but effective alternative? Does it really get the oven clean, or only 75% clean?

My method of oven cleaning is the same as my mum’s – move house :)

Hang on though, I’ll check my green cleaning books..

OK, this is from Barbara Lord’s Green Cleaner – can’t vouch for it personally.

You will need:
1 cup water
Half a cup cloudy ammonia

Mix water and ammonia in an oven proof dish or bowl. Place the dish in warm oven 10-15 minutes or longer if the oven is really dirty. It can be left overnight and cleaned the following day. Wipe off burnt on grime with scourer and bicarb soda.Wipe over with a clean damp cloth. Repeat if badly stained.

After the cloudy ammonia treatment, shelves and glass will also come clean with a scourer and bicarb soda.

I use an old baking dish that has outlived its cooking days. Keep it in the laundry cupboard with cleaning equipment so it isn’t used for cooking.

If you suffer from asthma, wear a surgical mask when cleaning with ammonia as the fumes may be damaging to people with nose, throat or chest problems.

The outside of the oven and around the hotplates only needs bicarb soda on a damp cloth, even where cooking spills have hardened. Burnt on grime may need to have a paste of bicarb soda left on it for a while.

Line the bottom of the oven with easily replaced aluminium foil so it catches the spills, or leave an old tray in the bottom of the oven for the same purpose.

Organic Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck has a big section on oven cleaning.. more than I can type out I’m afraid!

bon008 said:

OK, this is from Barbara Lord’s Green Cleaner – can’t vouch for it personally.

You will need:
1 cup water
Half a cup cloudy ammonia

Mix water and ammonia in an oven proof dish or bowl. Place the dish in warm oven 10-15 minutes or longer if the oven is really dirty. It can be left overnight and cleaned the following day. Wipe off burnt on grime with scourer and bicarb soda.Wipe over with a clean damp cloth. Repeat if badly stained.

After the cloudy ammonia treatment, shelves and glass will also come clean with a scourer and bicarb soda.

I use an old baking dish that has outlived its cooking days. Keep it in the laundry cupboard with cleaning equipment so it isn’t used for cooking.

If you suffer from asthma, wear a surgical mask when cleaning with ammonia as the fumes may be damaging to people with nose, throat or chest problems.

The outside of the oven and around the hotplates only needs bicarb soda on a damp cloth, even where cooking spills have hardened. Burnt on grime may need to have a paste of bicarb soda left on it for a while.

Line the bottom of the oven with easily replaced aluminium foil so it catches the spills, or leave an old tray in the bottom of the oven for the same purpose.

that’s what I have. Although I didn’t give it the “badly stained” treatment which it probably needed. Didn’t really get it as clean as I hoped.

bluegreen said:

Didn’t really get it as clean as I hoped.

My solution would be to lower my standards :D

Although I’m not sure they could get all that much lower – there’s still mouse poop on the floor of my oven..

bon008 said:

bluegreen said:

Didn’t really get it as clean as I hoped.

My solution would be to lower my standards :D

Although I’m not sure they could get all that much lower – there’s still mouse poop on the floor of my oven..

Previously I couldn’t be bothered, but now I am not working I am feeling more up to it. The result needs to reflect the amount of effort though. If I can’t get a better result, I will probably go back to not bothering!!

bluegreen said:

The result needs to reflect the amount of effort though.

That’s a really neat way of expressing it.

That’s what i like to see.
I go away for a while and when i get back the sheilas are talkin about cleaning the oven.
Perfect.

Longy said:

That’s what i like to see.
I go away for a while and when i get back the sheilas are talkin about cleaning the oven.
Perfect.

lol! g’day Longy :)

I have to confess that I’ve never cleaned my oven. :(

I bought some cleaner ages ago that’s supposed to be good, it’s a paint on one, but I’ve never steeled myself to actually use it. From experience with previous ovens you really need the nasty caustic stuff, if you want the results.

soda bicarb

you may need to use several times to get a really good clean, but it lifts the baked-on fat like no other.

Use in a barely-warm oven…

Once a month. However I don’t bother with the top of my oven, except maybe once a year or if I’m totally PO’d about something…

Longy said:

That’s what i like to see.
I go away for a while and when i get back the sheilas are talkin about cleaning the oven.
Perfect.

Well……………..we considered moving house while you were away but thought you might miss us so we’re still here at least. LOL.

Dinetta said:

soda bicarb

you may need to use several times to get a really good clean, but it lifts the baked-on fat like no other.

Use in a barely-warm oven…

I buy a can of stuff. I’m over the elbow grease thing. Whatever is easy for me.

Yes, but the caustic products (and, I suspect, others) give me sinusitus when I use them…the soda bicarb doesn’t require elbow grease if you get the oven temp just right (not too hot). You can use the oven between cleanings if you wish, as the soda bicarb will not affect your baked goods…

Also, I find that leaving a smear on the oven cavity, leads to easier cleaning later. This includes the racks.

The soda bicarb will work for you , layer by layer of all but the most hardened of grease, if you just persevere,,,what I always plan to do but always forget, is to rub a moistened cloth of soda bicarb around the oven after it’s cooled enough from each roast…in the drama of getting the meal on the table, I always forget… :P

Dinetta said:

Also, I find that leaving a smear on the oven cavity, leads to easier cleaning later. This includes the racks.

Someone told me that soaking the racks in Napisan overnight works brilliantly but I’m yet to test it out.

bubba louie said:

Dinetta said:

Also, I find that leaving a smear on the oven cavity, leads to easier cleaning later. This includes the racks.

Someone told me that soaking the racks in Napisan overnight works brilliantly but I’m yet to test it out.

Yes this is what I do.. put an old towel in the bath, put racks and trays in , napisan and hot water overnight.
Any bits left are easily removed.

I tried that but would not describe the result as wildly successful…sorry, Happy…

Dinetta said:

I tried that but would not describe the result as wildly successful…sorry, Happy…

Hotter the water the better. And heat the oven before taking the racks to the bath. Successive treatment is keeping my oven in showroom condition.
But this didn’t work on my engaged daughters oven , in the house they bought. It’s too baked on and never cleaned so it’s going to need the tuff stuff. The paint on gel.

Happy Potter said:

Dinetta said:

I tried that but would not describe the result as wildly successful…sorry, Happy…

Hotter the water the better. And heat the oven before taking the racks to the bath.

Oh, OK, heat the racks first… might try again when I’ve got a few more hands to help…

and what do you do for the oven walls, HP?

bluegreen said:

and what do you do for the oven walls, HP?

They’re self clean in my oven. I don’t like that and would prefer to clean them myself but it came with the cooker.
It need a high temp to clean so thats what happens when scones go in.
All this oven talk has prompted me to clean my cooker top. It was filthy . It’s all in pieces now. Range hood filters too.

I used to clean mine every school holiday. Both of us were working and it was a great way to remind me.

Now if the elf is going well………………. I clean it with Selleys oven cleaner.

You’ve all got me started now. i wiped out the bottom and it wasn’t too bad after all. The grotty bit is the inside of the glass in the door, so I’ve got it covered in the non caustic one to start with. If that isn’t enough I’ll go for the full strength.

bubba louie said:

You’ve all got me started now. i wiped out the bottom and it wasn’t too bad after all. The grotty bit is the inside of the glass in the door, so I’ve got it covered in the non caustic one to start with. If that isn’t enough I’ll go for the full strength.

sorry! made everyone feel guilty now! Haven’t been able to see through my glass for, ummm, not saying!

bluegreen said:

bubba louie said:

You’ve all got me started now. i wiped out the bottom and it wasn’t too bad after all. The grotty bit is the inside of the glass in the door, so I’ve got it covered in the non caustic one to start with. If that isn’t enough I’ll go for the full strength.

sorry! made everyone feel guilty now! Haven’t been able to see through my glass for, ummm, not saying!

Mine has 2 chooks in it cooking now.:)

I do my chooks in the cook-in bags…I do have a rotisserie in the oven but it’s stuffed…shonky salesman…the only roast I don’t do in the cook-in bags is pork…