Detox your oven: Money-saving DIY cleaning paste that wipes away even the stubbornest stains
One crucial aspect of oven maintenance is to wash the interior walls thoroughly after each use. Failure to do so lets the dirt build up to a point where it becomes almost impossible to remove. If you, like me, have neglected this essential task and are now facing an oven-cleaning crisis, here's a recipe for a truly effective cleaning compound you can whip up at home.
Maintaining an oven to keep it looking like new
First and foremost, never procrastinate when it comes to cleaning your oven. Grease and food residue solidify each time you use your stove. Over time, this residue burns, leaving behind unsightly scorches detrimental to the food you're cooking. The heating process forces the dirt to emit toxic fumes, which can permeate and taint your food.
To minimize mess, it's advised to shield your dishes with baking paper, a roasting bag, or a conventional cover when cooking. This precaution keeps the oven walls clean of food debris, reducing the cleaning chore subsequently. Once your oven has cooled down, a quick wipe-down using a damp cloth lightly coated with dish soap suffices. This modest ritual spares you the monotonous toil of scrubbing later. If your oven is already heavily stained with charred food remnants, don't worry. The homemade cleaning mixture below should restore it to a pristine condition.
DIY oven-cleaning paste recipe
Who says you need costly store-bought cleaners when the most effective oven-degreasing agent is right there in your pantry? The humble baking soda has a remarkable property of loosening grime, making it easier to wipe off without vigorous scrubbing. But simply sprinkling baking soda on your oven's grubby surfaces won't suffice. You need to exploit its full potential by combining it with a few more ingredients.
So, how do you go about this DIY oven-cleaning method? It's fairly straightforward. Start by removing all detachable items from your oven, like racks or baking trays. Gather the required ingredients in a bowl: half a cup of baking soda, a tablespoon of dish soap, and a few teaspoons of water. Mix them into a thick paste and apply it to the burnt-on spots. Let the paste sit for about 30 minutes, then lightly mist it with water and wait for another 15 minutes. Use a kitchen sponge to gently rub the treated areas, and voilà, not a single trace of the scorch marks will be left behind! The stains dissolve due to the paste's magic, leaving your oven sparking clean and ready for your next cooking endeavor.
