Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Preparing the oven
• Part 2 of 3: Applying a cleaning agent
• Part 3 of 3: Removing the detergent
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Spills and splashes are fairly common during cooking and baking, but if you don't clean them right away, they can burn and stick to the bottom of your oven. Luckily, caked-on food from the bottom of your oven can be removed with a little time and hard work. You can easily get rid of the burnt residue with homemade remedies or store-bought cleaners.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Preparing the oven

1. Remove everything from the oven. Take out the oven racks so that you can easily reach the bottom. Also make sure to remove other items from the oven, such as an oven thermometer or pizza stone.
   • If the oven racks also have baked-on food residues, you can clean them with the same cleaning agents. Take out the oven grids, clean them, and put them back when you have finished cleaning the oven.
   • The oven racks can be easily cleaned by soaking them in warm water with washing-up liquid. After the oven grates have soaked for a few hours, use a scouring pad to remove any deposits that may be stuck. Then dry them with a clean tea towel.
2. Wipe away large pieces of food or fresh splashes. It is best to remove the easy-to-clean splashes before starting with the caked areas. Use an old rag or paper towel to clean up food that can be easily removed from the bottom of your oven.
3. Place newspaper or old towels on the floor in front of the oven. Some liquid detergent could always drip from the oven during cleaning. If you put something on the floor to catch these drips, you can protect the kitchen floor and make cleanup easier.
4. Run a self-cleaning cycle if the oven has one. This process ensures that the oven is heated to a high temperature and all food residues are crispy. This makes it easier to remove the dirt. Depending on the oven, a self-cleaning cycle can take between 1.5 and 3 hours.
   • If the bottom of the oven is completely covered with caked-on food, you may need to skip this step. Excessive amounts of burnt food layers can start to smoke a lot, activate the smoke detector and release chemicals.
   • Keep an eye on the oven as you run the self-cleaning cycle. If you start to see smoke, it is probably best to turn the cycle off and just clean everything by hand.
   • After the cycle is complete and the oven has cooled, remove the light-colored, charred ash from the oven bottom by wiping it with a damp cloth.

Part 2 of 3: Applying a cleaning agent

1. Make a paste of baking soda and water for an easy fix. Mix 260g baking soda and 30ml to 45ml water in a small bowl. Put on gloves and spread the paste over the burnt areas. Let it rest overnight to loosen the dirt.
   • As you spread the paste, make an extra effort to rub it into the very burnt areas. The mixture should start to turn brown.
   • Add vinegar to the cleaning paste to make it even more effective. Alternatively, you can spray the vinegar on the pasta just before scrubbing it off. The vinegar reacts with the baking soda and provides a deeper clean.
2. Cook lemons in the oven for a natural clean. Cut two lemons in half and squeeze the juice into a small ovenproof bowl or baking dish. Add the skins and enough water to fill the bowl or bowl or take some out so that it is 2/3 full. Place one of the grids in the center of the oven and place the bowl on it. Boil it at 120 ° C for 30 minutes. The fumes from the lemon juice will penetrate the burnt layers, making them easier to remove.
   • It is normal for the oven to smoke during this process. Provide ventilation by turning on the oven fan and opening a nearby window.
   • Let the oven cool and remove the grate before wiping away the dirt.
3. If you don't mind using harsh chemicals, use a store-bought cleaner. These cleaners will likely work better than any other method, so if your oven is very dirty you can try this option. However, these cleaners can be toxic, so you need to make sure they are completely removed before cooking food in your oven again. Spray the cleanser on the burned areas and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
   • Wear safety goggles and thick rubber gloves when using heavy-duty cleaning products to prevent the chemicals from splashing into your eyes or getting absorbed into your skin.
   • Check the directions on the package so you know exactly how to apply the cleaner and how long to soak it.
4. Avoid any type of detergent on the heating elements. Whether you use a natural or chemical cleaning product, do your best to keep the cleaner away from the heating elements. When you turn the oven back on, the heating elements can create fumes from burning the detergent, which can change the taste of food.
   • With electric ovens, lift the thick metal wire that forms the baking element and apply the cleaning agent underneath. If the oven is gas-powered, do not attempt to spray or apply detergent to the gas valve or igniter.
   • If you accidentally put a little cleaning solution on the heating element, wipe it off with a cloth dipped in clean water.

Part 3 of 3: Removing the detergent

1. Wipe off the detergent and dirt with a damp cloth. Rinse and wring the cloth several times during this process. Make sure to get the cleaner out of every nook and cranny. If you have used a commercial cleaning product, read the label and follow the disposal instructions.
   • If you used baking soda paste, put a little white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it on the paste before wiping it away. The baking soda and vinegar mixture will foam up, making it more visible.
   • Once you've cleaned the oven with the lemons, you can use some of the remaining lemon water to scrub out the burnt areas.
   • A plastic spatula can come in handy for scraping away the burnt food.
2. Use a scouring pad to scrub off any stuck-on bits. Slightly dampen the scouring pad and scrub on the remaining stubborn dirt. A microfiber sponge or a piece of steel wool can also work well.
3. Give your oven a final wash with a wet cloth and let it dry. Get a clean cloth and wipe the bottom of the oven one more time to make sure all dirt, food scraps, and detergent have been rinsed off. Let the oven air dry or dry it with a clean towel.
   • If you've used a powerful cleaner, it might be a good idea to rewash the bottom of the oven with some dish soap to make sure no toxic chemicals are left behind.
   • If you notice any remaining bits of dirt, spray it with vinegar and wipe it off with the wet cloth. The vinegar will help remove the stubborn stains.
4. Clean around the oven and replace the grids. Be sure to also wipe the sides and oven door if any cleaning solution gets on it. Remove the newspaper or towels from the floor and wipe away any bits of debris that have leaked from the oven.
   • If you also need to clean the oven racks, thermometer, or other items you removed before cleaning the oven, do so before putting them back in the oven.

Tips

• You can clean the glass in the oven door with the same baking soda and water paste that you used to clean the rest of the oven. Let the paste sit for 20 minutes and then wipe it off with a clean sponge. Finally, polish the glass with a clean towel.
• If you use the oven fairly regularly, you should clean it about every three months. If you don't use it very often, cleaning it once or twice a year will probably suffice.
• Cleaning the oven will make the food you bake in it taste better! Burnt food scraps can produce foul smelling smoke that can alter the taste of the dishes.
• Help prevent burned areas from building up by cleaning up spills immediately, but be careful not to burn yourself.

Warnings

• It is possible to use bleach to clean the oven, although it probably isn't such a good idea. It can damage your lungs and skin and may not work as well to remove fat from the oven.

Necessities

• Cloths or paper towels
• Newspaper or old towels
• Gloves
• Safety glasses
• Scourer or steel wool
• Microfiber cloth
• Spray bottle
• Plastic spatula
• Small bowl
• Ovenproof bowl or dish
• Baking soda and water
• Lemons and water
• Oven cleaner
• Vinegar
• Dishwashing liquid