cleaning the oven

Olliebeak

chickien wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Just wondering what you use to clean the baking trays and wire racks in your ovens? I tried to give them a good scrub, but they are quite black and nothing seems to be moving the stains. I have tried the oven pride cleaning kit which worked well, but I needed two kits and was hoping there maybe an alternative (cheaper) way?

Also, I've been lining the bottom of my oven with tin foil to stop all the bits sticking to the bottom, but I've noticed that on the Tesco value foil it says not to use it in ovens. Do they just mean when your using it on food? Will it be okay on the bottom of the oven, or will it be releasing fumes?

Thanks for your help!:beer:

For baking trays and oven shelves, I resort to Kim and Aggie's method.

Dissolve some biological soap powder in hot water in your bath. Place a couple of teatowels in the bottom of the bath to protect the surface. Then place the oven shelves and baking trays (NOT non-stick ones) in the hot water and leave them there for as long as needed, preferably overnight. Most of the burnt-on stuff will just come off and the remainder should come off with a little rubbing with a 'soap-filled wire wool pad'. Only problem is, that you now have to clean your bath afterwards, but you'll have lovely shiney oven shelves :T.

Lots of cleaning tips on this site.

JillS_2

Here's my solution to the oven cleaning problem.

Time needed: 2 minutes every 1-2 years (or less)
Cost: £0.00

The solution? I have not cleaned an oven for over 40 years. I scrape loose bits out of the bottom every year or so and that's it. (I still clean the hob and grill pan)

My current oven which I've had for about 5 years hasn't even been scraped out (because I hate it and it doesn't deserve any attention).

Problems - none. I haven't had any infestations of creepy crawlies, I occasionally get a burnt smell but it soon goes (and I can't remember the last time that happened - when my kids were still at home there was the occasional burnt jam smell). It's not seen by others because the door closes on it (I do clean the outside). I think it must eventually burn away because although the floor of the oven is messy it doesn't look like 5 years of mess and as for the shelves obviously they're not bright shiny chrome but they just look dull with the occasional burnt on patch - again, not like 5 years of spillage.

I know this solution won't suit most or quite possibly anyone but me. But when I think of the time and money I've saved over the years I'm completely happy with it.

otterspasm

Hi all,
I am embarrassed to say that my oven is a terrible burnt-on mess

I have resolved to clean it but would prefer to avoid nasty chemicals if possible.

Can anyone suggest anything I might be able to clean it with?

All suggestions gratefully received
Thanks
Tess

jackieglasgow

I took a bit of a mad turn the other night and scrubbed my oven out with a green scourer a cloth and astonish. Lots of OSers use Stardrops on their ovens, but I had none left. The astonish did a fantastic job, not too much elbow grease, and the oven in like new. I'm ashamed to say I'd left it a bit too long.

Slinky_Malinky

My oven was long overdue for a good clean - had some stuff inside that could pass for Marmite

I tried some Oven Mate but the best results of all I got from using my steam cleaner and some old cloths to wipe off the dirt. Took loads of elbow grease but the oven came up almost like new and no nasty chemicals making me wheeze.

Small tip - my oven would have been much easier to clean if I could have took off the door. Unfortunately I did not know how and was afraid to try in case I broke it but you may have more luck than me.

beemuzed

Gosh this makes me feel guilty. My oven is also revolting. We need a new kitchen and I was quietly wondering whether to wait and just get new oven! What a dreadful admission. Dread to think what my dear Mum would have said! perhaps I'll try the astonish stuff? It was the "not too much elbow grease" phrase which appealed.

*SmallFry*

Use a ceramic hob scraper on the bottom of your oven.

otterspasm

Gosh this makes me feel guilty. My oven is also revolting. We need a new kitchen and I was quietly wondering whether to wait and just get new oven! What a dreadful admission. Dread to think what my dear Mum would have said! perhaps I'll try the astonish stuff? It was the "not too much elbow grease" phrase which appealed.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

That given me a good laugh...because I have thought the same about mine:eek:!!!

Thanks for all of your replies. I will try steam and stardrops (I don't have any astonish) and a scraper! If that doesn't do it I really have left it far too long:o

Ta ever so everyone....might take before and after pics for a laugh....

EssexGirl

I take the shelves out and soak them for a few hours in the bath with a couple of scoops of cheap biological washing powder. The water has to be hot to get the enzymes working. Then getting the smeg off them is much musch easier. I use Stardrops and a few scouring pads. I must look a right sight when I'm lying on my back on the floor scrubbing the roof of my oven :rotfl:

When the time comes to replace the cooker, I'm never having a fan oven again. I really hate the mess it makes.


Oh and if all else fails, get a cooker cleaning service in to take the whole lot apart, then promise yourself that you will KEEP it clean forever more. I did that a year ago. It was the best £50 I had spent in a long time. How sad am I? lol

carriebradshaw

astonish paste is really good and doesn't have a harsh smell or anything. A tub goes a really long way too so it's very economical