Nothing spoils a delicious meal quite like the anticipation of having to clean the oven afterwards. While it is tempting to shut the door on all the baked on gunk, oil splatters and odours until next time, cleaning guru Shannon Lush says the task need only take five minutes. But if you’re scratching your head and asking yourself ‘How can I clean an oven in just five minutes?’ we’ve got you covered.
Unfortunately, there’s no silver bullet to cleaning an oven that’s been neglected for some time. The key is to prevent food and grime from building up in the first place by giving the appliance a once-over every time you use it. Yes, every time. Here we walk you through the steps of deep cleaning an oven and share Shannon Lush’s secret to a speedy five-minute daily oven clean that will keep the appliance sparkling like new.
How to thoroughly clean an oven
It’s time to fess up. Is your oven in a questionable state? Open the oven door and if all you can see is the cremated remains of countless dinners past, it’s time to embark on a deep oven clean. Despite what you might think, it is possible to clean an oven without resorting to harsh chemicals.
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Water
- Non-scratch scour sponge or dish brush
- Rubber gloves
- Dishwashing liquid or dishwashing tablet (optional)
- Microfibre cloth
Method
- Put on rubber gloves and mix one part bi-carb soda with one part water to form a paste. Remove the oven racks. Coat the inside of the oven with the paste, avoiding the door, heating element and light bulb. Allow the paste to sit overnight.
- Fill a sink or bathtub with hot water and a touch of dishwashing liquid. Submerge the oven racks in the water for at least 2 hours. Scrub well, rinse and allow to dry. If you find that the baked on grime just won’t budge, repeat this step or consider dissolving a dishwashing tablet in the hot water and allowing the racks to soak again before scrubbing, rinsing and allowing to dry.
For oven racks that are seriously grimy, powerful oven cleansers like Oven Power can bring even the dirtiest oven racks back to their sparkling former selves. And while they really do work, it’s important to note that the chemicals can cause serious skin and respiratory irritation – so always read and follow the safety instructions before using them. Do not use Oven Power on aluminium, cast iron or copper surfaces.
How to make dirty oven racks look like new
(Photography: Natalie Hunfalvay | Styling: Lisa Burden)
- Once the bi-carb soda has been left to dissolve grease overnight, give the oven a thorough scrub with a non-scratch scour sponge or dish brush. If there is still some baked on grime after wiping the oven, spray all surfaces with undiluted white vinegar and allow to sit for a few minutes before wiping clean with a damp cloth.
- Now it’s time to shine up the glass. Mix one part bi carb soda to one part water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the interior of the oven glass. Allow to sit for 30 minutes. Use a soft, damp cloth to gently buff away the grease and paste. Follow up by spraying the glass with vinegar and wiping clean with a damp cloth. (Some ovens have doors that can be pulled apart to clean between the glass surfaces. Refer to your oven’s instruction manual on how to do this safely.)
- All that’s left to do is to wipe down the oven’s exterior. Apply a touch of dishwashing liquid to a damp microfibre cloth and wipe down the knobs, exterior glass and door handle. Replace clean oven racks and you’re done!
- Now that your oven is sparkling like new again, it’s time to keep it that way! Here are Shannon Lush’s tips for cleaning your oven in just five minutes.
What you’ll need
- Bi-carb soda
- White vinegar
- Pantyhose
Method
“Make sure the oven and stove are cold, take out all your racks and shelves, then sprinkle bicarb soda across the oven,” she said.
“Next, sprinkle with white vinegar. As soon as the bicarb soda fizzes, rub it with a rolled up pair of pantyhose. It cuts through the muck so fast.
“All you have to do is wipe it with a damp sponge afterwards. Just pop a mirror in the bottom of the oven so you can see the oven ceiling without having to stick your head upside down.”
When it comes to a good cleaning cloth, Lush is a big advocate of using pantyhose. She says pantyhose works just as well as a microfibre cloth and is a fraction of the cost.
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