The oven is one of the most well used pieces of equipment we have in our homes, so it’s prone to dangerous build ups of dirt and grime. In this article, Mike Hardman from kitchen and catering industry suppliers Alliance Online shares his tips for looking after your oven.

Not only is a dirty oven unhygienic, but it can be dangerous too. 60% of home fires start in the kitchen (London Fire Brigade) and all the easily flammable grease, grime, and burnt on food that build up in our ovens can increase the risk of a fire breaking out. That’s why it’s important to keep on top of cleaning your oven.

Oven cleaning isn’t anyone’s favourite job, though. It’s messy, takes a long time, and often feels like a workout — but it doesn’t have to be that way! With the right maintenance, you’ll soon find that cleaning your oven doesn’t need to feel like such a chore. 

Below, I’ll be sharing my oven maintenance tips with you to help keep your cooker sparkling and safe to use.

Prevent build ups of dirt 

Prevention is often better than cure when it comes to grubby ovens, so stop food from collecting in yours by using oven trays and liners as much as possible. They’re much easier to take out and wash after each use and can be used to catch oils and dripping sauces before they coat the bottom your oven and burn onto it, potentially leading to kitchen fires. You can also reduce the number of spillages in your oven by using large dishes, as they’re less likely to overfill and make a mess. 

Wipe down your oven regularly

If a spill does occur, mop it up as soon as your oven is cool enough to do so. If you don’t, it will become burnt, tough, and difficult to remove the next time you go to clean your oven, meaning you’ll end up scrubbing for longer. Give your future self a break and do lots of small, regular cleans and wipe downs with a damp cloth soaked in soapy water. Then, when you come to give your oven a deep clean, you’ll have less burnt-on food to deal with.

Deep clean your oven every 3-6 months

Of course, even with regular washes you should still give your oven a good scrub every few months. It’s hygienic, but also gets rid of all the accumulated grime you missed during your wipe downs that could catch alight and pose a fire risk, so it’s safer too. Use a dustpan and brush to get rid of any loose lumps, then cover your whole oven in cleaner including the door. Leave it to sit for as long as your cleaning product suggests — this could be 30 minutes to overnight. Then, scrub the burnt food and grime away and rinse. 

Choose the right cleaning products

There are a lot of products out there specifically formulated for oven cleaning. You need to look for a degreaser as well as a disinfectant to make sure all grime and bacteria is removed; some brands sell these as a two-in-one product. Foaming cleaners can be really useful for getting into hard-to-reach areas as you can just spray and let the bubbles do the rest. They’re also great for lifting burnt on food. Remember to always check your oven’s manual before you use scourers or metal wool, as some ovens have a special coating that can be damaged by abrasive cleaning tools.

Don’t forget to clean your oven racks

Between regularly washing your baking trays and deep cleaning your oven at least twice a year, it can be easy to forget about your oven racks. But they can also carry bacteria and potentially flammable build-ups, so you need to keep on top of cleaning them as well. The easiest way to do so is to leave them to soak in a cleaner and hot water solution, either in the sink or a plastic bag, while you get on with cleaning the rest of your oven. Then, you can easily give them a quick wipe and a rinse down to remove any loosened dirt and soap suds before popping them back in your clean cooker. 

There you have it! By following our maintenance tips, you can help make cleaning your oven less of a chore. You’ll also be reducing the risk of a fire breaking out and keeping bacteria at bay, which is good news too.  

DISCLAIMER: The advice contained herein is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.  Cleanhome makes no representations or warranties in relation to any advice in this article or the information and materials contained or referred to within it.  Any application of advice, guidance or materials referred to herein is done so at the users own risk. Always check the label and follow manufacturers recommendations. Test a small area first. Wear protective clothing when handling caustic substances.