The best natural oven cleaning solutions
Cleaning an oven can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to removing stubborn stains and grime. However, with our natural DIY oven cleaner solutions, you can tackle the job without the need for harsh chemicals.
Remember, there are no hard and fast rules with this, but with this basic formula you can never go wrong.
The formula for Degreasing
When it comes to tackling stubborn grease and baked-on food stains in your oven, ordinary Bicarb Soda simply won't suffice. For this formidable task, you need the heavyweight champions of degreasing:
1. Sodium Percarbonate: A natural oxybleach commonly found in heavy-duty cleaning products.
2. Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate): A potent natural alkali renowned for its grease-cutting abilities.
3. Soap: A surfactant derived from oils, which binds to oil and grease for effortless removal.
By combining these powerhouse ingredients into a mixture, paste, or spray, you'll create a natural degreasing solution that extends far beyond oven cleaning.
Important Note: Never add an acid, such as vinegar or citric acid, to this mix. It's an alkaline (base) solution, and adding acid will diminish its cleaning efficacy, potentially resulting in a fizzy mess akin to a bath bomb.
How to make an oven cleaning paste
It's simply a matter of gently diluting your powder ingredients with warm/hot water until you have a paste at the consistency you desire.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/4 cup of Percarbonate
- 1/4 cup of Washing Soda
- 2 tablespoons of Coconut Soap Flakes
TOOLS
- Bowl
- Spoon
- Measuring Cup
MAKES
Around 200g of paste, generally enough for an enough clean.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add all the powder ingredients into a bowl taking care not the breathe in any raised dust
- Add warm/hot water 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing the ingredients until you get a paste like consistency.
If you've accidentally added too much water and diluted the ingredients, fear not! You can repurpose the mixture as a spray—it'll still get the job done! Alternatively, you can simply incorporate more powdered ingredients to restore its potency.
Feel free to experiment in small increments; before you know it, you'll develop an intuitive sense for the perfect balance.
Want a cleaning paste on standby?
There is an old but great recipe for cleaning paste, it's like making your own gumption! It is sometimes called a Laundry Butter Cleaning Paste as it looks like whipped butter.
You can make and store this paste in bulk, and when needed you can add a touch of percarbonate and hot water to superpower it.
Check out that recipe here: Cleaning Paste Recipe
The dishwasher tablet hack?
A cheaper and better solution is to make your own tablets and you can make them to any size you like, check out the Scrub Tablet Recipe.
What about the oven racks or trays?
For cleaning oven racks or trays, here's a pro tip: Opt for a spacious, heat-proof container, a large sink, or even your bathtub—yes, you read that right!
Start by placing all your racks and trays into the chosen vessel, then pour in the hottest water available. Next, add 1-2 tablespoons of sodium percarbonate for every 5 liters of water. Watch in amazement as the solution begins to bubble up, effortlessly lifting grease and grime right before your eyes!
A quick heads-up: If you've used your bathtub, you might notice a residual ring of grease. Not to worry! Simply add some more percarbonate and hot water, give it a good scrub, and watch that ring disappear like magic.
One last tip
For best results with an oven clean, preheat your oven on low for 5-10 minutes before cleaning to loosen the grease, but make sure it's off when you apply the cleaning products.
