An oven is something you use day in and day out, and while it allows you to put hot, tasty meals on the table, it does mean grease and grime builds up pretty quickly. There are some easy ways to avoid mess from spillages by using oven liners and baking trays, but unfortunatly there’s not much you can do to prevent that sticky brown layer of grease forming across your oven and the door. Fats and oils from food evaporate as it’s exposed to heat and these then condense when it cools back down, leaving a layer of greasy residue on the glass door. And if you don’t clean your oven after you’ve used it, more grease will build up each time you cook which can become difficult to remove.
But there is a natural remedy that will rid your your oven door of that nasty layer of grime and you won’t have to use too much elbow grease to get it off, which is good news if you haven’t cleaned your oven in a while. According to cleaning experts, all you need is a fresh lemon to get your oven looking sparkling and clean again, and it’ll leave it smelling lovely and fresh in as little as five minutes.
The citric acid in lemon juice helps to dissolve and cut through grease easily, and as it doesn’t leave any unsightly streaks or residue, it is ideal for cleaning glass. It also has the added bonus of being chemical-free, and it leaves a sweet, fresh scent, avoiding the need for any artificial fragrances.
Oven Detailing says: “If your oven door glass is covered in smudges, grease, and fingerprints, you don’t need expensive chemical cleaners to fix it. Lemon juice is a natural, non-toxic cleaner that cuts through grease and leaves your oven door streak-free and smelling fresh.”
To clean your oven door, cut a lemon in half and rub it over the glass. Leave it to sit for about five minutes before wiping it down with a warm, damp cloth. If you don’t have any fresh lemons, using around three tablespoons of lemon juice should work just as well.
If there’s any dirt that hasn’t come off, you can try steam cleaning your oven with lemon to tackle particularly stubborn layers of grease.
Oven Clean explains: “If you’re looking to get rid of some tough grease and dirt on the inside of your oven, try a little steam cleaning.
“Fill an oven-proof bowl with water. Take one or two lemons (limes would also work), cut them in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl. Place the bowl in the oven. Close the door of your oven, and turn your oven on.
“Keep an eye on the water, and as soon as you see it start to boil, turn the oven off, allowing it to cool down with the door closed, while the steam circulates.
“This great little trick will help with dislodging some of the grime and grease, giving you a head start to a quick and easier oven clean.”