Just the other day I was wondering how to clean my oven easily? I went to the manufacturers website but found nothing that helped. So I decided to write about how to clean with a simple and easy process. It is a mundane activity but necessary for anyone who owns and uses an oven.
Whether my appliance is very clean, moderately clean, or heavily soiled I found this particular method helps me cut through any type of cleaning session.
Without a doubt the first thing to do is consult your oven’s manual. If that is long gone, there are plenty of online resources out there that can assist with providing digital versions of the manual.
All you need is the brand name and serial number. Consulting the manual will provide how to safely operate a specific model range.
If you got brand name and serial number already I’d recommend heading over to manualslib a website that hosts an extensive library of manuals. More specifically they have manuals on ovens.
Consulting the manual.
It can be useful sometimes.
For safety reasons reviewing the manual is a priority. Each manual will vary with it’s exact table of contents.
The manual for my oven has one small section describing how to use the self-cleaning option properly.
The self-cleaning option burns away all the burned carbon stains and particles inside on the oven walls.
I was surprised that there is no use and care section going beyond the self-cleaning section for everyday owners. Not everyone is a certified expert technician also one is not always needed.
The self-cleaning is convenient and works like a charm when used frequently.
Problem is it can create a lot of smoke and odor when tackling heavy-duty jobs. Self-cleaning can trigger smoke alarms.
Not to worry I know of a cleaning method that will help clean any type of mess in an oven without smoke, harsh chemicals, and odors with the exception of vinegar.
Why Pick This Method?
It is one of the simplest methods used to clean ovens.
Clean with a pumice scouring stick and vinegar or water.
Sounds too simple like it would never work right? This method is by far the simplest and easiest to clean an oven naturally.
All that is needed is a pumice scouring stick, either vinegar or water, and a kitchen rag.
Instead of using store bought chemicals you use the power of abrasion to clean.
The vinegar or water help to keep the abrasion from damaging the finish of your oven. As the product description states it is important to keep the stick wet so it does not scratch.
Bacterial development should not be of a concern since your oven will operate in high temperatures killing them off.
Aside from that food is never going to be touching the interior walls of your oven.
Yet the inside of an oven should remain as clean as possible to prevent fires.
Steps on how to.
Easy and gets the job done.
Pumice Scouring Stick and Vinegar or Water:
- Wet any burned carbon with vinegar or water or wet the scouring stick itself.
- Once wet scrub away using the scouring stick. Be sure to be mindful of the finish material, don’t scrub too hard or you could damage it.
- Wet the kitchen rag with the liquid of your choice.
- Wipe away whatever is left of the burned carbon.
- If there is still some burned residue left repeat the process until it’s all gone.
When I first tried this method I thought it would damage the finish. Keeping things damp prevented this from happening.
I was shocked such a simple method actually worked.
This cleaning method saves me time, limits my exposure to harsh chemicals, and is rather cost effective.
For the amount of effort I put in it was certainly worthwhile trying out. Scouring sticks are now part of my must haves for cleaning in the kitchen.
This method can also be used for microwave ovens as well.
Get into the habit of cleaning.
Do not wait to clean until your oven is heavily soiled.
If the oven is littered with burned carbon then cleaning out the oven may take longer and cost some sore hands later.
This is why creating a schedule is important when conducting maintenance on an oven. The less buildup there is the less time you have to spend cleaning.
If you hate cleaning believe it or not the more frequently you do it the less time you spend on it.
Sometimes manuals provide a use and care section sometimes they do not.
In my case I wanted a simple way to clean the oven without using the self-cleaning option.
My manual only mentions cleaning the oven with the self-cleaning option. It also describes how to troubleshoot and maintain other parts like under the hood.
I am not trying to badmouth manuals from manufacturers.
Fact is there is no mention or recommendation on what method to use for everyday use and care. At least until now that is.
Preventing Fire Hazards.
Do not play with fire.
Bottomline preventing fire hazards is the utmost importance. Regardless of your cleaning habits everyone is obligated to minimizing the presence of fire hazards.
Being low maintenance with an oven will at the very least involve cleaning an oven before it becomes a fire hazard.
If an oven has a self-cleaning option it usually is safe to use. Most ovens have preventive fire measures in place.
The finish for example is able to retain much more insulation than an oven without a self-cleaning option.
The extra insulation keeps the high temperatures inside of the oven making it more energy efficient and better at isolating the very high temperatures it reaches during the process.
Oven doors are sealed and locked until temperatures reach safe levels. This is done to prevent injury from burns and minimize the possibility of fires.
Using a scouring stick is an easy and simple way to clean up an oven. It helps get rid of potential fire hazards at the core and keeps your oven looking clean.
Found this method useful? Leave a comment below on how it helped. If you have any other relevant comments or questions feel free to drop them below.
Great Article, vinegar indeed can do wonders in everything that it touches. Personally i’m a stove fan, not fire stoves, especially with young kids running around. Cleaning must be considered an habit, not an exercise or somethign that we ” Must” do, anyway, thanks for the cleaning advice, surely will try it at home.
Glad to help out! Vinegar sure can work wonders around the house. Using the pumice stick and vinegar is especially effective at cleaning off burned carbon. Make sure to wet any burned carbon before applying pressure with the pumice stick or it could damage the specialized paint.
Wow this tip is so simple but seems really effective! Definitely going to start using this method to start cleaning my microwaves and oven as well. I always put off cleaning the oven because it always seem like a hassle and I get lazy, but this will definitely make it a lot easier. Thank you!
No problem just make sure the pumice stick is wet using water or vinegar to avoid scratching the painted finish.
Hello, thanks for this wonderful article. I and my family are pizza lovers so we purchased the Ooni pro oven which is very spacious and versatile. It’s a multi-fueled pizza oven so you have the option of using it as a wood-fueled, gas-fueled or even a coal-fueled pizza oven. But cleaning it thoroughly has been a major challenge for us. With this article I think we will no longer encounter any challenge in cleaning our beautiful oven. Thanks for sharing this.
Ooni Pro Ovens are very nice. Cleaning them was not supposed to include elbow grease. This is not to be considered a solution but instead as aid in helping to clean the burned carbon buildup. The best solution is to follow the official Ooni Essential Guide.
For Ooni Pro Ovens I would use extreme caution to avoid scratching the brushed stainless with ceramic fiber insulation.