Savvy oven cleaners ditch vinegar and baking soda for 'natural' degreaser

09 March 2024 , 16:00

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The pro recommends using one particular cleaning product on ovens (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It's become increasingly common to use vinegar to remove grease from ovens and other appliances, but there's one other ingredient you should consider.

Getting your oven to gleam can often feel like an impossible task, and you may up end spending hours trying to remove dirt to no avail. Lots of cleaning fans use baking soda and vinegar to help get rid of tough stains when washing up liquid fails to do the job. Although these ingredients provide a natural and effective solution for cleaning your oven, they can't break down fat or grease.

One cleaning expert advises people to use soda crystals instead, which works as a "natural degreaser." If you want the best results, the pro urges people to repeat the method three times throughout the year.

Jules Gordon, a cleaning expert and founder of the housekeeping service Eco Cleaning Fairies, told The Express: "Soda crystals are the best natural degreaser…it's quite hard work cleaning an oven, especially if it hasn't been maintained. We recommend that you do it three times a year so it’s a lot easier to keep on top of."

For this method, you'll need washing up liquid, soda crystals, wiry scrubbing balls, a damp cloth, and bin bags. Jules says it's important to use gloves as your hands may start to "feel funny" because of the soda crystals. They said: "We're going to put gloves on because, although we're not using toxic chemicals, the soda crystals can make your hands feel funny. Also, we're going to be using the wiry balls on the grills which can be a bit sharp."

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To get your oven grills and trays to shine, you should begin by filling up a bucket with warm water and adding some washing-up liquid as well as an even amount of soda crystals to create a "de-greasing solution." Place the other wet grills or tray in a clean bin bag and leave to soak for around 20 minutes while you clean the inside of the oven. However, if you have trays or grills that are burned, they should be left to soak in the solution longer.

You should repeat the first step above when it comes to cleaning the inside of your oven. However, this time, use a damp cloth to remove the dirt from the cooking appliance. Jules added: "Make sure when you are collecting the debris, that you are getting right into the cracks, especially the cracks between the door and the oven." The soda crystals and washing-up liquid can also be used to remove any of the grease stuck to the oven door.

Ayaan Ali