Let’s face it, many of us don’t clean our ovens as much as we probably should. The appliance gets used almost every day in most households, and it doesn’t take much for it to get covered in grime and grease from our cooking.
Both the inside of the oven and the stovetop need regular cleaning – but it can be difficult to get the dirt to shift as it seems to weld to the surface of the appliance by the time it’s cool enough to actually clean.
If your stove is in desperate need of a scrub, worry not, as cleaning fans have got the perfect solution to help you get rid of any burnt-on grease and grime. What’s more, you won’t need to break the bank on any expensive cleaning products – as you just need one common item you probably already have at home.
Cleaning fans gave their advice on Reddit after one man asked for help cleaning his stove that was covered in burnt marks and stubborn stains.
He said he had tried using cleaning wipes to get rid of the grime but had no luck, so was asking for any further tips.
Commenters quickly flooded his post, and one professional cleaner in particular had a brilliant suggestion – use washing up liquid. She claimed washing up liquid is the “best degreaser there is”, and most of us already have it tucked away in our cupboards.
She wrote: “Professional maid here. Dish soap is the best degreaser there is. Let it sit for a few minutes then use a scrubbing sponge. NOT steel wool or you will ruin the stove. Elbow grease and then a wipe down it should be sparkling.”
Others suggested using specific cleaning products like Oven Off or Barkeeper’s Friend. Those who recommended this option tended to say these products are most effective when covered with cling film and left to sit overnight.
Someone noted: “I put plastic wrap over the oven cleaner and leave overnight. The chemicals work longer if they stay moist.” Another added: “Any oven cleaner will do. Leave it overnight. Wear gloves when you scrub it.”
Another popular cleaning method was trusty baking soda, which can be made into a paste with water and left to sit on the stains for a while. You can then scrub with a scourer to lift the marks off and get your stove looking as good as new.
Someone suggested: “Dish soap and baking soda, mix that with a little bit of water so it becomes a paste and let it sit for a while. If it’s a tougher stain, maybe an hour or more; if it’s a newer one, then 20 mins. Then scrub away.”
To help the man keep his stove as clean as possible, it was advised he wipe down the surface each night after cooking so that he doesn’t end up with burnt on stains that take severe effort to remove.
