Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1308487
CHEMICALFREE OVEN CLEANING All-natural ways to keep your oven looking like new. 'Tis the season for roasting chestnuts, baking cookies, and filling hearts with glee. The most wonderful time of year is marked by the holiday feasts that bring families together. But to keep sweet treats from turning into lumps of coal, it's important to give your oven a little TLC, too. From supplies already stocked in your kitchen, all you need is baking soda, vinegar, lemons, and water to make ovens merry and bright. SERIOUS OVEN CLEANING Ovens with substantial buildup will require the right cleaning method and a little bit of elbow grease. To start, remove everything from your oven — racks, thermometers, etc. Then, lay newspaper or paper towels on the floor underneath. Things may get messy! In a bowl, mix ½ cup of baking soda with two or three tablespoons of water. Adjust the ratio until you reach a paste consistency. Though not required, adding two or three drops of a lemon– or tea tree–scented essential oil to the paste will leave your oven smelling fresh and clean. With rubber-gloved hands, spread the paste all over your oven's interior, minus the heating elements. Once the whole oven is coated, let it sit for at least 12 hours or overnight. While that sits, you can either wash the oven racks in dishwashing liquid and scrub with a scouring pad, or use the same paste to remove stuck-on grease. After 12 hours, wipe away the dried baking soda paste with a damp cloth. Spray areas that are still sticky or clumped with white vinegar and use a plastic spatula to scrape off the remaining residue, then wipe again with the damp cloth. After a final wipedown, replace the racks and enjoy an oven so shiny, it glows. SIMPLE OVEN CLEANING For ovens that need a basic cleaning, water and lemons create holiday magic. Fill a medium, oven-safe bowl with water. Squeeze the juice of two lemons into the bowl, then toss the lemons into the bowl, as well. Put the bowl in the oven and turn it on to 350 o F. Once the water in the bowl starts to boil, turn the oven off and let the steam of the lemon-water combination do the cleaning. After about an hour, open the oven, and if it's cool enough, wipe the interior with a damp cloth. Rub tough spots with a freshly sliced lemon or an abrasive tool. Wipe away residue for an oven that's prepped to bring comfort and joy. UPKEEP 14