How to Make Your Oven Clean
As there are many different types of oven, it’s imperative to choose the most satisfactory way of cleaning that corresponds to the kind of oven you own. As you will be aware, there are both gas and electric stoves and the interiors can vary between a standard enamel finish, self-cleaning or permanently cleaning type.
Cleaning of an electric oven
On the inside of the enamel covers, there are usually two heating elements in an electric cooking oven. One part installed for grilling, and the other is to achieve high baking temperatures. It is better to select a model that has removable panels, including the base, roof, and sides wherever possible as this will make the cleaning much easier.
Be aware that the majority of electric ovens have a particular type of hinge that allows the removal of the door. If you examine the hinges carefully, you should see that it has either a catch that lifts up on each side or possibly a hole that requires a pin to be inserted to lock the hinges in place. After locking the hinges in place gently lift the door upwards and towards you to remove it safely. After the door removal, you will get better access to the back end and corners of your oven. Normally the door will have two screws that can be removed to allow you to separate the inner from the outer, which allows for full access and easier cleaning of the interior door glass.
Once the cleaning is complete, you reassemble the two pieces of the door and Refit to the oven in the reverse order that you removed it.
Cleaning of a gas oven
The interior of a gas oven is very similar to that of an electric model, and the cleaning procedure is very similar as described above. The main difference is that at the bottom you will have a cut out in the base of the oven which houses the burners. When cleaning the base take extra care not to damage these and we would recommend that a damp cloth be placed over the aperture whilst cleaning is in progress.
The bottom of an oven is usually the dirtiest. If the base or any panel inside your oven are removable, then we would recommend that you remove the retaining screws and remove any panels before cleaning commences.
If you can remove the bottom section of the oven, then don’t forget to clean the gas burner gently. You may need to turn the gas on to make sure there isn’t a blockage in the burner holes and check to make sure that the flame is permanent on both sides of the gas-jet. If you suspect a blockage then switch off the oven and use a thin wire in the blocked holes to remove any debris.
Check to see if the gas-jet is working as it should. You should see a constant blue cone-like flame. You can adjust an air valve in your gas oven by following the instructions in the owner’s manual to regulate the air mixture and the flame colour.
The cleaning of a self-clean electric oven
If you own and want to clean a self-cleaning oven, don’t use any hazardous products as the design of the coating allows for only the surface to be wiped down with a damp cloth once the oven reaches operating temperature and cools down enough to be safe to clean.
It’s also important to keep the door seal clean, and this is achieved by soaking the seal in hot water for 10-15 minutes and then wiping wit ha cloth. If stubborn carbon particles are present, then you can clean gently with a delicate abrasive. You can then refit the seal in the reverse order of removal.
What about a permanently-cleaning oven?
You can identify a permanently-cleaning oven by the colour and texture of the interior. You will notice that food spills and grease marks should fade gradually during cooking. The downside to this type of coating is that the oven looks dirty during the cooking and self-cleaning process.
To eradicate this problem, you should wipe any spills off as soon as they occur. This particular type of oven tends to cope well with oil-based spills but does not perform so well with sugary and starchy contaminants.
The permanently-cleaning surface is not designed to be cleaned with detergents or harsh abrasives, as it will damage the unique coating.
It is better to clean the surfaces with warm water and a little amount of baking soda or use the services of a local oven cleaning company.