I know this may sound like a stupid question, and quite frankly I am embarrased to even be asking it. But this is not something I have ever done before - - and I need help!!! Money is tight right now and I have to do all the cleaning myself. I realize it is time to clean the oven and I haven't a clue how to do it. It is starting to smell like pizza everytime we turn the oven on and the bottom is starting to look yucky, so I know it is time. Can any of you reccomend any products to use? Not sure if it matters, but I have an electric stove that is not self-cleaning.
I also need to clean the little silver bowls that are on the stove top under the cooking ive (sp?). Any reccomendations on what to use for that? I was thinking about those steel wool pads that have cleaner in them. What do you think?
Easy off is the product i use--I spray it all in the oven and wait a while and then wipe it out--everything comes clean-
I can't use my oven but I used to use a special pad made by SOS. I don't know if they still make them or not. It had soap inside that you could squeeze out and then a nylon scrub to work it in. For really bad stoves, you would leave on for a couple of hours. For the reflector plates, a wool pad is a big no-no. It will scratch. But you can use a nylon pad. If you can remove them, put them in hot soapy water for a soak and then scrub clean with a nylon scubber. I use Easy Off oven spray for my grill and it does a pretty decent job so it should also work fine for the oven. Spray it on thick and leave it for a couple of hours if the oven is really nasty. It is not as bad as it used to be with noxious fumes though you would not want to closely breathe in when you spray it.
A totally safe, cheap, natural cleaner is baking soda. Sprinkle on the bottom of the oven, add enough water to form a paste and spread it thick on the most troubled spots, and let it soak in (10 minutes?) Then use a hard scrubby pad (steel wool might scratch your oven surface). To activate the bubbles, you can make a little science experiment (your kids would love to watch). Add a little vinegar on top of the baking soda, and it will foam up. This will help remove the tough spots too. (think oxiclean).
Here are more baking soda idea.
http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/extraordinary-uses-...
Not a self-cleaning stove? Those things are amazing.
For the silver bowls, use a paste made of a couple of tablespoons of creme of tartare (available in the baking aisle, pretty cheap stuff) mixed with enough plain vinegar to make it spreadable but not runny. Just use it as a scrub, like Comet. Comet works too, but that stuff is expensive where I live, compared to creme of tartare (which you can also use to make your own playdough). Steel wool will scratch the finish of these.
For the oven, on a day when you're all going out (and take your pets with you) put a small glass measuring cup with 3/4c of ammonia (the liquid cleaner) into the oven, shut the door and leave. In 4-6 hours, when you get back, open all the doors and windows in the house (turn off the heat), run in, hold your breath, open the over door, and run out before breathing in again. Wait about 20 minutes for the fumes to dissipate. Now you can wipe the inside of the oven with a damp cloth and everything will come off easily.
You've gotten some good ideas for cleaning the oven........what I do is.....when it's clean I line the bottom of the oven with Alum foil and when something spills......change it. I can't remember when I've really had to clean the oven because of the alum foil and I'm really old!!! haha! For the little silver bowels Walmart sells liners for them too.
I read this online and plan on trying it myself:
To clean my oven, I sprinkle baking soda all over the bottom
until it is covered completely with about 1/4 of an inch of baking soda. Then, using a clean spray bottle, I spray the baking soda with water until the baking soda is thoroughly damp but not
flooded. After that, this lazy cleaner goes off and does other things. When I think of it, I dampen the baking soda again if it is drying out. Before I go to bed, I do that again. When I
wake up in the morning, the baking soda can effortlessly be scooped out of the oven with a sponge, bringing all the grime with it. That’s it! The only downside is that you need to rinse
out the white residue left by the baking soda, but it sure beats Turkey à La Oven Cleaner because there are no fumes!
Easy off w a soft scrub pad n a lil water or water n vinegar spray n scrub either of these the inserts can be taken out wash in sink w water soap don't forget tocheck broiler u can clean that the same way inside oven u can use a more abrasive brush
I used SOS pads on my drip pans all the time. As far as the inside, I would be tempted to try one of these more natural methods mentioned here. I bought some regular oven cleaner and the fumes were too much and now I have a basically full can of spray I will never use and I am not sure how to dispose of. They do make low-odor stuff though. My oven is horrible too. I have got to clean it too.
Melaleuca makes two or three cleaners that are excellent for stoves and use no harsh chemicals so you and your family aren't breathing or ingesting anything toxic. They're called Melamagic, Tough & Tender, and Sol-u-Mel. They're very economical and work with little to no scrubbing.
A.,
I have used the Easy Off - low odor/fume and it was great. Just in case you are wondering what you're going to do with a whole can of it - I also use it on tough, caked on, burnt on messes on my pots, pans and baking sheets. It's really amazing and doesn't smell or create lots of fumes.
Although I do like the idea of the baking soda and water or vinegar, I don't have a day to wait and get back to it. I'm lucky it's getting done a few times a year!! Haha.
I also agree with lining the broiler with aluminum foil. I have been using parchment paper on my baking pans too and it really helps cut down on the messes and need for soaking...keep it in mind for holiday cookies!
