It’s time.
We need to talk about the elephant in the room. The worst part about cleaning, the scariest and most overwhelming household appliance that we use: the oven.
There’s a lot of bad information out there. Seriously a lot. It’s everywhere. I’m here to ruin every professional house cleaner’s secret and explain to you the correct way to clean the oven using science.
pH Balance 101
Here’s a crash course on the science behind cleaning. The pH scale runs from 0-14. Chemicals that are between 0-6 are acidic; bar keeper’s friend and vinegar for example. Chemicals between 8-14 are alkaline; we’re talking about bleach, ammonia and borax.Chemicals between 6-8 are neutral. These are our favorite cleaners like Dawn dish soap and Zep Neutral Floor Cleaner.
To make cleaning an oven easy, you need to use an alkaline cleaner because of the organic contaminants and the material the oven is made out of. Easy off oven cleaner works well because it is an alkaline cleaner (pH 11-13). Vinegar and bar keepers are not a good option because they are acidic cleaners. Using these cleaning products will cause you to work harder to get a clean oven.
An Alternative to Oven Cleaner
“But Maggie, we don’t want to use harsh chemicals like oven cleaner!” I understand. There’s always another option, but you may need a smidge more elbow grease. Here’s the recipe: mix a solution of water and dawn in a spray bottle (1 tsp of Dawn for 24 ounces of water). Spray down the inside of the oven and then lightly sprinkle borax on the tough spots. Don’t use too much or you have trouble getting it all out.
Borax has a pH balance of 10 meaning it is not as strong as oven cleaner, but still designed for organic contaminants. Let this mixture sit for a bit, then use a wet pumice stone to pick up the grime. Wipe away with a damp rag and you have a clean oven!
Written by: Maggie Eckler
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