If your oven smells terrible, is dirty, or is coated in grease and grime, it’s time to clean it. While you can clean your oven with store-bought chemicals, skip them and use a household product like vinegar to clean it. So, can vinegar clean ovens, you wonder? It surely can!
Vinegar is an all-purpose cleaner that can remove oven grime. Clean your oven with natural products, as it is the safest way to keep it in good condition, plus you can use your appliance immediately as long as you have cleaned away all the residues.
In this post, let’s find out how you can clean your oven.
Why Is it Important to Have a Clean Oven?
One of the most obvious reasons you must clean your oven is that it is safer to cook in a clean oven than in a dirty oven. A dirty oven filled with food debris, grime, and grease has a higher fire risk. It will also make your appliance prone to rusting and making its way into the flavor of the food.
Moreover, dirty ovens are harder to clean. You may end up needing harsh chemicals to do it. But cleaning your oven regularly is essential to avoid worst-case cleaning scenarios.
Is Vinegar a Good Oven Cleaner?
Absolutely! While vinegar is not an excellent disinfectant, it’s a great cleaner. Its highly acidic properties can break down stubborn stains, dirt, and grime in your oven. Not to mention that it is a cheap, versatile, and eco-friendly cleaner.
Typically, oven cleaners containing harsh chemicals may require personal protection equipment to use them. Vinegar does not contain corrosive chemicals that may harm your oven.
However, before any cleaning happens, ensure the appliance is cool to the touch. Wait a few hours after the stove was last used before cleaning it.
Can You Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Clean Ovens?
Apple cider vinegar is a popular choice for an alternative natural-based cleaner. It is as effective at cleaning the oven as white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar also smells better than white vinegar, but since the latter is more acidic, it’s a more robust cleaner.
Here’s how you can use apple cider vinegar to clean the oven:
Things you’ll need:
· 1 cup apple cider vinegar
· 2 tbsp. sugar
· Damp cloth
Instructions:
1. Mix apple cider vinegar and sugar.
2. Put the combination in the oven while it is warm and allow it to sit for about 1 to 2 hours.
3. When ready let it cool down, then wipe the oven with a damp cloth to remove dirt, grime, and grease.
4. If dirt remains, spray more apple cider vinegar in it and let it sit for about another 30 minutes before wiping it away.
How Do You Clean a Dirty Oven with Vinegar?
Make it a habit of cleaning your oven with vinegar. This way, you can prolong its life, ensure its safety, and maximize uptime. Here’s how you can clean your dirty oven with vinegar:
Things you’ll need:
· ½ cup vinegar
· ½ cup water
· Microfiber cloth and a spray bottle (optional)
· Scrub sponge
Instructions:
1. Mix the vinegar and water in a dishpan.
2. Put the solution in the microfiber cloth and use it to wipe debris, dirt, or grime from the inside of the oven. You can also utilize a spray bottle to apply vinegar to your oven.
3. Allow the vinegar solution to sit for about 10 minutes. Extend the time for really tough stains and grease.
4. Scrub the inside of the oven when necessary and wipe away the grime afterward.
How to Clean Tough Oven Messes with Vinegar
Vinegar and water solution alone may not be enough to clean tough stains and grime. However, mixing vinegar and baking soda can tackle even tougher messes.
Things you’ll need
· ½ cup vinegar
· ½ cup water
· 1 tbsp. baking soda
· Microfiber cloth
· Scrub
Instructions:
- To create a paste, put baking soda on the vinegar and water mixture outlined above.
- Using a microfiber cloth, Apply the paste to the inside of the oven, then sit it for about 10 minutes.
- Scrub the oven in a circular motion using a clean cloth.
- Wipe away the paste with the vinegar and water solution.
To learn more about this oven-cleaning method go here or watch the video below.
How to Steam Clean Ovens with Vinegar?
Steaming the oven is a straightforward cleaning method. After you remove all the gunk inside the oven, the only thing you need to do afterward is to wipe the walls.
Follow these steps to steam clean your oven:
Things you’ll need:
· ½ cup vinegar
· ½ cup water
· Oven-safe pot
· Microfiber towel
Instructions:
- Loosen the gunk or debris inside the oven. Make sure to remove the racks; otherwise, you will be heating them unnecessarily.
- Heat a pot with vinegar and water solution inside the oven. Use 300°F temperature to boil the mixture.
- Steam the oven for about 30 minutes
- Remove the pot from the appliance. At this point, the oven should be at a safe temperature.
- Wipe the walls of the oven using a microfiber towel.
- Allow the oven to dry until the vinegar smell dissipates.
Can You Use Vinegar in a Self-Cleaning Oven?
Some ovens have a self-cleaning feature. If you have this kind of oven, you may wonder whether you can use vinegar to clean it better. The quick answer is, yes.
Vinegar and other natural and eco-friendly cleaning products like salt, baking soda, and lemon juice are advisable cleaners for self-cleaning ovens.
Unfortunately, using commercial oven cleaners to self-cleaning ovens is prohibited. This is because a self-cleaning oven creates a hot environment to better clean and sanitize the appliance.
Commercial cleaners may overheat and release toxic fumes when burned. Instead of commercial cleaners, use natural products to clean your oven better.
How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?
It is not advisable and unrealistic to clean the oven after each use. After all, most of us allow grime and dirt to build up before we attempt to clean some of our appliances.
However, this does not mean you should only clean your oven once or twice a year. Not only are dirty ovens unsanitary, but dirt and grime affect the oven’s efficiency.
Ideally, your oven should be cleaned every three months, or if you notice smoke, burnt-on food, or stains. If you or anyone from your family cook frequently, the oven should be cleaned every two weeks. Meanwhile, self-cleaning ovens should be cleaned regularly because the racks need frequent cleaning.
Conclusion
Cleaning your oven with vinegar can be very effective. But note that while it is a reliable and efficient cleaning agent, cleaning your oven still requires elbow grease. You don’t leave the solution inside the appliance alone and wait for the magic to happen.
Ever wondered what the best natural product to clean your oven with is? Wonder no more, as we already have provided you with the answer. It is vinegar. It is safe, all-natural, and non-toxic. Paired with baking soda, you will have the most efficient alternative to potentially toxic and harmful commercial oven cleaners.
To learn more about cleaning with vinegar, read our article – What Vinegar Can You Clean With?
