Dirty Oven? Eco-Friendly Cleaning

Here's a green tip that will not only keep your oven clean without using noxious cleaners, but will save time, effort and money as well!

I can remember my Mum’s periodic oven-cleanings from when I was a youngster back around the middle of the last century. She would suit herself up in old clothes, a thick apron, a kerchief, and elbow-length rubber gloves, then she would arm herself with steel wool, a wire brush, and an array of toxic foams and other caustic substances and set to work on a job that would take her most of the day and would usually result in, after some rather unladylike cursing, a fairly clean-looking oven and a cloud of noxious fumes which flavored every meal for weeks to come when it was, of course, time to do it again.

Nowadays, the typical mum not only doesn’t have the time for such arduous chores, but she is likely to be on the lookout for quicker, safer methods. The funny thing is, most mums back then didn’t know they had the answer in their cupboards all along. More and more people are finding out now that nasty cleaners are expensive and unnecessary. All you really need to clean your oven safely and easily is right at your fingertips and costs next to nothing. The secret is baking soda.

That’s right, with nothing more than baking soda and water you can clean your oven easily without even having to scrub it. Don’t believe me? Just try it! Here’s how:

Take a box of ordinary baking soda and sprinkle liberally all over the bottom of your oven (hint - make sure the oven is off - we don’t want any burns, asphyxiations, or explosions). Make sure there’s an even layer - about 1/4 inch or so. Take a spray bottle filled with water and moisten the area thoroughly. Then forget about it for a few hours or overnight (you may need to re-moisten the baking soda if it dries out. When you come back, simply wipe the baking soda out and sponge out the residue. The baking soda will absorb all the grease and grime and your oven will be clean without the need for any cursing or chemicals. It really works, and don’t forget to tell Mum about it!

For bigger cleaning projects you may need to hire one of your friendly neighborhood cleaning services, but be sure to ask if they use green methods and products. Call one of the many eco-friendly cleaning services London can provide to keep your home sparkling and safe for humans and pets, and please share this easy, money-saving green cleaning tip with your friends (and your mum).