The oven is an essential appliance at the heart of your kitchen. It needs routine cleaning to prevent the buildup of grease and to minimize smoke and odors. A clean oven also makes tastier food and creates a more sanitary kitchen. Below is a guide to keeping your oven clean.

How Often Should You Clean Your Oven?

Your cleaning schedule will depend on how often your oven is used. If you bake on regularly—daily or a few times a week—aim to clean it at least once every three months. For infrequent bakers who only use this appliance a few times a month, cleaning every six months should be sufficient.

Be aware of the signs that your oven needs some attention and clean as necessary. Red flags include food splatters, grease spots, bad odors, and smoke emitting from baked-on stains.

What’s the Cleaning Process?

Cleaning an oven doesn't need to be an intimidating chore. All you need is baking soda, white vinegar, rubber gloves, and a few wet dishcloths.

First, remove everything from the oven, including the racks. Mix a half-cup of baking soda with three tablespoons of water, adding more water as needed to form a spreadable paste. Spread the paste inside the oven, covering all surfaces except the burners. Let it sit overnight, or at least a few hours.

Next, put on the rubber gloves and wipe out all traces of the baking soda with a wet dishcloth. Stubborn spots may need a bit of elbow grease, but most should easily wipe away. Remove any baking soda residue by spraying white vinegar onto the surface, leaving it to react with the baking soda before wiping it out again.

Clean the oven racks by submerging them overnight in hot water and dishwasher detergent. Scrub off any caked-on stains, rinse thoroughly, dry, and replace them in your clean oven.

If you're in the market for a new oven or another kitchen appliance, visit Appliance Service Company. Serving the Fairbanks, AK, area, they have more than 55 years of experience in home appliance repairs and sales, offering a full line of appliance parts. Whether you need a new oven or repairs to an existing one, they’re your one-stop shop for fast and friendly service at an affordable price. Call (907) 452-1000 to schedule a repair and visit their website to learn more about their inventory.