Cleaning the oven.

Thanks for the reassurances GrumpyOldBat and Witzend. Phew!

try a mix of concentrated washingup liquid and bicarb. Stir well (should be dense). Apply to oven window, Leave half an hour, Remove with damp sponge dipped into coarse cooking salt. This is abrasive but will not scratch glass.

Can anyone advise on how to clean the black cast iron thingies on my gas hob? I tried so hard today but no luck. Do you think I could use Oven Pride in the bag? Many thanks.

Lakeland have an oven cleaning kit for £7.99.

Um, I bought an oven with a pyrolitic coating and just turn a dial whenever it's too grubby and it cleans itself

Can a mere male take part here?
Oven cleaning is not my special subject, but having been on my own for over 2 years, I've found it doesn't need it 'cos I don't use it.
It's the Rolls-Royce equivalent of electric ovens, pyrolytic cleaning etc. etc., but I've read somewhere that ovens can be hot-beds of carcinogens in meat. True or False? Not to mention the ghastly chemical cleaning process.!
I get by quite nicely with a microwave, a gas stove top,
and frying pans. Plus fish and chips from the corner shop now and again, of course.
I can give you further details if you wish.

Ta-Ra and Bon-Appetit

A combination of baking soda and vinegar is a good way to clean the oven. However, for best results, this method requires more time. The paste of baking soda and water needs to be left for at least a couple of hours before applying the vinegar. A multipurpose cleaner also does a good job and for the glass door, too. Even so, every month I prefer to hire a professional cleaner from Fantastic Cleaners Brisbane to deep clean the whole thing.

Every month???

Would I have to pay their travel expenses?

Update: last September I found a flyer for a professional oven cleaner and he did a superb job. I hadn't given it much attention in its ten years of operation, apart from putting the shelves in the dishwasher. I don't cook spattery food like roasts as I am a veggie, but the door was decidedly messy. Since its clean-up, it has remained pristine. I will be using the same firm again - in ten years?

We moved to the Granny Flat in November , I think I used the ovens a few times and carefully wiped it out . This thread reminded me that I hadn't actually used it since Christmas , just inspected it and it is a bit dusty , but there are my casserole dishes that I thought were lost ! I wanted one to serve a salad last week........

Brillo does scratch glass oven doors, my mother has ruined hers. I use sugar soap, I bought it from pound land just because I had never tried it, now i use it on anything that involves grease.

I'm with goldengirl on this one but I must confess to being attracted to cosafina's paralytic cleaning - assuming G&T is involved.

Like others, I also use Oven Pride to clean my oven. It does avery good job and I'm always pleased with the results but I'm a bit unsure about disposing of the dirty greasy left over gunk in the plastic bag. Looks horrible and toxic.

I wipe the glass while the oven is still hot. Use an abrasive sponge mop on stubborn marks. 5 years later its still clear. The bottom of the oven- ditto. And the grills. Sides I spray with oven cheaper when it looks like it needs it and brillo pad stubborn marks. The top I have never figured out as it is a grill. I do wipe it but I'm afraid of damaging it. And this post has reminded me I must check it. ( rarely used). Main point is- just wipe the hot oven door and base. Easier than scrubbing after months. Same goes for microwave.

Razzmatazz yes. I read this hint somewhere a long time ago. I do this with the side metal thingies now and again. Or if I have accidentally left a used dish/tray to harden. so easy!

Lakeland tray sounds good.

Getting someone else to do it sounds better

Yes but getting someone else to do it means letting it get really grimey?

Well I suppose so, if you want your money's worth?
I suppose you could weigh up the cost of buying in supplies and doing it yourself, against getting a company in every 8 or 9 weeks?
My cooker hasn't been cleaned for years.

You don't need an abrasive scourer. For years I have been using this one. It initially looks quite expensive but lasts literally for years. I wash it in the dishwasher time and again.

I use an aerosol. lasts me at least 6 mths. I obviously don't use my oven much. (or maybe I'm overly careful because I hate ness lol)) But if it was a lot of work then yes missadventure I would probably pay someone to do it every few mths.

I have a professional company in to clean mine twice a year - everything is taken out and cleaned and left sparkling like new. In between, I just clean up any spills and put racks in the huge plastic bag with cleaning fluid (Wilco's) and leave overnight.

Oven Pride for me too.
Gas hob racks regularly into the dishwasher.
No mess, no mucky build-up and just a couple of pounds twice a year for the Oven Pride. (Between the micro and the halogen oven the big oven isn't used much!)

A lady that used to be in charge of RAF housing where they were very strict about a clean oven told me to use ammonia. Put all the moveable parts in a black bin liner with some ammonia. Tie it up and leave outside overnight.

The next day all the grease and burnt on grime will wash off under a running tap. I always use it. Works well.