Chicken deficient Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 It is his job to clean the oven. Given the amount of smoke that poured out of it when I turned it to maximum, for bread baking purposes, I think it is safe to say that he has not been cleaning it! It's a task I absolutely loathe - scrubbing just gets what ever you're scrubbing with clogged up with yuck, and I have a major aversion to the vile chemical oven cleaner stuff, though we do have some in the cupboard. Any suggestions as to how to make the oven all shiny and lovely without too much nastiness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 get someone in to do it that's what my Mother does. For those of us mere mortals there isn't much that beats the chemical stuff, although I get why you hate the smell. Steam cleaners are pretty good, a friend of mine swears by hers for the hob and oven. I haven't got round to trying mine out on the oven yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Get a man in (or woman, but they're usually men in my experience). It's money well spent, believe me - if you can't face that then a steam cleaner will do the job but it takes ages. I'm not keen on the chemical cleaners, my oven has a self-clean programme that burns most of the gunk off and that's effective but I don't like to think of how much electricity it uses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 I agree with the others.Get someone in or use a steamer You can also buy the chemicals where you put all the bits in a big bag. My friend says they are very good but it does involve chemicals and I've never tried personally. Alternatively place your silver bits in the dishwasher on high and the bits then scrub off relatively easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 I'll give him a welly up the backside and see if he'll clean it. Maybe I'll wait until he has got over his shingles first! Failing that, getting someone in is a great idea, though I have just found a couple of recipes on the net - baking soda for the oven and washing powder soaks for the racks. I'll let you know if either work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Still a chemical cleaner, but the Oven Mate that Lakeland sell, with an applicator brush is very easy to use, has little smell and works quickly. I have to say though the best way to keep the oven gunk under control is to wipe it out after cooking anything greasy with an old oven glove whilst the oven is still pretty warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Still a chemical cleaner, but the Oven Mate that Lakeland sell, with an applicator brush is very easy to use, has little smell and works quickly. This is the one I use too and it is the best I have found. I have a liner in the bottom of the oven that I take out from time to time to wash and that cuts down the cleaning a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Buy a new one. I never thought of that Chickencam. I try to remember to clean the oven after using but by the time it's cooled down I forget. That is a good idea. Quiet day today, now I think I must clean the oven. I bought a few of those eco sponges when then were half price, they're good for scrubbing off stubborn deposits without being too harsh or needing too much detergents/cleaners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I use the Oven Mate stuff and the dishwasher.....put the shelves in the bags with the stuff following the instructions then bung the shelves in the dishwasher and they come up pretty shiny. There's nothing to make the getting the goo out of the bottom of the oven any easier though.....Oven Mate and elbow grease. My oven needs doing but I'm waiting for the warmer weather as I have to have the windows open when I do it (its one of those jobs that makes me a bit wheezy so I have to have plenty of fresh air) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted March 27, 2013 Author Share Posted March 27, 2013 Buy a new one. I had considered it! I think it must have been a seriously cheap oven to start with. When we moved in, I wiped the front with a microfibre cloth. Lo and behold - all the numbers had gone. It has been guess work ever since, only we still haven't worked out how to make it grill. We planned to replace it, but I'm quite attached to it now, in a weird way, like it was a one legged duck or something. I'm off to soak the racks in laundry powder in the bath... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SylvisMum Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Yes, Oven Mate for me, from Lakeland and their large blue tray to soak the shelves in. I have a metal scourer that can whisk the burnt bits off the shelves, and finish off the oven floor if there is anything stubborn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 Well, I haven't made a trip to Lakeland yet, but in the meantime I have soaked the racks and the bottom of the oven in biological washing powder. It has definitely helped in making sticky stuff easier to wipe off and hard stuff flakier, but not a good enough result over all, I would say. So, the bottom of the oven is now covered in bicarbonate of soda with a bit of water sprayed on top, to make it icing consistency. Initial inspections look quite promising, but I have to leave it overnight apparently... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I'd have got a man in and I'd got him to pay I'm due to get my man in he does wonders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 This post has inspired me to get a man in. He's coming in 2 weeks. Can't wait - it will be lovely to have a sparkling o en again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I get a firm in too. I don't have a cleaner, I do it all myself, (allegedly!) so this is my 'treat'. I get it done twice a year, and the oven positively gleams when it has been done. Well worth the money, and it keeps someone in employment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 get a man in once a year. And in between, use Oven Mate. It's not perfect, but it's relatively painless and not full of harmful chemicals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken deficient Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 I asked 'him' when he did actually last clean the oven, as per his task list, (1. take bin out 2. occasionally clean oven). He is estimating 2008!!!!! He says he gave up on it when we first discussed replacing it. No wonder the thing set the smoke alarm off! I didn't realise how bad it was as the light doesn't work either. (Maybe we really should get a new one ). The baking soda definitely made a big difference, there is now quite a lot of smooth shinyness in there and it seems to get better each time I put some on. I've been spraying it in diluted, before the oven is used and then wiping it out afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Have to say that I am with the others who get someone in. Worth every penny - honestly. The Ovenmate is the next best thing. I did get the soaking trays from Lakeland but, since getting a chap in to clean the oven, I have used those for soaking the nesting bars of the eglu! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 Since reading this thread I've cleaned my cooker every day - not all of it just a different bit each day. Nice and gleamy, ungreasy cooker now and no work at all if I stick to doing a bit each day. I've even cleaned the fiddly bit in the seal. So, thanks for the thread and the ovenglove tip is inspired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 1, 2013 Share Posted April 1, 2013 I asked 'him' when he did actually last clean the oven, as per his task list, (1. take bin out 2. occasionally clean oven). He is estimating 2008!!!!! He says he gave up on it when we first discussed replacing it.No wonder the thing set the smoke alarm off! I didn't realise how bad it was as the light doesn't work either. (Maybe we really should get a new one ). The baking soda definitely made a big difference, there is now quite a lot of smooth shinyness in there and it seems to get better each time I put some on. I've been spraying it in diluted, before the oven is used and then wiping it out afterwards. Now, if your light is like mine was the glass cover over the bulb be will covered in all sorts of baked on dirt and will work perfectly well once this has gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 This thread also shamed me into cleaning mine this weekend! I can now see through the doors haven't done the shelves or the bottom yet but I did take to the hob with a glass s"Ooops, word censored!"er and it's now like new! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 I need a new cooker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted April 3, 2013 Share Posted April 3, 2013 This thread has reminded me that my oven needs a good scrub out. Okay... so, I already knew it needed doing but I have been putting it off I think I will invest in one of those Lakeland soaking trays as my shelves are horribly filthy too. Oven Mate is great stuff and does get the oven squeaky clean, but it's still a horrid job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Why not get Oven Pride. It's usually around the £3 mark and comes with the bag to put the oven shelves in. Am sure it's the same as the one by Lakeland but cheaper it's a gel and no smell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted April 4, 2013 Share Posted April 4, 2013 Thanks Anne, I'll give that a whirl. I've never used Oven Pride before. Off to the shops tomorrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
