Household appliances are one of the most overlooked parts of the home when it comes to cleaning. Leaving kitchen appliances to their own devices can lead to neglect and, in turn, negatively impact their efficiency.
The longer appliances sit, the dirtier they become, especially appliances like ovens, which are used daily. It’s important to remove tough grime and stuck-on food from ovens to keep them in tip top shape. Cleaning guru and TikTok creator Chantel Mila recently shared several hacks everyone should know, including a simple remedy she uses to restore her oven to its former glory.
How to make oven glass sparkle
Instead of using any commercial oven-cleaning products, Chantel uses just two kitchen staples to create her magical oven cleaner. All you need is baking soda and washing-up liquid to do the job.
Drizzle over washing-up liquid directly onto the inside of the oven door. Then add the same amount of baking soda over the top of the washing-up liquid.
You can also combine baking soda and washing-up liquid together to create a smooth paste. Add a splash of water if the paste is too thick.
Use the rough side of a sponge to work it into a paste until it’s nice and foamy. Allow the solution to sit for a few minutes to break down the stuck-on grease and grime.
Finish by wiping off the paste and loosening grime with a clean sponge or cloth. The results should have your oven door sparkling and back to its former glory.
The same two items can be used to remove stubborn grease and grime inside the oven. If you have particularly stubborn food stains and marks, you can leave the paste on the oven overnight.
Come morning, take a cloth and wipe down the oven, paying particular attention to any persistent spots which may still have grime on them.
Baking soda is a great ingredient for removing grease because of its alkaline nature. This helps neutralise the acid in grease, allowing it to be easily lifted during cleaning.
As baking soda is a mild abrasive, it also helps lift stubborn grease or food particles without damaging surfaces.
Pairing it with washing-up liquid makes the cleaning process a lot smoother. As a washing-up liquid acts as an emulsifier, it helps bind grease and oil stains, allowing them to be rinsed away with water.
Dish soaps contain surfactants that are both hydrophilic – attract water – and hydrophobic – repel water and bind to oil. These surfactants attach to grease, allowing oil and water to mix and form a stable emulsion that can then be washed away.