If you have been struggling to shift stubborn oven grease an expert has a simple solution for you.
The safe – and relatively cheap – weak acid that is citric acid works “really well” on stubborn grease inside your oven, according to cleaning experts at dontmesswithmama.com.
Citric acid is commonly available from supermarkets, with Asda selling 250g Elbow Grease citric acid for £1.75, while 250g of Dri-Pak citric acid will set you back £2.75 at Waitrose for example.
Non toxic, it is an organic compound that occurs naturally in citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and limes, and is a colourless weak organic acid. More than two million tons of citric acid are manufactured every year and it is also used as a flavouring agent and preservative agent.
Writer, recipe developer and mum-of-three Tracey Black advises to create your own DIY citric acid cleaning solution at home by mixing two to three tablespoons of the product with hot water in a 160z spray bottle.
The cleaning expert writes: “As citric acid is a natural de-greaser, it works really well on stubborn grease inside your oven.
“Shake to dissolve, then spray on the inside of your oven, leave for 10 minutes and wipe off.”
Alternatively, she advises you can add the citric acid cleaning solution to an oven-proof dish and place it on the middle rack at 260 celsius (500 Fahrenheit).
“Leave the dish for 30 minutes to one hour (keeping an eye it doesn’t go dry) and the steam will loosen any grease or burnt food debris, ready for you to wipe away,” she adds.
And the citric acid solution can also be used to remove any burnt-on food or fat splatters from oven racks, if they are removed from the oven and soaked in the solution.
It could become a safe and natural alternative to potentially toxic cleaning products in your home.
Citric acid can also be used to remove mould, mildew and bacteria and could be an alternative to bleach, as it has anti-fungal, antibacterial and whitening properties, as well as de-greasing power.
What you need to know
You should never mix citric acid with bleach. Doing so can create very harmful chlorine gas.
While it is generally safe for your skin, anyone with sensitive skin should consider wearing gloves to avoid any irritation.
Storage-wise, it should be kept in a dry place in its original container or clearly labelled and out of reach of children.
It should last around three years from the moment you first open the packet, but will likely become less effective after this time.