Oven cleaning is never a fun job, with burnt-on bits of grease and food particles lingering in the appliance. However, one cleaning enthusiast shared her go-to method for taking on the job – and you won’t need a sponge.
Cleaning fan and TikTok creator Sammy, who goes by Sammy Lifestyle Mama, praised an unconventional item found in kitchens across the country to help tackle tough oven grease. All you’ll need is some baking soda and washing up liquid as your remedy, without the need for harsh chemical oven cleaners. This is what you need to do.
When cleaning the inside of your oven door, take a sheet of tin foil and scrunch it up. Pour a liberal amount of washing up liquid and baking soda onto the glass.
Work the homemade cleaning paste in with the tin foil. Sammy said: “Give it a good scrub and watch the grease and burnt-on grime lift right off.”
Once all of the grease and grime has been removed, wipe away with a clean cloth.
Baking soda is a great ingredient to use to get rid of grease due to its alkaline nature. This helps to neutralise the acid in grease, allowing it to be easily lifted when cleaned.
As baking soda is a mild abrasive, this also helps to lift any stubborn grease or food-particles without damaging surfaces.
By pairing it with washing up liquid, it makes the cleaning process a lot smoother. As washing up liquid acts as an emulsifier, it helps to bind with grease and oil stains, allowing it to be rinsed away with water.
Dish soaps contain surfactants that are both hydrophilic – attracts water- and hydrophobic – repels water and binds to oil. These surfactants attach to the grease, allowing the oil and water to mix and form a stable mixture called an emulsion, which can then be washed away.
You can also clean ovens with baking soda and other natural ingredients, such as lemon juice and white vinegar.
By using tin foil, you’re able to mold your cleaning implement to fit the surface you’re cleaning. It’s also useful for containing spills or trapping grime, especially when crumpled to provide a textured surface that acts as an abrasive to scrub away dirt.
Lina DaSilva, founder of Toronto Shine Cleaning, told Real Homes the benefits of using tin foil can have when cleaning glass, which can also be used when cleaning the bathroom. She said: “The texture of the crumpled aluminum foil works as an abrasive, removing any soap scum without the need for chemicals and avoiding scratches on the glass.”
