Oven racks do not clean themselves. And time does not create a self-cleaning oven. It is one of the most hectic jobs of domestic cleaning.
Experience the irritation of missing rack grates or even worse…gritting your teeth and steeling yourself to actually get on your hands and knees to clean them.
There’s no need for you to ever settle for filthy oven racks again!
Put on some music, grab yourself a beer and get ready to let it all go off with the ease to read the following tips for cleaning your oven racks properly.
1. Dishwashing Liquid – Cleans Without Extra Effort
Oven racks are pretty nasty. Grime, grease, and gunk normally build up over time so there is no escaping those once-a-week cleanings.
While it would be ideal to use an eco-friendly degreaser to remove grease and grime from your oven racks, another quick solution is using a dishwashing liquid.
Take any empty tub in which you can easily put your oven racks, fill it with hot water and add a sufficient amount of dishwashing liquid.
Soak the racks in water for 3-4 hours or overnight for best results. The water will become foamy.
Take the racks out and rinse them off and use a clean cloth or dryer sheets to make racks dry. This method is readiest and easy to use.
2. Clean with a Dash of Orange Essential
Orange essential oil is one of the best ways to clean oven racks. Orange not only has a refreshing citrusy scent but also contains powerful antimicrobials that speed up cleaning. Hence, it is known as a strong degreaser.
Make a paste of baking soda, vinegar along with a few drops of orange essential oil in a small bowl.
With the help of a sponge, apply this paste to racks and then leave it for 5-7 hours.
After that, rub the surface with a sponge so no dirt remains on racks and clean the racks with water.
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3. Aluminum Foils – Oven Rack Magic
Aluminum foils are commonly used for food storage or to wrap food so it does not lose its moisture and remains hot.
However, it is also useful to clean oven racks and can be used on stove countertops to prevent dirt and gunk.
Enfold the rungs of the oven rack with the foil and place it in a tub filled with hot water and then add one or two dishwasher tablets to it.
Leave it for 2-3 hours and then take out the racks, remove the foil, rinse it with water. You will see all the grease and dirt have been removed.
4. Baking Soda & Vinegar Paste – A Miracle Cleaner
Baking soda is very good for removing stains and eradicating unpleasant odors. Vinegar has acetic acid which is a powerful agent in cleaning and killing germs.
Make a paste with 1 ½ cup of baking soda, ¼ cup of white vinegar, and ½ cup of dishwashing liquid.
Apply this paste on the rugs of the rack with the help of a clean sponge and leave it overnight. Rinse the racks with water.
5. The Power of Ammonia
Ammonia has the ability to absorb and neutralize the lingering odor of a variety of substances, including blood and urine.
Since it eliminates foul smells, it has also proven effective in deodorizing equipment and other surfaces both at home and at work.
So, let’s begin with the miraculous results of ammonia to clean greasy oven racks.
Take a trash bag and place oven racks in it and add one pint of ammonia, seal the bag and leave it overnight.
Ammonia has very strong fumes so try to open the bag in a well-ventilated area or you can do this on the balcony as well.
Wash the racks with water. The ammonia fumes are strong to remove dirt and grease from the racks.
But be very cautious in using ammonia. It can be corrosive to eyes and skin so better to wear goggles and gloves as a preventive measure.
6. Cleaning is a Breeze with Cream of Tartar
Cream of Tartar is used in baking products but it is also a very good cleaning reagent.
Apply some amount of cream of tartar on the racks with the help of a toothbrush or sponge and leave it for 10-15 minutes.
After that, clean the racks with water and dry them with the help of a clean cloth.
Cream of tartar is also very helpful to clean black and rust stains from the racks. It is considered to have a more stabilizing effect than baking soda.
Bonus Tips!
It is a common practice to smell out the kitchen after the meal. It is considered an important and essential part of the cleaning sessions.
But we often forget that the oven needs some time to outgas the fumes produced inside it.
So, always ensure you open the oven for some time after using it so that there remains no smell inside it.
It is equally essential to use high-quality commercial cleaners to clean the oven, as this will get rid of all dirt and grime.
After cleaning off the gross stuff like food, it’s time to do a little bit of science.
Spray a dash of vinegar or mixture of water with baking soda on the racks to avoid discoloration.
Wipe the racks with a clean cloth after every use.
Conclusion
More than any other kitchen appliance, your oven is the most difficult to clean.
Unfortunately, many people still use the unhygienic method of cleaning oven racks by hand. This is unpleasant and very unsanitary.
Fortunately, the article elaborates on how to clean oven racks with household products and save yourself a great deal of time and effort.
Using the above-mentioned tips will help in cleaning the clogged oven rack in no time.
