The Natural Ingredient You Should Be Using To Clean Your Dirty Oven

Does your oven have burnt spills or grease in the bottom? Is it time for a deep cleaning? According to cleaning experts, you should clean your oven every three to six months. You can use the self-cleaning option on your oven but you might be hesitant because of the high heat it produces. A commercial oven cleaner is another option for this job but these are toxic and can severely irritate your eyes, skin, and lungs.

If you are trying to make cleaning your home more eco-friendly, then we have good news. One of the best ways to naturally clean your oven is by using an everyday ingredient you probably already have in your kitchen — lemons. This simple citrus fruit can turn even the dirtiest oven into a sparkling appliance with very little effort. All you need are a couple of lemons and water to create an effective cleaning solution.

TikTok user @my_styled_living shows how easy it is to use lemons to clean your oven. Start by cutting two or three lemons into quarters. Put them inside an oven-proof casserole dish. Place enough water in the dish to completely cover the lemons. Turn the oven to 250°F and leave the dish in the oven for 30 minutes. After that, turn off the oven and allow the water to sit until the oven cools down. The steam from the lemon water will help to remove any baked-on food bits and grease. Once the oven is completely cool, dip a scrubbing sponge into the lemon water and wipe off the inside of the oven, racks, and door.

You can use baking soda with lemons to create a scrub to clean your oven for tough stains and spills. Grab a small dish and add some baking soda to the bottom. Squeeze in lemon juice until it forms a thick paste. Then, take a cloth and spread the paste over the entire inside surface of the oven, including the door. Let the paste sit in the oven for about 30 minutes. Use a damp cloth to wipe up the baking soda and lemon cleaner.

The lemon and water cleaning trick almost seems too easy to work. So, are lemons effective at cleaning ovens? They work very well because they contain citric acid, a natural de-greaser. Citric acid also has natural anti-bacterial and disinfectant properties. Because of its cleaning power, citric acid is the main ingredient in several popular commercial cleaning products, including Lemi Shine.

You should be able to remove quite a bit of grease and grime from your oven using only lemons and water to clean it. If that doesn't remove everything, scrubbing with a baking soda and lemon juice mix should remove any remaining grease and grime. Not only are lemons effective at cleaning your oven, but they are also great for stovetop cleaning. Cut a lemon in two and use one half directly on your stovetop to remove grease. 

To learn what to avoid when tidying up your kitchen, check out the simple oven-cleaning mistake that could doom your appliance.