Out of all chores that go into maintaining a kitchen, cleaning the oven has got to be one of the most dreaded and time consuming. Yes, there are plenty of cleaners that promise to wipe away the grease and grime in one spray but what happens if you don’t want to use harsh chemicals? Fortunately, the ever-trusty combination of water and baking soda comes to the rescue again. Follow these simple steps to get your oven shining once again:

1. Remove the wire oven racks and set them aside.
2. Make a paste with baking soda and water.
3. Use an old sponge with an abrasive pad to rub the baking soda paste over the sides and bottom of the oven.
4. If the debris is baked-on and resistant, you can attack it two different ways.

Method One: The easiest, yet slower, method is to leave a layer of the baking soda paste over the surface of the oven for 12 to 24 hours. Then wet it later and scrub off. Over time, the baking soda will loosen the debris, making it easy to wipe away.

Method Two: After you’ve spread baking soda paste over the surface of the oven, pour vinegar over the surface and allow the baking soda and vinegar to react and fizz. The chemical reaction will help loosen the debris, so it is easy to scrub off.

While they aren’t necessarily quick fixes and will require some elbow grease, the methods above will get your oven sparkling and without using any of the chemical sprays that can leave a harsh smell.

And after you’ve given your oven a thorough clean, what can you do to make sure it stays that way? Follow these tips from Better Homes & Gardens:

Salt Solution
“When a pie or casserole bubbles over in the oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spill and continue with your baking,” says author Donna Chandler in The Hints Book Almanac. “It won’t smoke or smell, and it will bake into a crust that will be much easier to clean, once cooled.”

Keep It Up
Clean up spills and dribbles as soon as the oven’s cool enough to do so. The longer the food sits in your oven, the harder it will be to get rid of it later on.

Foiled Again
When you’re baking — drip-prone foods, especially — line the bottom oven rack with tin foil. Consider keeping it there long-term, and just trading it out when necessary.

Better Housekeeping Shop has a wide range of ovens to suit all your needs. Give us a call at 732-741-4310 and one of our knowledgeable sales staff would be happy to talk to you about how we may help you find the right oven for your kitchen.