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Non-Toxic Oven Cleaner

posted by Annie B. Bond Apr 5, 1999 6:53 am
Non-Toxic Oven Cleaner
35 comments

By Annie B. Bond

You don’t have to use toxic commercial cleaners that can contaminate your food to clean your oven. There is a better way!

Commercial oven cleaners is very hard to rinse and the taste of it gets into food. Yum: Roast turkey a la Oven Cleaner. Many also get headaches when using commercial products.

Believe it or not, you can clean your oven safely with nothing
but baking soda and water. Give this a try, because it really works!

Most people can hardly believe that all I use for cleaning the oven is baking soda and water, and that the project requires no scrubbing. I suppose we have all been so brainwashed by household products companies that we mistakenly believe we require powerful chemicals for cleaning. But most people don’t know that simple household minerals such as baking soda can clean like magic. The key is using enough of the mineral.

To clean my oven, I sprinkle baking soda all over the bottom until it is covered completely with about 1/4 of an inch of baking soda. Then, using a clean spray bottle, I spray the baking soda with water until the baking soda is thoroughly damp but not flooded. After that, this lazy cleaner goes off and does other things. When I think of it, I dampen the baking soda again if it is drying out. Before I go to bed, I do that again. When I wake up in the morning, the baking soda can effortlessly be scooped out of the oven with a sponge, bringing all the grime with it. That’s it! The only downside is that you need to rinse out the white residue left by the baking soda, but it sure beats Turkey à La Oven Cleaner because there are no fumes!

More on Non-Toxic Cleaning (158 articles available)
More from Annie B. Bond (3247 articles available)

35 comments

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Better Basics for the Home

Natural living has reached the mainstream: we are now far more concerned about the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the chemicals that surround us, and recognize that government regulations all too often fall short of safeguarding our health. Enter Annie Berthold-Bond, whose Better Basics for the Home is a compendium of practical information -- recipes, tips, and guidelines -- for creating a simpler, cheaper and environmentally safer lifestyle.buy now

35 comments

add your comment »
35 comments add your comment
Solomone Koroi

Hi all.
I own a cleaning business in Ipswich, Brisbane, Australia.
To clean ovens, I have been using a new product called 'green potion'. This product is re-searched and produced by a local single mother who also run a cleaning business.
I have been using these products for over six months now and I have no complaint. I'll say they are the best. For greasy ovens, and exhaust , there are no other product that I can recommend to you apart from Green Potions. There are also other products for bathroom and toilet, tile floors, windows and glass etc. These products are also Eco Friendly products
Check out her website
http://www.greenpotions.com.au
If you live in Australia, find a dealer near you or contact Amanda by phone or e-mail and try them out.
Those commercial products from the shop are total waste of money and time.
I have full confidence on these products and it has help my business a lot, cleaning houses for real estates and for end of lease or bond cleaning, oven cleaning, molds and floor.
Kind regards.
Solo : www.ipswich-home-and-yard-service.com

Samme P.

If you want to know the fastest and safest way to clean your oven with nothing but regular tap water visit the following website and be ready to be amazed.
www.sargentsteam.com

Mary Grose

I use baking soda in water to do the oven trays and even when they are really greasy and burnt onresidue it comes off with a little elbow grease it is great and thanks for all the tips on the oven mine is terrible but I will try your suggestions and see if they work...thanks Kiwikid

Elizabeth Thomas

I tried the baking soda and water but it didn't do the job at all and my oven glass the grease did not even come off a little. I don't know what to do, I have a christmas party coming in the next week and my ovens are stained on the top,bottom,sides and glass and my ovens are only 1 years old,can someone help

Sally Bennett

Unless you have burnt on stuff all over the oven, you only need to sprinkle the baking soda on the worst burnt crud on the oven bottom. Most of the other "stuff" on the sides and top will wipe off with only a litle scrubbing. The microfiber cloth is a great idea.

Torrey Shannon

That's great news! I am glad to hear that the suggestions were helpful. Just make sure you use water with the pumice stone. It needs moisture when you use it on the stuck-on grime. Enjoy sparkling clean racks by using the pumice stone. You'd be amazed at the results.
For those interested, you can purchase high-quality pumice stones in the cosmetic section of most major drug store chains. The ones found in the cleaning aisle tend to fall apart quickly and crumble. Go for the cosmetic pumice stones for better results. Also, you can purchase bulk microfiber towels in Sam's Club, or buy packages in your auto detailing section of any major variety store. The auto detailing towels are larger and thicker. That's where we get ours.

Enjoy green cleaning!
Torrey
www.tailoredmaid.com

DC S.
  • DC S. says
  • Mar 12, 2008 12:44 PM

I used the baking soda paste this weekend and my oven is gleaming....and trust me, that is really something!! I found that less is more. And I left if overnight. The next morning I had to do a bit of scrubbing, but most of it came off with just a wipe. I used a microfibre cloth and that seemed to get it all. I will try a pumice stone on the bits that are still stuck on. To finish, I wiped the oven with vinegar and that seemed to get the rest of the residue. Nice thing is, if you don't get it all, it doesn't smell like chemicals burning!!

Torrey Shannon

Jennifer,
Not knowing how much you used, the age of your oven, or the technique you used...there are many variables. I would guess that you used too much baking soda or used too much water in the cleaning/wiping/scubbing process.
The trick is: Less is more. Use in small sections and thoroughly wipe down before adding more and moving to the next section. It takes time and patience, but it works. I am sorry to hear that you had difficulties. Try using a putty knife (not a paint scraper!) to the edges to help pull it off the corners. Be VERY gentle when doing this so you do not gouge or scratch the surface and make sure to moisten it first. It may also help to use microfiber towels when cleaning your oven so that you can use less water and pull more product off the surface. That's what we use.

Jennifer Olson

I found spreading the paste a real problem; how do you do it? I also found the baking soda residue a real pain to get out; it's stuck in all the corners of the oven. Also using the paste on the oven ceiling around the broiler, light, etc. created real problems. In fact, after doing this, my oven light no longer works, even after changing the bulb.

Torrey Shannon

I own a an all-natural maid service so I will give you some free advice for those asking about the sides and top:
Make a paste and smear on. :)
Also, I do not recommend using foil on the bottom simply because it reduces the efficiency of the oven and reduces air flow.
Lastly, you can use a pumice stone (wet) on your racks and stuck-on grime. For other great tips, see my site!
Torrey (www.tailoredmaid.com)

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  • Excerpt: [...] Berthold-Bond over at Care2 has a great green solution for cleaning the oven with just baking soda and water. ...
  • Blog: Non-Toxic Oven Cleaner
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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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