You spend hours scrubbing off grease and carbon deposits, and after a couple of weeks they return, as if mocking your efforts.
The problem is not laziness, but the methods you use.
For example, abrasive sponges and metal scrapers leave micro-scratches on the enamel.
Grease gets trapped in these cracks, making each subsequent cleaning more difficult.
Instead, try a “steam bath.” Fill a heatproof bowl with water, add half a cup of lemon juice or 100 ml of vinegar, and place in an oven preheated to 100–120 °C for an hour.
Steam will soften even old stains, and you can wipe them off with a regular sponge.
But what to do with burnt sugar from pies or caramel? Sprinkle the stain with soda, pour vinegar and wait until the reaction stops fizzing.
Then wipe the surface with a damp cloth - the alkali and acid will dissolve any traces of sweets.
For gas ovens, there is a separate tip: remove the grates and soak them overnight in warm water with some dishwashing liquid. In the morning, all you have to do is brush them off and the carbon will disappear.
Don't forget about the door! Wipe the glass with a mixture of water and ammonia (1:1), and treat the rubber seal with vegetable oil - this will prevent drying out and cracks.
And most importantly: do not use chemical self-cleaning agents if the oven has enamel parts.
They emit toxic fumes that penetrate the coating.
It's best to clean your oven once a month, even if it doesn't seem dirty. Preventive maintenance will save you from hours of grinding with a brush and extend the life of your appliance for years.
