How to Clean your Oven with Lemon: Top 4 methods and tips

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You probably always wipe your countertops after each use. Most people also wipe the sink and dry it to leave it spotless at the end of the day. However, most people don’t clean their ovens that often.

If you’ve been ignoring or putting off cleaning your oven, I’ve got you. It’s never too late to start, and once you clean your oven, you’ll immediately see the difference. But, do you have to use chemicals to keep your oven spotless? In this article, you’ll learn about how to clean an oven with lemon, and all the benefits that it brings.

Why Should You Clean Your Oven?

After using your oven to prepare the most delicious dishes, it’s time to clean all the food residue. Even if you own a self-cleaning oven, you still need to spend time and effort to keep it clean. Here is why you should clean your oven regularly.

• All the food residue and grease that you can find in the oven will eventually burn. The burned smell will affect the aroma and taste of the food you’re preparing.
• The grease can start a grease fire in your kitchen. The flames from the oven could use the grease as fuel and the fire might affect the overall quality of the oven. In most cases, grease fires are put off on their own, especially if the door is correctly sealed.
• The grease and grime create a layer that changes how heat distributes in the oven. The grease might accumulate on a single side of the oven, and this means that one side of your tray might overcook while the other might not even be cooked well.
• Food residue creates germs and mold when it accumulates. It’s true that the high heat of the oven will be able to kill the mold spores and destroy the bacteria, but if you don’t use it very often it may have time to regrow in the residue. Also, sometimes we use the oven on low heat, and you want to make sure that it’s clean and healthy before anything gets in touch with your food.
• When you clean your oven, you will be able to see any damaged parts that need a professional inspection. If the coating is scratched or rusty, you should have it inspected and replaced by a professional. The grime accumulation could make it more difficult to detect the damage. These faulty parts might affect the way your oven functions or, when taken to an extreme, cause a safety hazard.
• The fumes from the burned grease smell terrible. Although you’re keeping your kitchen clean and you’re doing your best to contain any bad odors, your oven can actually make your kitchen smell like old food.
• Carbon-based fumes are not healthy. Inhaling them can be linked to several respiratory problems and can actually affect people’s health in your house. If you or your kids suffer from asthma, these fumes can make the symptoms worse.

Why Should You Use Lemon to Clean your Oven?

With lots of cleaning solutions on the market, what makes lemon the best option to clean your oven? Lemon-based cleaning solutions can be used to keep your oven spotless. Here are some reasons why you should use lemon to clean your oven.

• Lemon doesn’t contain any chemicals. If you’re worried about using chemicals around the house, especially to clean your kitchen appliances, lemon will be the perfect cleaning solution.
• Lemon contains citric acid, which is potent at breaking the particles of grime and fats. It can be used to remove even old food stains without damaging the oven’s internal coating.
• Because it has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, lemon juice can be used to sanitize your oven. It kills germs and bacteria, guaranteeing that your food won’t get in touch with any toxins.
• The refreshing citrus smell of the lemon is one of the top reasons why it’s so popular as a cleaning agent. As it gets rid of all the old food residue, it also keeps your kitchen smelling clean and fresh.
• The oils in the rind of the lemons add shine and luster to your oven and any other kitchen appliance. If you’re worried about any cleaning chemicals affecting the look of your oven’s internal walls and making the door look dull, you should use lemon as a potent cleaning solution.
• Lemon juice is easy to obtain. If you have old lemons in the fridge that you can no longer cook with, you can still use them for cleaning the oven.
• If you’re allergic to cleaning chemicals or worried about the chemical fumes filling your kitchen, lemon juice will be a safer option. After you switch the oven on, you won’t be worried about any toxic gases filling your kitchen or affecting the aroma of your food.
• Using lemon juice is a green solution. For those of us concerned about our carbon footprint and impact on the environment, using lemon as a general all-purpose cleaning solution for several kitchen appliances is great! It’s a natural and safe cleaning product.

Top 4 methods for cleaning your oven with lemon

Lemon can be used on its own or mixed with other ingredients to clean the oven and remove all the grime that accumulates when you use the oven regularly. It’s a wonderful cleaning solution that doesn’t leave a lingering chemical odor or affect the aroma of your food.

Lemon is also a natural bleach that keeps various surfaces in top condition and doesn’t contain chemicals that can harm the environment or increase asthma symptoms. Lemon juice has antibacterial properties, so you can always make sure that your oven is clean and ready for use.

Because it’s so versatile, you can use lemon in multiple ways to clean the oven and remove all the grime. All these methods are easy and convenient to use.

Method 1.- Wipe it

For this cleaning method, you need nothing but lemons, water, and a clean sponge. This cleaning solution can be used regularly to wipe your oven clean, especially after a food spilling incident or if you’re cooking something that has a strong smell.

• Put on a pair of rubber gloves to protect your skin before cleaning the oven.
• Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice in a bowl. Add some warm water to help break the stuck food particles.
• Soak a clean sponge or cloth in the solution and squeeze it well to make sure that it’s not dripping.
• Wipe the interior walls, exterior surface, and the door of the oven with the cleaning solution. The solution leaves a fresh smell and removes all the stuck food particles.
• Don’t leave the juice on for too long, and use warm water to wipe it clean. Use a clean cloth to dry every surface before using the oven.

Method 2.- Scrub it

Stuck food and grease particles can ruin your oven’s look and affect the aroma of the food you’re cooking. For this method, you can cut the lemons in halves to wipe and scrub the interior of the oven.

• After cutting a lemon in half, use the lemon itself as a cleaning sponge to wipe the interior of the oven. The fibers in the lemon are gentle and will help remove all the stuck particles.
• Use a clean sponge and warm water to get rid of any residue.
• You can use the rind to wipe the door and walls of the oven. The oil in the rind will help polish the surface. If the door looks dull and isn’t transparent enough after using the oven, the cleaning solution will make the glass look clean and clear.
• When you’re done polishing, use warm water to rinse any surface.
• Make sure the oven is dry before you use it again.

Method 3.- Steam it

This method is great for getting rid of the tough grease stains in the oven. The heat and the acid from the lemons will work to break down the fat particles, so they will be easy to remove. You need water, lemons, and a sponge to get rid of the grime.

• Fill an oven-proof bowl with water.
• Squeeze two or three lemons in the bowl and mix well.
• Put the cut lemons in the bowl, as well.
• Turn on the heat of the oven and keep on watching. As soon as the water starts to boil, turn the heat off and let the steam circulate inside the oven.
• Keep the door sealed until the oven is completely cool. You shouldn’t try to clean the oven while it’s still hot. The steam from the oven will break the stuck particles of food and fats, and the cleaning process will be easier because you won’t have to scrub.
• Use a clean sponge to wipe the interior walls of the oven and the door. You can also soak the sponge in the lemon juice to wipe the outside of the oven.
• Rinse the sponge and use water to get rid of any acidic residue.
• Let everything dry before using the oven to prepare a delicious dish for your family.

Method 4.- Mix it up

Lemon juice can be combined with baking soda to prepare a potent cleaning solution. The baking soda enhances the cleaning properties of the lemon juice to remove the stubborn food stains. This mixing solution is easy to prepare and strong enough to keep your oven spotless. For this cleaning solution, you need baking soda and lemon juice.

• Mix one glass of lemon juice with a tablespoon of baking soda and mix well until you have a thick paste.
• Use a clean plastic spatula or a sponge to spread the cleaning solution. Let the cleaning solution sit for 30 minutes to break the fat particles.
• Use a soft brush to scrub the grease stains.
• Once the fat particles have broken, use a clean sponge to wipe any excess.
• Soak the sponge in warm water and remove the cleaning solution. Use a dry piece of cloth to dry the internal walls of the oven.

Prepare a DIY Oven Cleaner from Lemon

This DIY cleaner is an all-purpose cleaner that can clean any surface in your house. It’s extremely potent at getting rid of all the grease residue and burned food in your oven and will leave your oven spotless without having to pay for toxic or expensive cleaning chemicals.

It’s also quite easy to prepare. You simply need lemon juice, cornstarch, and dish soap to prepare this cleaning solution. You can also use this cleaning solution to remove the grease residue from the stove, countertop, or any other surface in the house.

• Put lemon juice in a pot and heat it on low. Add cornstarch gradually until the mixture thickens. Keep on stirring to remove any lumps until the mixture is thick and smooth.
• Leave the lemon mix to cool off.
• Once it has cooled down, stir in the dish soap and mix well.
• Apply the cleaning solution using a clean sponge. Let it sit for 10 minutes. For more stubborn grease spots and food particles, apply a second layer to make sure that it has broken all the grease particles.
• Use a soft brush to scrub the internal walls and door of the oven.
• Use a clean sponge to remove the excess of the cleaning solution.
• Soak the sponge in warm water to remove the soapy residue.
• Use a clean piece of cloth to wipe the oven clean.

What  Else Can You Use Your Lemon Cleaning Solution For?

A homemade lemon-based cleaning solution is useful in many situations. Lemon is a natural bleacher and has strong antibacterial purposes. You can use it to clean various objects in the house.

• Lemon juice can be used to wipe countertops. It works on multiple surfaces, even the ones that don’t handle toxic chemicals. However, you shouldn’t leave the lemon juice on top of your counter for too long, as it can be too strong and might damage the finish or change the color.
• You can use lemon juice to scrub the bottoms of your pans and pots. Copper pots and pans change color with repeated use. Cutting a lemon in half and scrabbing them with it will restore them to their original state.
• If you have any bathroom or kitchen fixtures that have changed color or look dull, you should use lemon juice to restore them to their original color. You can scrub the fixtures with salt and then use lemon juice to wipe them clean.
• You can use lemon rinds with warm water to clean the drain. It will freshen the smell of the drain and remove any clogs.
• Lemon juice can be used to de-grease the stove and remove any food splatter.
• You can use lemon juice to wipe the glass. It makes the glass transparent and removes any stains.

Wrap Up

Lemon juice is a potent cleaning solution. You can use it to remove the tough grease stains in the oven when it’s used alone or mixed with other ingredients like baking soda.

The steam coming out of the lemon juice will dissolve the grease particles in your oven. You can also use it to scrub the internal walls and oven door to make sure that everything is spotless before using your oven for baking a new dish for your loved ones.

Further Reading

• Back to Kitchen