Tackling Fridge and Oven Cleaning
Posted: Thursday, December 09, 2010
by Pamela Garner
http://cleaningsecretsinfo.com
The "beasts of the kitchen" do not need to be cleaned as part of your regular routine, but you should make time every once in awhile to deal with them. Here are some quick tips for cleaning out your fridge and four detailed options for cleaning a filthy oven.
The Fridge
Throw things out. If they are expired or you've had them forever and are never going to eat them. Move all of the items on a shelf to the right then spray and wipe the left side. Repeat for each shelf. As you are doing this make sure to be checking the items you are moving. If they are messy or have a spill on them, wipe with a wet cloth.
The Oven
There are four options for attacking the inside of your oven. I use the traditional option, but there are others worth mentioning though I cannot personally speak to their effectiveness. Many people swear by them.
Before beginning on the inside of your oven remove your racks and soak them in either a warm soapy water solution (if not so dirty) or ammonia and water (if filthy.) Scrub them after they have been left to soak. Now, for the inside of the oven:
1. The Traditional Option:
- Spray the oven cleaner on all surfaces inside the oven (including the door and racks, but not the light) the night before you intend to clean it.
- The next morning scrub the oven with a green pad. Use a scraper on particularly hard gunk.
- Wipe out the oven with paper towels.
- Then spray and wipe the whole oven with all-purpose cleaner.
- Turn on the oven to 400 degrees for 15 minutes to recover. After it cools wipe away any extra gunk.
2. The Ammonia Option
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees, and then let it cool.
- Place a ½ cup of ammonia in a bowl into the cool oven. Leave overnight
- Wipe the muck that the ammonia should have loosened out with papertowels the next day.
- Use a scrub pad or steel wool to scrub particularly mucky spots.
- Rinse with warm water.
- If oven is particularly greasy soak a washcloth in a solution of ½ cup ammonia and ½ cup of hot water and scrub.
3. The Baking Soda Option
- Make a paste of baking soda and water.
- Coat your oven in this paste and leave overnight.
- Scoop the muck out the next day.
- Rinse.
4. Oh, your oven self cleans? Read the directions and know that I'm jealous.
My favorite hint when it comes to many of the grimiest kitchen appliances is the power of aluminum foil. I cover the silver dishes under the coils on the stovetop with it. I line the bottom of my oven with it. I line baking sheets with it when baking or using the toaster oven. Aluminum foil catches the messes and I can replace it easily so I spend less time scrubbing.
Pamela Garner hates to clean. Her answer? Develop a "Speed Cleaning Secrets" system to make it as painless as possible. You can see more tips on kitchen cleaning at her site www.cleaningsecretsinfo.com. While you are there, check out her free email minicourse on speed cleaning.
Orginal Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pamela_Garner
This Article has been viewed 151 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I like the ammonia option. Doesn't it leave the oven stinking of ammonia, though?
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.