The Best Natural Oven Cleaner Recipe Featuring Lemon Juice

If you're on the lookout for a natural and effective solution to bring back the shine to your oven, we've got just the thing for you.

It's common knowledge that lemons work wonders when it comes to cleaning – thanks to the citric acid and vitamin C they pack, they're excellent at banishing stains and battling limescale. Not to mention, lemons are naturally antibacterial and can effortlessly neutralise any lingering unpleasant odours.

With a touch of elbow grease and the right mix of ingredients, you can achieve a gleaming finish that leaves your oven looking as good as new.  So, if you're ready to give your oven a natural refresh, lets dive right.

If you’re struggling to remove some of the tougher dirt from your oven or hob, why not try a hob cleaner? These simple tools are easy to use and effective at removing tough, burnt on food – we take a look at how to use a hob scraper in an earlier blog post.

It’s also best to keep in mind that these methods are effective for the cleans between deep cleans –the results may not be as good as that of a chemical oven cleaner, but it will work perfectly fine to keep on top of your oven.

 

 

Homemade Oven Cleaner with Lemon Juice

Ingredients

Baking soda: about 130g

Liquid dish soap: 2-3 tablespoons

Lemon juice: 2 tablespoons

Water: Enough to make a thick paste

Instructions

1. Mix ingredients: In a bowl, combine the baking soda and liquid dish soap. Stir well to form a smooth paste.
2. Add lemon juice: Squeeze in fresh lemon juice into the mixture. Lemon juice helps cut through grease and provides a pleasant fragrance.
3. Adjust consistency: If the mixture is too thick, add a small amount of water gradually until you achieve a thick but spreadable paste.
4. Apply the paste: Spread the paste over the interior surfaces of your oven, avoiding any heating elements. Focus on areas with stubborn stains or grease build-up.
5. Let it sit: Allow the cleaner to sit for at least 30 minutes. This gives the ingredients time to break down grime and stains.
6. Scrub and wipe: Use a sponge, scouring pad, or old toothbrush to scrub away the loosened dirt and grease. Wipe down the surfaces with a damp cloth.
7. Rinse: Rinse the oven surfaces thoroughly with a clean, damp cloth to remove any remaining cleaning residue. If there are still stubborn spots, you may need to repeat the process or focus on those areas.

It’s as simple as that. Whilst it might be tempting to leave the paste on overnight for the best results, we would not recommend it – the paste can dry on, making it more difficult to remove in the long term.

If you have particularly stubborn stains, you can try reapplying the paste and letting it sit for an additional 15-20 minutes before scrubbing.

OvenClean.com also gives their own effective DIY lemon oven cleaner – mix 1 cup of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of corn starch and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. Stir together the lemon juice and corn starch, and heat until the mixture thickens. Cool to room temperature and mix in your dish soap – then, use as you would any regular oven cleaner.

 

 

Simple Lemon and Water Method

Here’s another method to loosen the grime in your oven.

Fill an oven-safe baking pan with a cup of warm water and add the juice of two lemons. Slice the rest of the lemon into thick slices and place in the bowl. Place inside an oven and switch it on.

The idea behind this method is that the hot water and lemon will create a steam, which will soften any of the stains and grease inside the oven.

Keep an eye on the oven – as soon as you see the water start to boil, turn the oven of and allow it to cool with the doors closed.

Allow the oven to cool (but not get cold), then use the lemon juice mix with a soft scouring pad to clean the oven walls. Then, use a dry cloth or kitchen roll to wipe off the residue.

A halved (or quartered) lemon can also be used to go after greasy stains, particularly on the stainless steel around the gas burners on your hob and on your oven doors.

Simply use it almost like you would a scouring pad to work at the tough grease that’s left behind. Coast the surface of the lemon in baking soda for particularly tough spots.

There are many methods of making your own cleaning solutions at home. It is worth trying several methods to find which is the best one for you.

 

Tips For Success

Whilst this may seem like stating the obvious, these DIY cleaners should not be used on self-cleaning ovens, as it may interfere with the self-cleaning function.

Spread newspaper or old towels around your oven to protect the floor while you work (this will also make the clean-up easier). Also, keep yourself safe – remember to wear gloves (and, if necessary, goggles) to protect your skin and eyes from irritation.

Ensure your kitchen is properly ventilated – keep windows open or use a fan to help dissipate any fumes and odours. Before adding your cleaning solution, remove any loose food debris to make the process more effective.

Be careful not to get the cleaning mixture on the heating elements of your oven, as it can cause damage. Apply the mixture carefully, focusing on the interior surfaces.

Always refer to your oven's manufacturer guidelines for cleaning and maintenance. Some ovens have specific cleaning instructions or may not be suitable for certain cleaning methods.

 

 

How Often Do Ovens Have to be Cleaned?

Try to clean your oven once every three months to keep it in top condition. Clean up bigger spills as soon as they happen to prevent food from getting baked on to the surfaces.

You may need to clean your oven more often if you’re an avid baker or cook. On the other hand, those who only use their ovens a couple times a month may get away with cleaning only twice a year.

 

Conclusion

To summarise, can use lemon juice as a versatile and easy cleaning solution for all over the kitchen, not just your oven, while the inherent antibacterial properties of lemons add an extra layer of cleanliness, neutralising odours for a fresh, citrusy aroma.

Whether you opt for the homemade oven cleaner with lemon juice or the simple lemon and water method, maintaining a clean oven is a rewarding endeavour. Just a reminder: take precautions, follow safety guidelines, and always refer to your oven's manufacturer guidelines