The oven is the single most-checked item at a final inspection, and the most dreaded DIY clean. Here’s a method that does most of the work for you while you get on with something else.
The overnight paste method
- ✓Remove racks and soak them in hot, soapy water
- ✓Mix bicarb soda with a little water into a spreadable paste
- ✓Coat the inside of the oven (avoid the heating elements) and leave overnight
- ✓Wipe out with a damp cloth, spray stubborn spots with vinegar
- ✓Clean the door glass last with a scraper for baked-on grime
Don’t forget the rangehood
Pop the metal filters in the dishwasher or soak them in hot water with a degreaser. A greasy rangehood filter is an easy mark-down at inspection that takes ten minutes to fix.
When to skip it
Self-cleaning ovens, pyrolytic models and badly neglected ovens are often faster and safer to hand to a professional, who uses commercial degreasers and won’t risk damaging the seals or elements.