Oven cleaning and maintenance

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”36793″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Ovens are useful for cooking big meals and making desserts. Oftentimes, after baking up dinner or a cake, we finish cleaning up the dishes and the kitchen without cleaning the oven. It’s a tedious task, but it’s more difficult to remove stains that have been baked on over time. These stains, usually from meat juices and oil, would be easier to remove if you regularly clean your oven. Some ovens are self-cleaning, but are more expensive than usual ovens.

Self-cleaning ovens are available in the form of pyrolytic ovens. These heat up to 500 degrees celsius to turn the food residues into ash, which you wipe away. Most ovens like this lock the doors and can only be opened when the temperature falls into a safe zone.

Steam ovens offer steam cleaning option. It’s a simple process. You will the baking tray with water and then turn it on. During the cleaning cycle, it will loosen the baked-on food and grease. Once it’s finished, wipe the oven clean with a soapy cloth.

You also have the option to use chemical oven cleaners but these are dangerous. Contact with the eyes or skin can cause severe irritation, deep burns, or even blindness. To be safe, work in a well-ventilated working area, follow safety instructions on the package, and wear a long-sleeve top and gloves to avoid contact with the chemicals.

In general, here are some tips you can follow when cleaning your oven.

• Soak removable metal parts in warm water with liquid or powder detergent.
• Use a vacuum cleaner to remove ash after a pyrolytic clean then wipe the walls off with warm soapy water.
• Try to clean your oven regularly so that each clean would not have to take as much effort.
• If using an oven cleaner, clean the roof last to avoid it dripping onto your arms.
• Instead of a chemical oven cleaner, you can use bicarb soda and vinegar. Bicarb soda removes stains, vinegar cuts through grease.
• Finally, when cleaning stainless steel sections, do small sections at a time to prevent streaking. You can use hot water and a microfiber cloth, vinegar and a paper towel, methylated spirits and a paper towel, or citrus-based all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth.

Cleaning and maintenance is a large part of owning an oven. If you’re considering buying one, check out our site or visit your nearest EMCOR store.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]