Cleaning the stove can often seem like a rather daunting task, as grease, food spills and stubborn dirt accumulate on the stove.
While you may be tempted to go with a commercial cleaner, they can get quite expensive if you use them regularly and are usually full of harsh chemicals.
Instead, Lottomart’s experts have come up with an effective and affordable do-it-yourself oven cleaning method using common household ingredients.
Their homemade solution consists of four readily available components: baking soda, white vinegar, liquid dishwashing detergent, and water.
They state that with the amounts used of each ingredient, the total amount used to create this solution is about 65p.
- Baking soda: around 80p to £1.50 a 500g box. For this recipe you will use about 20p worth.
- White Vinegar: Around £1-£2 per litre, costs around 5p per quantity required.
- Liquid dishwashing liquid: £1-£3 for a 500ml bottle and this solution uses around 10p.
- Optional addition: A few drops of essential oils such as lemon or tea tree can be added for a refreshing scent and added antibacterial properties. A small bottle costs around £3-£8 and this recipe only takes 30p.
To make a cleaning paste, you should mix half a cup of baking soda with half a cup of water in a bowl to make a thick consistency.
Then mix in a tablespoon of liquid dish soap until the mixture is evenly mixed, and if you want a scented cleaner, just add 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil.
Spread the paste generously on the surface of the stove, focusing on areas with a lot of grease or burnt food.
After this, pour a quarter of a cup of white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it lightly over the applied paste. The reaction with the baking soda in the paste creates a gentle effervescence that helps remove stubborn dirt.
Let the solution sit for 15-20 minutes, allowing the ingredients to effectively break down tough stains.
Scrub the stove lightly with a sponge or soft cloth in circular motions. The abrasive nature of baking soda helps remove remaining dirt without scratching the surface.
Finally, wet a clean cloth with water to remove the paste and loosen the dirt. Dry the surface with another clean, dry cloth so that the end result is streaky.
