While buying a new oven can be exciting when moving into a new home or when re-designing a kitchen, there will be less enthusiasm if you have to make a purchase due to a fault or breakdown.
How you look after your oven will have a bearing on its lifespan - so clean it regularly and you can enjoy a long and happy relationship with the appliance!
Prevention is better than cure
It may be an old saying, but the adage "prevention is better than cure" certainly rings true when it comes to oven maintenance.
Wipe down the inside and outside of your oven on a regular basis and you will no longer need the hardcore cleaners required for those marks and stains that just won't budge. By getting in the habit of following a few simple steps, the days of getting on your hands and knees to scrub at week-old stains can become a thing of the past.
Regular wipe downs
It may sound simple, but regularly wiping down the exterior of your oven is one of the simplest and best ways to keep it looking shiny and new. Everyone wipes down their worktops when they become dirty, so why not incorporate the front and top of the cooker into this? Quick and easy, yet so very effective.
Use baking trays to catch spillages
Spillages are the cause of most stains in your oven, so why not take a pre-emptive approach and catch them before they hit the oven floor? Placing a baking tray at the bottom of the oven is a great way to do this. Remember to put a baking sheet covered in foil over the tray, but make sure the foil isn't touching any heating elements that could melt it.
Loosen grease with steam
One of the most effective ways of budging oven grease is with steam. By placing a bowl of hot water in the oven for 20 minutes at a high temperature, the steam created will loosen the dirt and make it much easier for you to wipe away using your cleaning product.
Don't forget the racks
Oven racks will build up their fair share of dirt, so don't forget to give them a good clean along with the rest of the oven. Simply placing them in the dishwasher should do the trick, but leaving them to soak in cleaning solution before using an abrasive pad will also suffice.
© Axonn 2015