How to Clean Oven Cleaner Residue From an Enamel Oven

A few easy tips for cleaning residue out of your oven.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Paper towels
• Liquid dish detergent
• gloves
• oven safe pan
• sponge
• bowl

1. If you've just cleaned the oven the residue is fairly simple to remove. Using good quality paper towels simply wipe up all the remaining cleaner that you can.
2. Add a squirt of dish detergent to a bowl of warm water and use the sponge to wipe off any residue that wouldn't come up on a paper towel. Make sure the oven is completely cool before wiping up any cleaner that may have gotten on the heating elements.
3. The lower element should lift slightly, allowing you to easily wipe underneath it. If you left the racks in and they have cleaner on them I suggest tossing them in the dishwasher. They will fit in most dishwashers by laying them flat on the dish racks.
4. If the residue has been left for awhile and has dried completely Try putting a pan of water in the oven and turing on at a low heat for 10 or 15 minutes. Allow the steam to remoisten the cleaner and then just follow the steps above.

Tips & Warnings

• Good quailty paper towels are less likely to leave paper lint in the oven as well as less liekly to fall apart on you. In the future make oven clean-up easier by laying tinfoil in the bottom of the oven. When a spill occurs just toss and replace.
• I personally have quit using oven cleaners, I prefer the tinfoil method. If I do happen to make a mess that requires cleanup I steam the oven and use dish soap and elbow grease.
• Only use the oven cleaner according to the directions found on the container. Make sure that the kitchen is properly ventilated before starting. Wear dish gloves to protect you skin during the cleaning process and consider buying a paper face mask. Oven cleaners contain very strong chemials that can harm the skin on your hands and cause a bruning sensation from breathing the fumes.