When you are cooking a crispy meal in the oven, it often happens that the food is not the only thing that becomes crispy.
Sometimes, the oven gets away easy, if we just use it to bake sweets and pies. When speaking of stakes or other meals that require much oil, the situation changes.
The oven gets dirty on the door, the grills and on the sides. Cleaning it and making it look like new requires quality products.
One of the best ways to take care of it is this: cleaning an oven chemical-free.
Conventional oven-cleaning products contain strong ingredients which can break down the grease. Yet, these chemicals can be toxic to your health and the environment.
Have you ever used a strong cleaning product with your bare hands? Do you remember the sensation?
Let me remind you. If you do not wear gloves, it is very likely you will feel a strong itchiness on your skin. Irritations, burning sensations or even allergies are not excluded.
In fact, let me tell you more about the chemicals which cause these reactions.
Chemicals used in conventional oven-cleaning products
Oven-cleaning products are filled with hard to read and complicated to understand chemicals.
Here are a few examples of chemicals and the effects they can have.
Butane
Butane is used as a propellant for aerosol applications.
Inhaling this chemical can lead to:
- euphoria
- drowsiness
- asphyxia
- cardiac arrhythmia
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide is the chemical which actually dissolves the grease, fats, and oils from the oven. It is a caustic ingredient.
If the chemical touches your skin, irritations or chemical burns are likely to happen.
Wearing cleaning rubber gloves is a must.
Diethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether
Diethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether is used as a solvent in oven-cleaning products.
The problem with this chemicals is that it has been linked to liver and kidney damage and it is suspected to be a neurotoxin.
Ammonia
Ammonia is a chemical with a powerful smell and great capacity to evaporate in short time.
Ammonia can be a great respiratory irritant, especially for people with health problems such as asthma or lung issues.
The benefits of cleaning an oven chemical-free
Because cleaning your oven is not one of the easiest jobs, you still need a special solution for cleaning an oven chemical-free.
There are different products which do not contain harsh chemicals and do a great job of cleaning your oven. You can use special oven-cleaning products or multipurpose cleaners.
Both of them are a great choice and can leave your oven sparkling.
*Some multipurpose cleaners need to be mixed with water (depending on the product). Make sure you pay attention to this aspect when choosing your product.
Also, both of them come with some great benefits.
A safer alternative to your health
When choosing cleaning products, think about your skin, your eyes, your lungs and other body parts and organs that may be affected by the chemicals.
Some chemicals have immediate side effects, while others take time.
Cleaning an oven chemical-free using chemical-free products can be a safer alternative to your health.
You take care of your home, keep it clean and you also protect your family’s health.
Do not pose a threat to the environment
Do you think those chemicals are dangerous only for you?
The environment has to suffer as well. Those harsh ingredients can end up in waters and in contact with different species of plants and animals.
Being constantly exposed to those chemicals or even eating/drinking them can be fatal for the wildlife.
Make your own oven-cleaning solution
Besides trying different products, there is another option for cleaning an oven chemical-free.
You can do this using just a few items you already have in your kitchen. All you will need is:
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 3 tablespoons of water
- 1 bottle of white vinegar
Start by mixing the baking soda with the water. You should obtain a white paste. Place it in all the areas of the oven that need to be cleaned. Make sure you have taken out everything from your oven (racks, pizza stone).
Leave your oven this way for 12 hours or overnight. I know it is a long process, but it’s totally worth it.
After this, take a damp cloth and wipe out the baking soda. If it is too hard, use a silicone or wooden spatula.
Put the vinegar in a spray bottle and spray all over the oven. Remove the baking soda and vinegar foam using a damp cloth.