Who hasn’t experienced this? After a cozy pizza night or Sunday roast, the oven often looks like a battlefield. Burnt-on grease and encrusted residue seem to be there forever. But before you reach for harsh chemical cleaners that smell pungent and irritate your airways, there’s a brilliant, tried-and-tested trick.
Grandma’s secret weapon: The baking soda and vinegar method.
It’s extremely inexpensive, completely non-toxic, and practically does the job by itself.
The dynamic duo: How it works
The trick uses a simple chemical reaction. When baking soda (a base) meets vinegar (an acid), carbonic acid is produced, which fizzes vigorously. This process breaks down even stubborn, burnt-on crusts both mechanically and chemically.
What you need:
Baking soda (approx. 3-4 tablespoons)
Water (for mixing)
Vinegar or diluted vinegar in a spray bottle
A regular dish sponge
Step-by-step instructions
- Mix the magic paste
Mix the baking soda powder in a small bowl with a little water until a thick paste forms (ratio approximately 1:1 or 2:1). It should be spreadable but not runny. - Apply and relax
Spread the paste onto the dirty areas in the oven (avoiding heating elements and fan openings). Now comes the most important part: Let the paste work for at least 30 minutes, but ideally overnight. Time is your best friend here – the longer it works, the less scrubbing you’ll have to do later. - The freshness boost with vinegar
Now spray some vinegar or diluted diluted vinegar onto the dried baking soda paste. It immediately starts to foam vigorously. This foam penetrates even the smallest crevices of the encrustation and finally loosens it from the metal. - Simply wipe it away
After the foam has subsided (after about 10 minutes), take a damp sponge. You’ll be surprised how easily the burnt-on dirt can now be wiped away. Finally, wipe it again with clean water – done!
💡 Extra tip for lazy people: The steam method
If you’re in a real hurry and the dirt is still fresh: Fill an ovenproof dish with water and the juice of one lemon. Place it in the oven at 120°C (250°F) for about 30 minutes. The evaporating lemon juice loosens grease on the walls. Once the oven has cooled down a bit, it can be easily wiped clean.
With these methods, hours of sweaty scrubbing are finally a thing of the past!