Handy Tips

Oven cleaners are typically full of harsh chemicals, but they don’t have to be. This homemade oven cleaner will cut through grease, help lift burned on food and leave your oven sparkling clean and smelling fresh! Bonus: you only need a few household ingredients to make it yourself. First get a clean spray bottle and add 1½ cups of water. Next, add 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to the spray bottle. (Any dishwashing liquid will do. The dishwashing liquid will help cut through grease.) Finally, add 10 drops of citrus essential oil to the mixture. Citrus essential oils help to lift any burned-on food and debris that may be left behind in your oven. You can choose orange, lemon, lime, tangerine or a mixture of citrus essential oils.

Because this cleaning solution doesn’t contain chemical binders, it works best if you shake it before each use.

To use, spray your oven liberally with your homemade oven cleaner and let sit for a few minutes. Use a sponge to help loosen burnedon food and debris and wipe away with a clean cloth or paper towels.

Tip For really tough burned-on food, spray with the homemade oven cleaner and then add a sprinkle of baking soda. Use a scrubber to remove the burned on items and wipe away with a clean cloth. (eHow)