The clever oven cleaning trick that only uses one ingredient

Sort out the interior of the oven in one fell swoop, with this easy oven cleaning trick

oven in a modern kitchen with red bricks, white cupboards and floating shelves with accessories on them
(Image credit: B&Q)
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Cleaning the oven is officially the most hated household chore. According to a recent survey, it's our least favorite part of the regular big clean – even if we do have the best cleaning products to hand.

Thankfully, when it comes to how to clean an oven, there are lots of tried and tested tricks out there. 

And one thing that might just make the process easier is the bowl of hot water trick.

modern kitchen with double oven with neutral counters, a sleek floor, and a door out to the garden

(Image credit: Used Kitchen Exchange)

Gala Bingo conducted a survey revealing our least favorite house chores. It also found some hacks to help you get your oven sparkling ready for feasts.

Water bowl oven cleaning hack

As well as using the best oven cleaner for a deep clean, you can try using a bowl of hot water. 

The trick is super simple to complete. Once you've finished cooking, turn the temperature up to a high heat and place an oven-proof bowl or dish of hot water inside. 

The steam is supposed to loosen dirt, grease, and grime in your oven, doing the hard work for you. Leave the bowl inside for between 20 minutes to one hour.

dark blue kitchen with open shelving and oven, dark cupboards and a stone floor

(Image credit: Olive & Barr)

Then, once the oven has cooled, you should be able to wipe the oven's surfaces clean pretty easily!

As for how to clean oven racks – which, we'd argue, is even more of a faff than cleaning the interior – there are various methods to try. Whether you soak them in the bath or use bicarbonate of soda, it's always a fiddly job. 

Other oven cleaning hacks to try include using an oven liner to line the base of your oven. This will stop crumbs and burnt food from collecting on the bottom. A boring but effective tip is to remember to give it a quick clean after every use.

modern kitchen with black aga oven and marble kitchen island

(Image credit: Olive & Barr)

As unappealing as it may be, little and often always works. You could also use roasting bags to reduce spills while cooking.

According to the research from Gala Bingo, cleaning windows was the second-worst chore after oven cleaning, followed by washing the car. Surprisingly, more than two in five people in the UK said they would rather wash the dishes than do any other household chore.

Personally, we'd much rather do the mopping...

  • Cleaning the oven 
  • Cleaning the windows 
  • Washing the car  
  • Cleaning the bathroom  
  • Weeding 
  • Changing the bedsheets  
  • Mopping 
  • Ironing 
  • Mowing the lawn 
  • Folding the laundry 

Will you be trying this eco-friendly oven cleaning hack using just water?

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Millie Hurst

Millie joined Real Homes in early 2021 as a homes news writer. When she isn't writing about trends, makeovers and houseplant care, she spends her free time making tweaks to her rented flat in North London. Her next project is a very basic armchair reupholstering job to help create a cosy reading nook in her living room. She loves browsing antique centres, tending to her small front garden, and is never without some fresh flowers at home.

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