Special Kitchen Cleaning Challenges

Food Preparation Surfaces

Public health officials recommend sanitizing food preparation surfaces by washing with hot, soapy water. Rinse with clear water, and then sanitize the cleaned surfaces with a solution of 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach to 1 liter of water. Use this method on counters, in sinks and for cutting boards, wherever food may be placed during preparation.

Oven

Heat plus grease plus food spills equal a tough cleaning chore: the oven. Baked-on food and spattered grease require additional firepower in the form of specialty cleaners. Commercial oven cleaners do the job well, but are formulated with corrosive products such as sodium hydroxide (lye), and should be handled with extreme care.

Safety First: Whatever the cleaning method, protect eyes, skin and clothing while cleaning the oven. Wear long sleeves and rubber gloves to protect arms and hands; safety goggles or glasses prevent injury to the eyes. A painter's mask guards against corrosive fumes, particularly when using spray oven cleaner products. Where possible, use a liquid formulation.

Follow Directions: If using commercial oven cleaners, read the directions first, and then follow them. Oven cleaners may be formulated to work on warm ovens or cold ones, so get the method straight before you begin. Newer versions offer fume-free cleaning for a healthier home.

Rinse Clean: After cleaning, use a spray bottle filled with water to rinse the oven walls, and then wipe them dry with a cleaning cloth. This process removes the last traces of oven cleaner, and prevents your next meal from tasting like cleaning chemicals! Similarly, be careful to remove all traces of oven cleaner from around the oven door gasket and seal.

Try Green Alternatives: If you don't like the idea of corrosive commercial oven cleaners, there is a greener option: baking soda. Sprinkle an even 1/4-inch layer of baking soda in the bottom of a cold oven, and then lightly dampen the soda with water; it should be moist, but not wet. Spread the paste over the walls and ceiling.

Let the soda paste stand for 12-24 hours, re-wetting if it dries out. The paste dissolves grease and softens burned-on food, and makes it easier to remove next day. You will need to apply some elbow grease to the job, but you'll avoid working with corrosive cleaners.

To clean oven racks and drip pan the green way, soften them up with an ammonia bath. Place the racks and pan in a large, leak-proof black garbage bag, and add 1/4 cup nonsudsy ammonia. Seal the garbage bag, and place it outdoors or in a garage overnight. The ammonia will soften baked-on food and make for easy cleaning the next morning. Rinse thoroughly and remove any remaining food, and then dry the racks and drip pan before replacing them in the oven.