How to clean an oven (the easy South African way)

What you'll need

• Gosh Oven Cleaner
• Rubber gloves and an open window (oven cleaner is caustic)
• A non-scratch scouring pad and a plastic scraper
• Two cloths — one for lifting dirt, one for rinsing
• An old towel or newspaper for the floor

Step-by-step: cleaning a greasy oven

1. Make sure the oven is completely cold and switched off at the wall. Never spray cleaner into a warm oven.
2. Take out the racks, trays and any loose shelving and put them in the sink or a bath.
3. Scrape out loose crumbs and burnt bits with a plastic scraper, then wipe the base dry.
4. Spray Gosh Oven Cleaner evenly over the interior walls, the base and the inside of the glass door. Avoid the heating elements and the fan.
5. Leave it to work for 20–30 minutes. This is where the product does the scrubbing for you — don't rush it.
6. Wipe from the top down with a damp cloth, re-wetting stubborn spots and giving them another few minutes rather than forcing them.
7. Rinse with a clean, water-only cloth at least twice so no residue is left behind.
8. Spray the racks in the sink, leave them 20 minutes, scrub with a non-scratch pad and rinse well.
9. Leave the door open for an hour to air, then run the oven empty at 180 °C for 15 minutes to burn off any last traces.

The oven door glass

The inside pane is usually the worst-looking part and the easiest win. Lay the oven door flat if it comes off, spray, leave 20 minutes and wipe with a non-scratch pad in small circles. For a streak-free finish, follow up with a light spray of multipurpose cleaner and a dry microfibre cloth.

Safety first

• Always wear gloves and keep the kitchen ventilated.
• Keep oven cleaner away from children, pets and food surfaces.
• Never mix oven cleaner with bleach, acid or drain cleaner.
• Don't use it on aluminium, self-cleaning oven liners or painted exteriors.

How often should you deep clean?

For a household that cooks most nights, a full deep clean every three months keeps things manageable. Wipe spills while the oven is still slightly warm after cooking and you'll double the time between deep cleans.