We got rid of Mr Muscle some time ago and it must be DH who has always cleaned the oven (at least every 2 years) since then. I just tried to do it and it was impossible. I tried sprinkling with sodium bicarb, which is supposed to dissolve grease, but its the totally burnt on bits that won't shift. Then I scrubbed with Astonish cleaning paste and near boiling water, but there is loads that won't come off after and hour and half of hard work.

Any suggestions?

Hi Tamsin,

In reply to you post 'How do you clean an oven without nasty chemicals?' my response would be I don't ;D

In all seriousness I just use Ecover multi surface and hot water and just do my best. We have an ancient gas oven that doesn't have one of those shiny glass fronts so no one see in the oven unless they are cooking and that is always me so I don't worry. Especially now that we are HEing our girls I just don't have the time to worry about getting little bits off.

Sorry not to be more help. XX

I have to agree. Life's too short to scrub ovens. If it doesn't shift with a quick scrub and it doesn't catch fire when the oven's in use then it's not a problem, in my view  ;D

step by step instructions with the bicarb here:

http://houseofstrauss.co.uk/modules/news/article.php?storyid=27

It might be worth trying again?

Thanks for the responses. Actually I wouldn't bother trying to clean it except there has been a nasty smelly smoke coming out for some time now. I have to have the windows open when the ovens on to get rid of the smoke and I can't stand the smell. Probably not that healthy either to smoke that much. It go so bad that I've only been using the smaller top oven for some time.

Not much help for actually cleaning but a friend of mine has somesort of mat that lays in the bottom that I assume you either take out and wash or replace, sorry I'm probably not being very helpful.  My mumalways had and old baking tray that was covered in foill that I supose she used in the same way.  I haven't actually cleaned our oven sinve the days of banning the chemicals from the house, but apparently our oven is self cleaning never worked out exactly what that means though and no its not sparkling clean 24-7 either ?!?!

Dh thinks lemon and bicarb (hes the domestic godess of the kitchen, no really he is) and use the cut lemon to scrub with aswell as squeezing the juice (I do this to clean the bathroom sometimes).

Anyway its sunday so don't worry about it

I think I've cleaned an oven once in my life!!  I have the sheet from Lakeland and I'm going to wax lyrical about it too!!  When it gets manky, whip it out, wash it in Ecover washing up liquid and bung it back in there - job done!!

Shameful indulgence, but we use http://www.ovenclean.com/ about once every 12-18 months, depending when it starts to look *REALLY* bad!   Afterwards it really does look like a brand new oven! ;D

Try soda chrystals.only need a tiny bit so although bit harsh you can re use it down the drains so gets used twice.Then put foil on bottom and change once a year,no more chemicals!Recycle foil.

[quote author=brupe link=topic=713.msg8137#msg8137 date=1195676824]
Shameful indulgence, but we use http://www.ovenclean.com/ about once every 12-18 months, depending when it starts to look *REALLY* bad!   Afterwards it really does look like a brand new oven! ;D

Ruth, that is so lazy I use a local company called The Clean Oven Co. and have to admit to getting him in twice a year, no harsh chemicals, no smell, all biodegradable, he is great