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Deep oven cleaning is one of the chores where using a DIY homemade cleaner might just not cut it.

What cleaning products to use for a really dirty oven?

Some prefer natural cleaning formulas and DIY recipes, while others opt for commercial oven cleaning products. Both options are fine. However, if we have to be honest, the effectiveness of each cleaner depends on how dirty your oven is.

• A commercial cleaner is the most efficient option if the oven cavity is heavily soiled. These products contain powerful ingredients that quickly cut through grease and baked-on food spills with minimal scrubbing.
• If your oven is not that dirty, you can use dish soap or prepare your own cleaning solution using natural ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. However, this approach requires a lot of elbow grease, and you may have to repeat the whole cleaning process a few times. That is why we don’t recommend it when dealing with a very grimy oven.

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Our fool-proof oven cleaning method

Deep cleaning your oven can be quite a challenge, but if you approach it seriously and make enough time to do the job right, the results are worth it! When using commercial cleaners, it’s mandatory to take some precautions and protect yourself and the surfaces in your kitchen. We also recommend gathering all the tools and products you’ll need in advance. Once you start cleaning the oven, you wouldn’t want to drop everything off and go to the supermarket for more supplies.

Read also: How to Clean and Maintain Your Self-Cleaning Oven

Wearing thick rubber gloves will protect your hands when using commercial oven cleaners.

Safety measures when using commercial oven cleaners

Commercial cleaning products are very efficient; however, you must take precautions when using them because if their potent ingredients. Some of these chemicals can burn your skin, and the fumes can irritate your skin, eyes and airways. That is why it’s imperative to wear rubber gloves when using commercial cleaners and ensure the area is well-ventilated while you clean the oven.

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Also, these cleaners are designed specifically for the inside of the oven and oven only! They can cause damage to other surfaces in your kitchen, such as wood cabinets and hardwood floors, and some of the ingredients can even etch stainless steel surfaces. To avoid such unpleasant situations, be careful not to overspray the product and get it anywhere besides the oven cavity. It is also good to lay a large trash bag and a rag under and around the oven door to catch drips from the cleaning product. This protective layer will serve two purposes – shield the floors from burning chemicals and help contain the mess during the cleaning.

Prepare all the necessary cleaning supplies in advance.

Products and materials you’ll need

Below is a full list of all the tools and products you need to cover any situation when cleaning a heavily soiled oven. Depending on how dirty your appliance is, you may need only some of the things on the list or all. Still, it’s wise to have everything ready so that you can clean without interruptions.

• Rubber gloves
• Safety glasses (optional)
• A non-scratch scouring pad
• Sponge cloth (or paper towels if you prefer them)
• Old toothbrush
• Scraper
• A few large garbage bags
• Rags or old towel
• Commercial oven cleaning product of your choice*

* If you can’t decide on what brand to use, you can try the products of Oven Mate or Oven Pride, as well as Easy-Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner, to name a few. We are not affiliated with any of these sellers or brands; but we know that their ingredients work very well in removing baked-on food and grease when cleaning your oven at home.

Make sure the cavity of your oven is evenly covered by the cleaner.

Cleaning the oven step-by-step

1. Start by unplugging the oven from the socket. Some models have sensor buttons, and, of course, you can activate the lock mode. But sometimes, you can accidentally turn on the appliance when you clean it. Our experience has taught us that unplugging the oven is a small safety measure that can make a big difference and save you a lot of trouble.
2. Make sure your kitchen is well-ventilated. You can either open a window or turn on the extractor hood.
3. Lay the rags around and under the oven to contain the mess. If the kitchen floor is hardwood, put a few large garbage bags under the rags to add an extra safety layer.
4. Put on your gloves and safety glasses.
5. Empty the oven, taking out all dishes and broiler pans you store inside.
6. Remove the oven racks and set them aside.
7. Apply the cleaner in the oven following the instructions on the product’s label. You can use an old toothbrush to help spread the product more evenly onto hard-to-reach places. Make sure to cover the whole cavity of the oven, including the door.
8. IMPORTANT! Don’t apply cleaner on the electric heating elements or gas vents.
9. Close the door and let the product do its magic. Most cleaners take at least 30 minutes to work, but it can take up to 3 hours for heavily soiled ovens.
10. While you wait for the cleaner to cut through the grease and grime inside the oven, you can get down to cleaning the oven racks. Some people soak them in their bathtubs. However, we don’t recommend doing this because removing built-up food and grease from the racks can be messy and soil your bathtub. Instead, apply the cleaner on both sides of the racks and put them in a large garbage bag. Close the bag tightly and wait 30 minutes. Some brands have cleaning kits that have heavy-duty bags included with the sole purpose of cleaning the racks.
11. After waiting for the cleaner to do its job, it’s time to remove the residues. Use a damp sponge cloth or a sponge to wipe down the interior of the oven and racks. You must rinse your sponge frequently with clean water as you wipe each side.
12. Even after using a heavy-duty cleaner, there might be some patches of baked-on food. However, you can be sure that the product has helped loosen the dirt. To remove the last dirt and food residues, you can use a scraper or scouring pad to scrub them away.
13. Once the oven cavity, door and racks are clean, it’s time to reassemble the appliance. Place the racks back and enjoy the result – your oven is ready for use!

PLEASE NOTE: Sometimes, you will have dirt or greasy drips between the oven door glass panels. The best way to clean this space is to disassemble the door. However, this is quite a complex task requiring some tools and knowledge.  Oven doors have at least 2 glass panels (some models have 3). They are heavy, so there’s a significant risk of dropping the door or breaking the glass if you don’t know what to do. Not to mention, dismantling the oven door will void the appliance’s warranty. It’s best to check the manufacturer’s website for instructions on how to deal with the problem without damaging the oven or voiding the warranty.

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Baking a frozen pizza like this will get your oven dirty very fast. Using baking trays and pans will help keep the appliance cleaner.

How often should I clean my oven?

Now that your oven is sparkly, it is wise to plan when to clean it again to avoid going through the same gruelling process you’ve just finished. Since the cavity of your oven is usually out of sight, it may also be out of mind. Don’t worry – as you use the appliance, you will notice a few unmistakable signals that it needs a good scrubbing:

• There is grease or grime splattered on the door.
• There is crusty baked food or residue that looks burned on the bottom of the oven.
• A burnt or greasy smell arises when the oven is running.
• You notice smoke or fumes appear when you turn the oven.
• The food starts to taste bad, most noticeably in baked goods like bread or cake.

Still, your oven cleaning routine depends on how you use it. Ideally, it would be best to wipe spills and overflows as soon as possible to avoid baked-on food and grease build-ups. If you cook in your oven daily, you should deep-clean it at least once every 3 months or when you notice one or more of the listed signs above. Also, it is a good idea to clean the appliance before major holidays like Christmas, when you’ll be using it more. Of course, taking care of the dirt before these problems appear is better. But even if the appliance gets heavily soiled due to lack of time – now you have the ultimate step-by-step guide on how to clean a dirty oven.

We go through the same steps when cleaning ovens as a part of our end of tenancy cleaning service. We’ve dealt with some very soiled appliances on these occasions, and this methods has never failed us. And we are confident our tips will help you bring back the as-new look of your oven.

How to “Freshen Up” Your Mattress at Home

First off, we are going to show you how to “freshen up” your mattress at home. We recommend that you complete this process every 2 or 3 months. This procedure is to help get rid of bacteria, grime, and dust that is lodged into the fibres of your mattress. Your mattress will be completely refreshed and deodorised after completing these few steps. But first, here is a list of things to equip yourself with:

• Hoover;
• Bicarbonate of soda and/or cornstarch;
• Essential oils (optional).

Check also: The Future of Sleep: Innovative Mattress Pads Are Revolutionising Our Rest 

Now that you have gathered your tools, here are our tips on how to freshen up your mattress:

1. First thing first, vacuum the top side of your mattress (we will worry about the underside later).
2. Now, get your dry compound (soda bicarb and/or cornstarch) and sprinkle a generous amount over the surface of your mattress. Leave this a good hour or so (the longer, the better). This is to give the dry compound time to absorb all of the nasties that have buried themselves into the fibres.
3. Last but not least, hoover again. Make sure you get up all of the dry compounds so as there are no unpleasant crumbs left in your bed. You may also add 10-20 drops of your favourite essential oils to add a pleasant fragrance. Lavender is a great option for a good night’s sleep.

Read also: 6 Questions About Your Mattress You Always Wanted to Ask a Professional Cleaner

How to Care for Your Mattress at Home

Now it is time to look at the general care for your mattress. Seeing as we spend so much time in our beds, it is no wonder that they have the potential to become something like an amusement park for bacteria and germs. Our team of professional mattress cleaners has put together a list of weekly and monthly chores to incorporate into your routine to guarantee this does not happen.

Check also: Mattress Cleaning With Caution And Diligence

What Tasks to Add to Your Cleaning Routine:

1. Changing the bedclothes regularly. This is an important one as people sweat a lot during the night, shed dead skin cells, among other things that produce other bodily fluids. We advise this be done at least once a week and at least twice a week if you have pets or children.
2. Vacuuming the mattress. Despite our constant changing of the sheets, dirt still accumulates under the sheets. If left for too long, dust and grime will work itself into the fibres of the mattress, making the chore of cleaning much harder. Our professionals advise a monthly mattress hoovering for best results.
3. Flipping your mattress is another thing you should do every now and then. Once every 6 months should do the trick. This helps prevent one side deteriorating from being ignored by everyone but dust and dirt.
4. Another thing we think is important to mention as there is a lot of misinformation on the subject – if you notice a stain or blemish on your bed, do NOT attempt to tackle it on your own. Most products available on the shelf contain high pH levels and end up adding to the problem instead of helping. For one, you can not rinse out the solution properly without soaking the mattress and eventually causing damage. Stain-removal specialists tend to have access to products that you won’t find on the shelf. They also usually have special equipment to help deal with the issue.

Read also: The Only Cleaning Routine You Need to Keep Your Foldable Guest Bed Nice and Fresh

That is it for our frequent chores. Not so bad when you think about it. If you manage to keep on top of these things, you will help guarantee your mattress lives to its maximum potential.

Read also: What you didn’t know about leather furniture, and how to clean it!

Different Upholstery Materials

Before we tell you how to clean blood stains from upholstery, it is a good idea to get acquainted with the different types of fabrics used for upholstering furniture. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it is wise to be informed before you attempt DIY cleaning. There are many, so we will list the most popular textiles in the UK.

• Wool – not very stain-resistant, complicated cleaning process;
• Cotton – not very resistant to fading, tricky cleaning process;
• Nylon – long-lasting, easy to clean, high-abrasion resistance;
• Polyester – long-lasting, easy to clean;
• Acrylic – long-lasting, easy to clean;
• Olefin – long-lasting, easy to clean;
• Rayon – not very long-lasting, low-moisture cleaning.

Knowing the key traits of these fabrics will let you know whether or not to stray from certain cleaning instructions and make your own adjustments to the cleaning process. We also recommend that you check the labels for upholstery cleaning instructions, you don’t want to end up damaging your upholstery. Now, without further ado, here are our instructions on how to clean blood stains from upholstery.

Check also: Decode Upholstery Labels and Choose the Best Sofa for Your Needs

How to Clean Blood Stains From Upholstery

Cleaning blood stains, no matter whether you are cleaning upholstery or not, can hold hygiene risks. There are 2 very important things we would like to note before you start the cleaning process:

1. Always wear PPE gloves when cleaning blood. Viruses like HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis, Brucellosis, and many more are transmitted through blood. These viruses can last up to 7 days in blood stains, so, approach with caution.
2. Never clean blood with hot water. Blood is a protein stain and hot water will make it set in the fabric, thus making it impossible to remove it.

Read also: Stain Removal Is a Matter of Chemistry

How to proceed with blood stains from upholstery:

1. Use a toothbrush to loosen the blood from your fabric if the blood stain has dried.
2. If the covers are removable from your upholstered furniture, do so.
3. Rinse the covers multiple times, flushing out as much of the blood as possible.
4. If not, get an absorbent cloth or sponge and wet it.
5. Dab at the area and lift as much of the stain as you can. Rinse the sponge or cloth as you go along so as to avoid spreading the stain.
6. Get a cup of cold water and mix it with a bit of soda water.
7. Pour this mixture onto the area and use a clean sponge to carry on blotting the stain.
8. Repeat step 7 a few times. When you see the water that is being rinsed out of the sponge is no longer blood-tinted, that’s when you can stop with step 7.
9. Mix 8 parts water with 1 part glycerine and 1 part laundry detergent (choose based on the best detergent that suits your upholstery type), and add a drop of fairy washing up liquid.
10. Mix into a spray bottle.
11. Spray 2 or 3 times onto the stain and scrub the area with a sponge.
12. If you think it may need it, repeat step 11 a few times.
13. Once the stain is no longer visible at all, get a bowl of clean, cool water and rinse out the fabric until there are no more suds.

Check also: How to Remove Blood Stains From Your Furnishings

Read out also: How to Clean your Wool Rug.

How to Clean a Fresh Blood Stain From the Carpet

No matter what stain remover you’re using, you need to follow the same steps for getting blood stains out of your carpet. The method can be used for cleaning furniture, too. 

1. Dip a clean cloth in cold water. It’s key to avoid using warm or hot water for this job, as it will cook the protein and set the stain on the carpet.
2. Blot the spot lightly. Never rub or scrub the affected area – this will only spread the blood and push it deeper into the carpet pile. Vigorous scrubbing can also crush the fibres and ruin the carpet’s texture.
3. Repeat blotting gently, using clean parts of your cloth, until you can see that no more blood is getting transferred from the carpet to the towel. Then, blot the area with a dry white cloth. If the stain is very fresh or your carpet is treated with stain protection, this may be enough to remove the stain.
4. If there is some blood left, get a stain remover to finish the cleaning process – we have listed a few cleaners you can use below.
5. Apply the chosen stain remover and use a clean towel to blot the stain until there’s no blood residue on the carpet.
6. Blot the affected area with a clean towel dipped in cold water to rinse any remaining cleaning product.
7. And last, gently blot the carpet with a dry cloth to soak any moisture left.

Read also: Carpet Stain Removal – Even the most terrible stains can be removed

The Best Stain Removers for Blood

The most efficient solutions to remove a blood stain are the simplest. However, there are a few rules to using them. When it comes to carpet stain removal, less is more. So, use as little product as possible. Using too much cleaner can cause the stain to re-appear, leave a residue that will attract more dirt over time, or weigh down the carpet pile making the flooring look flat and worn out. With that being said, let’s see which are the most efficient cleaners to remove blood stains from carpets.

Hydrogen peroxide

There are many uses of hydrogen peroxide in home cleaning. This liquid has mild bleaching and disinfectant properties. The 3% solution is usually safe to use on carpets most of the time. Nevertheless, it’s wise to make a spot test. Apply on a small inconspicuous area of your flooring and wait a few minutes. If there’s no discolouration, it’s safe to use it to remove the blood stain on your carpet or upholstery, following the steps described above.

Ammonia and Dishwashing Detergent

Stir a tablespoon of liquid dishwashing detergent in two cups of cold water and add a tablespoon of ammonia to the mixture. Then go through the same steps as above. Make sure to rinse any residues from the solution to avoid weighing down the pile and reappearance of the stain. Ammonia has a strong odour, so always open a window to ventilate the room when you’re using it. Also, the combination of bleach and ammonia results in toxic vapours, so never mix these products. 

Store-bought Stain Remover Product

If you don’t have ammonia or hydrogen peroxide at hand, you can opt for a store-bought spot cleaner. The key is to use a stain remover with an enzyme formula. The enzymes break down the proteins in stains like blood and pet stains and make them easier to clean. So if you have a pet or an adventurous toddler and accidents are no rare occasion in your household, it’s good to keep such a product at hand. Whenever you’re using an enzyme cleaner, don’t forget to check the label and make sure it’s safe for carpets. Follow the packaging instructions to remove the blood stain after doing a spot test first, just to be on the safe side.

Read also: How to Remove Urine Stains From Your Carpet and Get Rid of the Urine Smell

How to Remove Dried Blood Stains from Carpets

Sometimes dealing with injuries is the more pressing issue, and by the time you make sure everything is okay, the blood has dried. Cleaning a dry blood stain is almost the same process as dealing with a fresh one, with one big exception: You need to scrape off as much of the dried blood as you can before continuing with the steps above. Here’s how to do it:

1. Use the back of a spoon or a dull knife and gently run it over the affected area. That will break the hard residues. Avoid using brushes, forks, or anything that can snag or fray your carpet fibres, especially if you have a looped rug.
2. Vacuum up the dried substance; otherwise, it will turn into liquid when you dampen it and continue spreading and staining your carpet.
3. Blot the area with a clean towel dipped in cold water. Continue until you’ve transferred as much of the stain into the cloth as possible. 
4. Next, use a stain remover. When dealing with dried up stains, it’s better to use a store-bought enzyme cleaner because the proteins in the blood have already set into the pile.
5. When the stain is dry, you have to leave the product on for a few minutes to do its job.
6. Then use a clean cloth to blot the area. Turn it often using the clean parts so you don’t spread the blood all over the carpet. Stop when there’s no more blood transferred on the cloth.
7. Blot with cold, clean water to remove any residues of the solution.
8. And finally, dry the area gently with another clean cloth.

Removing blood stains from your carpet can be tricky and time-consuming, not to mention that if you fail to rinse thoroughly or if you use the wrong product can ruin the fibres of your upholstery or rug. So, why risk it when you can call professionals to help you with the unpleasant task? Call us today, book our expert stain removal service, and we will help you make your carpet spotless!