Green Oven Cleaning

[possum]

So until now, my green strategy for cleaning the oven was just not to do it.
Oh, I'd scrape up an overflow of batter if it happened or wipe up a spill, but I have never ever sprayed the whole thing down with caustic chemicals, donned rubber gloves, and gotten all the little spots off of the inside of any oven.
Before we move out of the house we are renting, we are supposed to clean the oven. The good news is that we've only been here a year, so it's not all that bad in there. It is NOT a self-cleaning oven, so it must be done by hand.

My options seem to be:
A) Let someone else clean it with caustic chemicals for $35.
B) Clean it myself with caustic chemicals for whatever it costs to by them, maybe $5 or $10 plus my time and whatever health I lose doing it.
C) Clean it some other way.

I am hoping that some of you have some safe, green, (and maybe easy and inexpensive too) ways of helping me do C. If not, I think I'll choose A.
So, any suggestions?

Thanks,
Melinda

[summermay]

I was quite happy with vinegar scrubbing. Had it done over a couple of times as the staines did not want to vanish in one move.

[Lily's_Mom]

Baking soda paste + steel wool

[Max'sMama]

One option is to sprinkle a generous helping of baking soda on the stove and spritz it with water, let sit overnight. The next morning it should wipe right up.

[April411]

I read in a book on green cleaning that you can use liquid dishwashing soap and baking soda...haven't tried it though.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

Shaklees has this scrub that's all natural and it smells so good. Cleans stoves and ovens wonderfully.

[RainbowTurtle]

I spray mine lightly with a water/vinegar solution (half and half), then sprinkle some baking soda all over. I let it sit a couple of hours or overnight and wipe away. Almost everything comes up with very little scrubbing. The really caked-on parts get scrubbed with a baking soda paste. Oh, and it even got the window in my oven clean, with practically no effort (I hadn't cleaned my oven in almost a year so it was hard to see in )

It's a bit hard to get all the baking soda up (it's the hardest part of the job, IMO) but it's well worth it! Easy-peasy, I promise.

[thixle]

Originally Posted by Max'sMama

One option is to sprinkle a generous helping of baking soda on the stove and spritz it with water, let sit overnight. The next morning it should wipe right up.

It really does work! Just be prepared to spend a while rinsing and wiping.
And check to see if your oven door will come off. Most of them will if you open it half way (there is a "stop" there that holds it) and slide it straight up. Definate saver for your back, trying to reach in and all

[mamaheids]

Originally Posted by Mamato3wild ponnie

Shaklees has this scrub that's all natural and it smells so good. Cleans stoves and ovens wonderfully.

I second the Shaklee recommendation. It is called Scour off paste. Smells kind of like bubble gum, not fumey at all. PM me if you have any Shaklee questions!
Heidi

[chel]

the last time I cleaned an oven (also before a move) I just used a brilo pad. To help in the next place, cover the bottom with foil.

[Daniel's Kitty]

Baking soda is great.

My dh's fav is the seventh gen citrus cleaner degreaser. He loves it so much that he quit using all the yucky stuff he had been before.

[yogafeet]

Originally Posted by Max'sMama

One option is to sprinkle a generous helping of baking soda on the stove and spritz it with water, let sit overnight. The next morning it should wipe right up.

Yes- this works amazingly well!

[Peppermint Poppies]

Originally Posted by Max'sMama

One option is to sprinkle a generous helping of baking soda on the stove and spritz it with water, let sit overnight. The next morning it should wipe right up.

I'm going to try this tonight. I haven't cleaned our oven since we bought the house ... ummm .... five years ago

[Minerva]

Place several pieces of lemon peel and a couple of cups of water in an oven-proof container. Once your oven is preheated to about 350, put the container in the oven for 15-20 minutes to get some good steam going, then let it cool down. The crud should wipe right out. If it's really bad (say, several years' worth of crud), you may need to repeat it a couple of times.

[possum]

Thanks, everyone. Hopefully I'll be able to clean it and save myself that $$$. I think I'm gong to go for the easiest sounding first - the lemon water one - and work up from there if necessary.
Melinda

[A&A]

Make a paste with Cream of Tartar and white vinegar.

(Cream of Tartar is kind of expensive, but this ABSOLUTELY WORKS.)

Get a sponge to use with it.

This will clean your entire oven, except the window part. I haven't figured out how to get that really clean.