There's nothing more homely than the smell of freshly baked bread. Well, unless your oven stinks of three months of neglected baking sheets, overcooked pizza, and lost fries that escaped into the abyss under the grates during baking. When you open the oven door and instead of a pleasant feeling of homeliness, you're hit with the smell of "the past," it's high time for a mini cleaning intervention. And no, you won't need aggressive cleaners, elbow-length rubber gloves, and half a day of free time.
Instead, we present you with a trick that is so simple and natural that it almost works like kitchen magic – lemon steam. Yes, you read that right. Fresh lemons + steam = clean, fragrant oven, no drama, and no scrubbing. The process is so simple you can do it while you're making coffee or binge-watching your favorite series. Oven She'll be grateful, and your kitchen will smell like a Mediterranean spa.
Why lemon? And why steam?
A combination lemons and hot steam is not a new-age invention from Instagram. It is an old, tried and tested trick, which you may remember from your grandmother's kitchen – if you were lucky enough. Citric acid has a natural ability to dissolve grease and remove unpleasant odors, while the steam helps loosen stubborn food residue and baked-on grease that has stuck to the walls of your oven over time.
The result? Surfaces that you can clean with a single swipe of a damp cloth. No scuffed knuckles, no dirty sponges, and no bad mood. And the bonus? That fresh, citrusy scent will waft through your kitchen, making you feel like you just aired out the entire apartment.
What do you need and how exactly?
Ingridients:
- 2 fresh lemons
- 1 ovenproof baking dish or glass dish
- About 2–3 cups of water (depending on the size of the pot)
Preparation process:
- Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice into a heatproof bowl. You can also add the lemon halves themselves – for extra flavor and strength.
- Add water and place the dish on the rack in the center of the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 120°C (250°F) and let it work 30 minutes.
- After half an hour, turn off the oven and waitto cool down a bit – enough so you don't burn yourself.
- Take a damp cloth or sponge and wipe the inside. All dirt and grease should come off with almost no resistance.
Why would you want to do that again?
Once you see how simple and effective cleaning the oven can be easy, you'll wonder why you ever thought it had to be a painstaking, almost therapeutic activity. The lemon steam trick not only cleans, but also neutralizes unpleasant odors and freshen the air in your kitchen.
Your next wrap will smell like it deserves – not like the last remnants of a roast from three weeks ago.
In conclusion – a little wisdom and a lot of freshness
Homemade cleaners are back in fashion – and for good reason. They are a cheaper, safer and more sustainable alternative commercial product. This lemon trick is a perfect example of how you can achieve maximum effect with minimal effort.
