Q:The self-cleaning function on my oven is broken. Can you suggest an oven cleaner that’s not too toxic?
A:Some advocates of nontoxic cleaning recommend applying a thick paste of baking soda and water to the oven surfaces. Let it sit overnight, and then scrape out the gunk with a nonscratching spatula. (You can spritz the paste with water a couple of times during the waiting period to keep it damp, if you wish.) Removing the white residue requires a thorough rinsing.
Some people use equal parts salt and baking soda; some use white vinegar instead of water. Some heat the oven 200 degrees before applying the cleaner and then turn the oven off.
If you need something stronger, try the following method outlined by cleaning expert Linda Cobb in her book “Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean.” It does involve ammonia, however, so it is somewhat caustic.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees, and then leave it on at that temperature for 15 minutes. Turn off the oven and place a shallow glass dish filled with ammonia on the oven’s top rack and a pan containing 2 cups of boiling water on the bottom rack.
Close the oven door and leave it for at least two hours or overnight.
Remove the containers and make a paste of ammonia (she doesn’t specify how much), one-half cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar. Spread the paste over the oven surfaces, leave it for 15 minutes, and then scrub with a sponge or steel wool pad, if necessary. Rinse.
Before you try any method, check the owner’s manual for your oven. Some cleaners can damage your oven.
