How do I know if my oven needs cleaning?

Our ovens are one of the hardest working appliances in our homes. Often there isn’t a day which goes by when we don’t switch it on. From making the Sunday roast to whipping up a pasta bake after work, we rely on our ovens to keep us nourished through warm, tasty meals. As a result, our ovens can become a bit of a cleaning nightmare, with burnt-on grease and dirt building up over time.

Did you know, this burnt on dirt can actually have a detrimental impact on the way that your oven operates, and could mean that you’re not getting optimal cooking functionality?

At Oven Bright, we’re leading specialists of oven cleaning Essex and our expert team has pulled together this handy guide to help you work out when your oven may need a clean.

How does it look?

One of the simplest ways to check if your oven needs a clean is to just check it over outside and in. If you’re noticing that the glass has become grimy and discoloured, this is a good indication that it may need a specialist clean. You could also find lots of grime on the inside of the oven which has burnt onto the appliance itself and is difficult to wipe away without the use of a scraper.

Smoke

Does your oven emit smoke when you’re cooking food in it? This could be a sign that there is built up grease lurking in the back of your oven. It’s a really obvious sign that your oven needs a clean, but it could also be a health hazard – getting smoke in your eyes or breathing it in could cause some health issues!

Smells

You may be wondering what that strange smell is in your kitchen… did you know, a dirty oven can actually produce some unpleasant smells, especially when it is turned on and heating up. This could also leave a nasty taste on your food and could potentially be an indicator that your oven is no longer hygienic and should be cleaned ASAP.

Oven not heating up as effectively

You may have noticed that it is taking a while for your oven to preheat, or your food is taking longer to cook. If this is the case, most people assume that there is probably something wrong with the heating element, when in fact giving the oven a good clean could be a simple solution. This is because the build-up of grime and dirt can actually accumulate on the heating element or the fan, meaning that heat isn’t being distributed as effectively. If this isn’t resolved, it could lead to further problems with uncooked food, and even run the risk of food poisoning!

Ultimately, if your oven hasn’t been cleaned for a long time, or you can’t remember the last time it was actually cleaned, the likelihood is it needs to be looked at. Whether you choose to clean it yourself or get the experts in, we’d always recommend that you clean your oven at least once or twice a year to prevent any issues arising with the appliance.