Can You Clean the Oven with a Dishwasher Tablet? Guides

Ah, the never-ending battle of cleaning the oven… It’s probably one of the least favorite household tasks, often getting postponed time and again. However, neglecting this chore can result in an oven covered in burnt food debris and enough smoke to set off the fire alarm. Moreover, the cooked food might start tasting a little extra charred. Fortunately, social media is constantly overflowing with new cleaning hacks for the modern oven owner to test. Because who has time to scrub when there should be an easier and faster way, right?

One trending “oven cleaning hack” suggests using a dishwasher tablet to clean the oven. It sounds easy enough, but are there risks to this method and things that should be avoided? Let’s explore this further.

What is the Dishwasher Oven Hack?

According to numerous cleaning enthusiasts, dishwasher tablets contain concentrated detergent that effectively tackles tough grease. There are three popular methods for using dishwasher tablets for oven cleaning:

Oven-Proof Dish Method: Fill an oven-proof dish with warm water, add a dishwasher tablet, place the dish in the oven, and set it to 100°C – 120°C for at least an hour. This hack is believed to work wonders in removing stubborn, baked-on residue.
Direct Scrubbing: Clean the oven door and interior by directly scrubbing with a wet dishwasher tablet.
Aluminium Foil Method: Wrap the oven racks in aluminium foil, place them in a sink or tub filled with hot water, and add dishwasher tablets.

While these methods sound easy and require minimal scrubbing, using a dishwasher tablet to clean your oven can hide some risks.

Are Dishwasher Tablets Safe for Cleaning Ovens?

Dishwasher tablets typically combine sodium percarbonate detergents, enzymes, and boosters designed to eliminate stains, grease, grime, dirt, and stubborn baked-on food particles from dishes. It may seem logical that a dishwasher tablet can lift oven grime just as easily. However, it’s important to consider the potential hazards:

Damaging Seals and Components: The potent chemicals in dishwasher tablets combined with the intense heat of the oven could harm the oven’s seals and delicate components.
Chemical Residues: Dishwasher tablets can leave hazardous substances as residue in the oven, posing a health risk. Even after thorough rinsing, these residues may persist.
Harmful Fumes: Cleaning methods involving dishwasher tablets can produce chemical fumes that are unsafe for the household.

If you decide to try this hack, we recommend using eco-friendly dishwasher tablets that are free from harmful chemicals. However, ensure that the product’s label truly indicates it is chemical-free.

What Else to Avoid When Cleaning the Oven?

Here are a few more common mistakes to avoid when cleaning your oven:

Applying and Removing Cleaner Immediately: Be patient and leave the cleaner on the oven surface for the recommended time before wiping away the grime.
Laying Aluminium Foil Inside the Oven: Avoid using aluminium foil to capture spills, as it can block heat and cause uneven cooking or even permanent damage to the oven.
Not Preheating the Oven: Preheat the oven for 15 minutes before cleaning to loosen stubborn food particles and greasy residues.
Believing All Ovens Can Be Cleaned the Same Way: Different ovens require different maintenance. Consult your oven’s instruction manual for proper cleaning methods.
Using Abrasive Tools: Avoid scrubbing with excessive force or using abrasive tools that can scratch the oven’s surface. Use a soft cloth or sponge instead.
Relying on Harsh Chemicals: Harsh chemicals can damage the oven’s interior and create harmful fumes. Opt for gentler, eco-friendly cleaning solutions.

Alternative Eco-Friendly Oven Cleaning Methods

Your kitchen likely has all the ingredients needed for effective, eco-friendly oven cleaning. Here are some tried-and-true methods:

Baking Soda Paste: Mix baking soda and water to create a paste. Apply it to the grimy surface and let it sit overnight or for at least 2-3 hours. Scrape off the gunk and paste, then wipe with warm water.
Lemon Juice: Use lemon juice with baking soda to tackle tough grime. The lemon’s acidic power provides gentle abrasive action, making it effective and eco-friendly.

Takeaways

Using dishwasher tablets to clean your oven can have negative consequences, such as damaging the seals and components, leaving behind residue, and emitting harmful fumes. To prevent mistakes, ensure you give the cleaner enough time to work, preheat the oven, and avoid using abrasive tools or harsh chemicals. Instead, consider inexpensive and eco-friendly alternatives such as baking soda paste or lemon juice for effective oven cleaning.

For a comprehensive and safe appliance cleaning service, visit Anyclean.ca.

Post Views: 63

Tanisha Ahmed

2024-09-10

worst experience I have ever had with a cleaning service. The cleaning was not done as invoiced, when I had to repeatedly point out areas that were left uncleaned it became exhausting and I didn’t want to work with the cleaners anymore. It’s ridiculous when you hired a service to do a job and they get annoyed when you point out that they didn’t do it. I was charged and made a payment for a deep clean and it really was only surface level cleaning. When asked the company to rectify the situation and reflect on the invoice the reflection of the actual work- they accused me for wanting free cleaning and being cheap and unappreciative. Which also doesn’t make any sense because this Sam guy was trying to send the same cleaners back when I asked for a different team - how can I be trying to get cleaners for free if you’re telling me you have a re-cleaning policy. I am pregnant and if as a customer I am expressing to the vendor I am dissatisfied instead of deflecting on me they should rectify the situation and not accuse me especially as I made the payment already. An extremely disturbing experience corresponding with the co-ordinator- Sam. I have photos to show the baseboards were not scrubbed down as invoiced, the bathroom light fixtures and corners of the rooms still had cobwebs. They missed an entire spot in an EMPTY room and they gaslit me by telling me that the onus was on me to tell them about it. To make matters worse, they dumped the carpet cleaner vacuum water in my laundry room sink and when I asked the company to send different people to fix it, they took 0 accountability and made an excuse about it being construction workers. I don’t even know where to begin with the level of unprofessionalism by this company. I now have a damaged clogged sink pipe I have to deal with. The cleaners called me and had the audacity to ask me why I can’t take gloves and unclog the sink. They asked to return and “fix the problem” but why would I want to deal with people who conduct themselves this way? Essentially, this is what happened: I paid for cleaners that made a mess, damaged my property, called me cheap and then expected me to clean after them. Why would I want to deal with any of these people? Apologies, words and lectures after horrible business conduct isn’t the way to do business. I feel like I just dealt with a company full of narcissists. Do not use this company. I just noticed someone else who left a review had a similar experience with the results - i just had an even more horrible experience with their customer service.

fattah alizadeh

2024-08-29

The best cleaner in the region for a move-out cleaning. They were professional staff with a descent price. Especially Mr. Sam was easy to reach-out and punctual.

Olive B

2024-08-28

Incredibly disappointed with not only the quality of the clean but also Anycleans customer service. In May I began leasing a student house where the previous tenants had not done a good job maintaining the house. As a result, my house mates and I decided to book a deep cleaning services from Anyclean in mid July as everything they advertised on their website was exactly what the house needed. However, upon returning to the house early august to begin the move-in process it was evident that the cleaning team had failed to follow through with more than half of what was meant to be completed. I’ve attached some photos to illustrate the condition of the house following the cleaning service (probably 1/4 of the photos I have ). Almost every single window sill, radiator, and door frame, to name a few, were left untouched. I then called Anyclean in hopes to get some clarity and express my disappointment. Unfortunately, the representative came across quite uninterested and dismissive. After sending him a few photos of the house he told me he would talk to the cleaning team and call me back. He then proceeded to never call me back and sent 5 pictures of the “cleaned” kitchen, fridge, and bathroom (which I had explained over the phone we’re done cleaned fairly well and that I had already seen the photos) with no message attached. I followed up with an email asking if something could be done to resolve the issue as we spent over $800 (including the $100 dollar tip added site unseen as I never would have thought it could be this bad) on the service and never heard back. Although the representative did explain that they have a 24 hours policy to file a complaint about the service (which I entirely understand), I made it clear to all parties, when booking and during the service, that we would not be present and that this was a student house. However, this policy was never mentioned at any point. It is also abundantly clear from the photos that the dust, dirt, grime, and spider webs did not accumulate in the month we were not in the house 😀. I understand that this was a big job and perhaps what I was quoted did not reflect the labour needed for full completion. If this was the case I would have appreciated a phone call or follow up explaining the circumstance, in which we would have booked a following service to ensure we got the results we were looking for. Instead we were left with a dirty house and out of $800. This was my first time ever calling a company about a service I was unhappy with and first time ever writing a review, let alone a bad one, however, the frustration and disappointment I feel was enough to get me to face my fears of making a complaint! * I’ve also attached a screenshots of my quote just to put into perspective how much was missed.

Michael C

2024-08-09

Never called, never showed up. Update: the original cleaning team couldn’t make it. Had received a call about 45 minutes after the original time and a different team came 2 hours later. The cleaners did a very good job cleaning the entire place. Just need better communication if there are any delays.

Krystal B

2024-08-08

Had my oven cleaned and it looked brand new!

Sanjula Willora

2024-07-20

The girls who came to clean my house did a very good job ! Highly recommended

Vadim Podosyan

2024-07-10

Benjamin did my cleaning. Professional, courteous and kind. My place was cleaned spotless. Thank You Benjamin!

Can You Clean the Oven with a Dishwasher Tablet?