How to Clean an Oven After a Fire

An oven is an essential appliance of the kitchen, and it can cook the best foods for you. But some evident reasons might cause oven fires. For instance, spilled greasy elements, food scraps, a whole forgotten pizza, or some dripping batter can result in oven fires.

These are some unfortunate accidents that might occur due to even a little carelessness.

Therefore, you should get an idea of what precautions you should take while using ovens in order to prevent fire accidents. In addition to that, you must also have an idea of cleaning the ovens after a fire.

How to Clean an Oven After a Fire

It is always better to clean out the grease, food spill, and other such remnants right away after the cooking job. It will eventually prevent a fire situation in the first place.

So, this is one of the several safety rules of using an oven. But even with the best of efforts, you cannot just prevent the grease fire in your oven at times. They will happen anyway!

Therefore, it is better to learn how to clean an oven after a fire, attend to those situations, and revive the oven. This guide is here to help you with the needful!

Method 1: Cleaning the Oven With Baking Soda & Vinegar Solution

If you want to save some bucks and do not want to get any commercial cleaners, then it is better to go with this DIY method.

In this method, you will be using baking soda and water solution to clean out the fire residues from the oven after any such accident. The steps for the same are as follows:

Step 1: Put Out the Fire

1. Use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire at first. It should be your first concern.
2. Make sure you are wearing gloves and other safety essentials while using the extinguisher.
3. Avoid using flour or water for putting out the fire, as it might just deteriorate the situation.
4. If the fire goes out of control, you can just call the firefighters to handle the situation.
5. Now, open all the windows after the fire douses.
6. It would be best if you waited for the smoke to clear out from the room. It might take an hour or more. So, just be patient with it. If you have exhaust fans, then just turn them on as well.

Step 2: Take the Safety Precautions for Cleaning the Oven 

When you are set to clean the oven after a fire, you need to keep in mind some safety rules. These safety rules will help you prevent any kind of health disorders due to the aftermaths of an oven fire. The safety essentials that you must have are:

• Goggles
• Gloves
• Mask

The mask will prevent you from inhaling the harmful fire smoke coming out of the oven. Before starting the cleaning process, make sure you unplug the oven from the power source and check all the knobs to be in off mode.

Step 3: Dusting and Cleaning

1. Take the racks or trays out of the oven.
2. You need to dust the interior part of the oven at first with the use of a brush or scraper.
3. It will help you get rid of the loose scraps and flakes.
4. You might need to put a gentle force on some scraps within the oven.
5. Ensure that you have already dusted the loose residues from the oven surface. Then collect all those dust and debris over a dust tray.

Step 4: Wipe the Oven With Vinegar Solution

1. Prepare a solution of vinegar and water. Mix one part of vinegar with two parts of water and mix it well.
2. Fill the vinegar solution in a clean spray bottle.
3. Spray the solution over the oven surface uniformly.
4. Cover all parts with the vinegar solution.
5. Now, use a clean microfiber and lint-free cloth or a paper towel to rub & wipe the surface.

Step 5: Clean the Oven With Baking Soda

1. Prepare a paste of baking soda and water. Mix well to prepare a thick paste solution.
2. Now, spread this paste around the stains, grease, and all over the surface.
3. Use a sponge or scrubber to rub the paste around the oven interior.
4. Let the mixture settle down over the oven for few hours. It is better if you leave it to settle overnight. As a result, baking soda will absorb all of the sticky material and grease from the oven.
5. Moreover, it will eradicate the burnt stench, and a fresh aroma will be left behind in the oven.
6. The next day, you have to rinse the baking soda paste with water. Please do not flood the oven with water but instead, spray water over the surface and use a sponge to wipe it out.
7. If the paste is stiff over the oven, you might need to use a spatula to remove the same.
8. Keep spraying and scrubbing the oven surface until all the baking soda paste is out from the oven surface.

Step 6: Clean the Oven Racks

1. You can utilize the baking soda absorption time for cleaning the racks.
2. If the oven racks are small in size, then they can fit well in the dishwasher. But, if they are big, then you can just wash them away in a tub with warm water.
3. You will need dishwashing soap and a soft sponge.
4. Scrub the racks with a sponge damped with a dishwashing soap solution.
5. Keep scrubbing the racks until all of the stains and grease are out.
6. After achieving satisfactory cleanliness, you can just wash away the soap with some water and dry the racks. 

Method 2: Cleaning the Oven After a Fire With Commercial Oven Cleaners

There are specific cleaner solutions available at the stores for cleaning the oven after a fire. If you do not want to go through the hassle of preparing DIY solutions to clean the oven, then you can get a cleaning solution from the local stores.

Make sure you get a fume-free cleaner formula, as harsh fumes can hamper your health. Keep all the safety rules in mind while using this process. These commercial cleaners might be a little expensive, but they efficiently do the job of cleaning the oven after a fire.

The steps for using the same are:

1. Put out the fire, eliminate the smoke and let it cool down in the meanwhile.
2. Now, remove the trays and racks from the oven.
3. Dust off all the loose flakes from the oven surface.
4. Spray the commercial oven cleaner inside the oven and on all sides.
5. Now, let the oven settle down for around 30 seconds.
6. Then use a clean cloth to wipe off the solution.
7. You will see the stains coming out with the solution.
8. If you have some caked spills, you can just repeat the process and do some spot cleaning to get them off.
9. Repeat the same process for cleaning the racks and trays as well.

Your oven will restore its shine in no time and will be ready to use after it dries.

Frequently Asked Questions.

How Can I Use a Fire Extinguisher to Put Off the Fire in My Oven?

There is a simple PASS technique for using the fire extinguisher for any kind of fire situation. PASS resembles the steps, Pulling out the safety pun, Aiming the extinguisher, Squeezing the handle, and Sweeping the spray.

Apart From Leftover Food Spills and Items, What Can Be the Cause for Oven Fire?

There are few reasons that can lead to an oven fire. Food spills and remnants are one of the most critical reasons, but apart from that, you should avoid few more reasons. For example, you should prevent using wax paper and consider using parchment paper for oven use.

Unfortunately, people use wax papers, and that catches fire very often. Also, if you are not using a baking sheet, that might be yet another cause of oven fire.

Conclusion

Ovens are used for cooking several food items and add up impeccable taste to them. But slight negligence, and you can create a mess around your kitchen. It would be best if you kept a fire extinguisher at your house in order to prevent these hazards.

Now that you are aware of the cleaning measures for your oven after a fire, you can go ahead and use it again. But this time, you need to keep in mind not to repeat the mistakes that resulted in an oven fire in the first place.