Cleaning the oven

[martyna]

It's quite a time since I asked my boyfriend to clean the oven and at the time he said he had/knew a super-foam-cleaner (or something like this) and would do it in a whiz, but when I asked him a couple of days ago, he wasn't able to recall neither the promise nor the product.
We've never used the oven much and back at home mum basically kept it tidy and there wasn't such a mess as is here now, especially since we tried out some recipes recently. (And today's has really spilt over. *wince*) I've done some surface cleaning over the time, but what I'm looking is a real cleaning.
How do you do it? Is there any special product you use? (If you're in France and can name the shop, even better!) Or maybe you make a product yourself? Does heating lemon in water (as in microwaves) help at least a bit? Not at all? Help me? *feels helpless*

Comments

[jamethiel]

Most oven sprays are caustic. Caustic soda or the like. They do work but they're hella unpleasant to use. Wear thick rubber gloves, tie a rag over your face so you're not directly breathing the fumes (I only do this while spraying it) and use steel wool or the like to scrub. For trays, spray them w/caustic and then leave them for a couple of hours. Clean them once and if they're still dirty leave them to soak in the sink in very hot water and dishwashing detergent. Whatever the case, WASH THEM after using caustic as it's nasty stuff.

Bicarb and vinegar does work but it takes much more physical effort and isn't as effective at getting the really baked on grunge.

I used to be a kitchen hand and we cleaned our ovens once a week. Hope this helps.

[martyna]

I think I'll pass on the spray for now and try the other solution first.

Thank you for your long explanations.

[martyna]

I think I'll pass on the spray for now and try the other solution first.

Thank you for your long explanations.