How to Keep Your Oven Clean During Summer Cooking

Summer is the season of gatherings, barbecues, and family meals. With more cooking comes more spills, more grease, and more wear on your oven. Here's how to keep yours in top condition through the busiest cooking season of the year.

Why Summer Is Tough on Your Oven

During summer, many of us cook more frequently. Whether you're hosting a barbecue, preparing meals for visiting family, or baking with the kids during the school holidays, your oven works overtime. More frequent use means more spills, more splatters, and more grease build-up.

The problem is compounded by warmer kitchen temperatures. Grease that might solidify in winter stays softer and more liquid in summer heat, meaning it can spread further inside your oven cavity and onto door glass.

Daily Habits That Make a Difference

Wipe spills immediately. The single most effective thing you can do is wipe up spills while they're still fresh. Once food bakes onto enamel, it becomes carbonised and far harder to remove.

Use oven liners. A removable oven liner catches drips and can be taken out and washed in the sink. Just make sure it doesn't block air circulation.

Cover dishes. Using foil or lids on roasting trays prevents splattering and contains mess.

Weekly Maintenance

Give your oven a quick wipe-down once a week with a damp microfibre cloth and mild detergent. Focus on the door glass and the bottom of the cavity where most spills collect.

Avoid harsh chemical cleaners, especially in summer when you're likely to have windows open and children or pets around. Eco-friendly, non-caustic products are safer and just as effective for regular maintenance.

When to Call a Professional

Even with good daily habits, grease and carbon will gradually build up in areas you can't reach — behind elements, between glass panels, and in the racks. A professional deep clean every six months removes this build-up entirely, restoring efficiency and extending the life of your appliance.

Signs it's time for a professional clean:

• Visible carbon build-up on the cavity walls
• Smoke or unpleasant smells when cooking
• Door glass that looks cloudy between the panes
• Racks that stay dark even after scrubbing

Keep Your Kitchen Cool

A clean oven actually runs more efficiently, which means it heats faster and wastes less energy — important in summer when you don't want your kitchen getting any warmer than necessary.

If you're in Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, Essex, or West Sussex, book a professional oven clean with Fordwell. We use eco-friendly, non-caustic products and leave your oven looking like new.