Answers to Go with Susan Smith

Q. I’ve been tackling some overdue chores while I’m home. I have a self-cleaning oven, but I’d like to work on the oven glass. I hope you can suggest something relatively non-toxic that only requires what I already have in the house.

A. Do you have baking soda in your cupboard? I found directions using a mixture of baking soda and water. 

This option comes from Bob Vila of “This Old House” fame. It seems like his television show has been on forever. The library does subscribe to his magazine, but these directions come from his webpage.

Vila reminds the reader to be sure the oven is off and cool. Start by scraping away any bits of blackened food.

In a small bowl, combine one cup of baking soda with just enough water to make a paste that has the consistency of shaving cream. Cover the oven glass completely with this paste.  Add a little water if necessary.

Wait at least 15 minutes. Wipe with a clean, damp rag. Rinse and then dry.  Be sure to remove all the baking soda.

It couldn’t get much easier than that, but options are nice. I found a variation on another popular magazine’s webpage. Sue Evans of “Taste of Home” reported that she always used the baking soda and water method.

Heads up parents with children at home — it’s science experiment time. Evans decided to mix one cup of baking soda with one-fourth cup water. She spread half of this mixture on one side of her oven window. For the other side, she used the remaining baking soda/water mixture plus two tablespoons of vinegar. Evans concluded that the straight water and baking soda mixture side was the winner. 

I wondered if baking soda would be similarly effective in a microwave oven.

Let’s go back to Bob Vila.  For a microwave, he recommends beginning by using a damp cloth to wipe out the interior. Then mix four tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of warm water and stir until the soda dissolves completely. Use this solution to wipe down the interior of the microwave, repeating as necessary.

Next put one-half cup of water and one-half cup of white vinegar in a microwave safe bowl. Then put the bowl in the microwave and heat until it boils, about three minutes. Leave the microwave door closed for at least 10 minutes.

Take out the bowl, but keep it nearby. Remove the glass plate and wash in warm soapy water. Then wipe out the interior with the cooled vinegar/water, removing all baking soda.

Are you interested in another science experiment? Try skipping the vinegar.  Bring a bowl of water and baking soda to a boil in the microwave. Leave the door closed for 10 minutes, then see if the interior is easy to clean. It seemed to work on the regular oven door.

This brings back memories of my past life as an elementary school science teacher.