Oven Cleaning Tips

[Paul Pantony]

A new section for sharing top tips and most importantly safety advice and suggestions for oven cleaners.

I will kick it off with bulbs.
If you are like me and you store spare bulbs in your van, in this cold weather if you need one to replace in an oven, take it with you into the kitchen, take it out of it's packaging and leave it on the side to warm up. They hate being turned on when cold and most go pop in seconds. It's the sudden heat of being turned on mingling with cold atmosphere inside the bulb. Meaning you can't charge the customer twice and you have just thrown a bulb away and profit by using two bulbs to replace one.
And most importantly, turn the power off! I have been zapped before on a Smeg oven where the power to the light is always live but the bulb had gone and I didn't realise, went near it with steel wool and bang, so best be sure.
Hope this helps.

 

[daniel griffiths]

Great tips, I never knew that buddy. Always happy to learn

 

[Chris Carter]

Carry a small tub for all the screws, nuts ect you remove. Losing the fan nut can cause a huge issue.

 

[shane pavitt]

In the winter (if you run an electric tank) wrap a duvet or hot water cylinder blanket around the dip tank, it will stay hota ll day.

 

[Paul Pantony]

I use one of these for screws and bits that come off, its magnetic so I stick it on the side of the oven and every bit goes in there and wont fall out if knocked. They are really strong too.
Ebay Link: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161608535863

 

[David Woods]

I carry a magnetic rod, it extends to is handy if screws fall down holes.
I also went to my local rubbish tip, had a word with the lads and they let me get spare bulb glasses and racks, I even got a few cast iron racks.

 

[James Smith]

Make sure everything works before you start cleaning
If their is a fault inform customer before commencing

 

[Chris Carter]

That is something I have been meaning to do David. I informed a customer just yesterday the lamp cover had a crack. They asked me to order one and damn the price made my head spin.
I shall be heading to the tip tomorrow to source one.

 

[Keith W Bushnell]

Can't split the door? Take the door off and turn upside down. Using the gap, wrap a microfibre cloth around a stiff ruler and spray with glass cleaner and feed into the gap and wipe. Take out and use a dry microfibre to dry. Put door back on.

 

[Paul Pantony]

Haha, I have a luminous ruler in my tool bag and customers always ask what it's for.

 

[Deleted member 5124]

Same reason why I use these for doors that won't split, one sprayed with degreaser, one to dry then another to polish
Ebay Link: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141341532343

 

[Paul Pantony]

If you are struggling to get into a corner with your blade, offset your blade slightly, this gives you the extra few mm without scraping your knuckles and the scraper getting in the way.
This is also useful for cleaning around the support bar that holds grill elements in place.

 

[mark entwistle]

I switched the pump on the other morning to rinse off some racks with the hosepipe and ended up with a face full of water!
The top tip.... Leave the spray gun on the end of the hose open so when it freezes overnight the water has somewhere to go as it freezes and expands, I didn't resulting in a cracked the spray gun!!!
The other option is to spend more than £2 on a better quality spray gun for the end of the hose pipe

 

[Keith W Bushnell]

Don't assume every oven will clean up the same as others. I sometimes walk away knowing their is some carbon remaining. Each oven is different and some are bordering on scrapping. If you leave each job 100% better than the customer could ever achieve you've done a good job.

 

[daniel griffiths]

That's a goo too Keith, I used to think every oven should come up spotless, but through experience ( not that I know everything ) I am starting to realise some ovens can't be 100% spotless upon leaving, but when customers are over the moon and you have given it 100% in my eyes that's a winner.

 

[Paul Pantony]

Keep a trigger spray full of Nick's natural odour neutraliser or linen fresh in your tool bag. I give the kitchen a 'spritz' at the end of the clean just to remove any smells from drying out bits or running the oven post clean. I can't explain the difference it makes and the customers love it...especially linen fresh, a real hit.

 

[David Woods]

I had a woman move her hamster out of the kitchen because she was worried about the chemicals, I did explain they were harmless unless she has a bird in the room but she still was worried, expensive that linen fresh but I'll give it a go, do you spray some in the oven as well?

 

[Paul Pantony]

No, just a couple of squirts in the air. Its the first thing the customer notices when they come in and they are tickled pink with it.

 

[mark entwistle]

I have had a few hobs were the gas jets are partially blocked with grease/food and not even letting enough gas through to light all the way around the ring, below is a link for the perfect tool to clean out the jets (and very cheap) worth having in the van for £1.69

Ebay Link: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321532574434

 

[John Bolton]

Jet reamers are standard equipment for gas welders. Take care to use the correct size as they are actually needle files and are capable of destroying jets if not used with care. I always have a set on the van (my main set is over 50 years old and was given to me by my father in 1965).