The first step in cleaning an oven and hob is to establish which part of the appliance, and which material, you are cleaning. The inner walls, the door glass, the control panel and the hob grates may all call for different care. Switch the appliance off, wait for it to cool and check that the cleaner you have chosen is compatible with the surface. Do not apply the same product and the same dwell time to every part.
Do not think of the appliance as a single surface
Before you start cleaning, open the care section for your appliance model. There, types of cleaner, removable parts and areas that must not be touched may each be described separately. For instance, a Turkish Bosch oven manual states that oven cleaner must not be applied to catalytic-coated side walls. That example shows that a self-cleaning coating should not be judged the same way as an ordinary oven interior.
Whether the metal part on the hob is aluminium, painted or stainless steel also changes the choice of product. If you do not know the model and the material, do not guess from the look of it. Find out the material of the part from the manufacturer before applying a cleaner.
| Part | Information to look for |
|---|---|
| Oven inner walls | Enamel or a special self-cleaning coating; the appropriate cleaning method |
| Door glass and panel | Coating, printing, seals and the appropriate type of cleaner |
| Hob grates and burners | Material, and instructions for removing and refitting once dry |
| Extractor filter | Filter type, whether it is washable and compatibility with the product |
Three products, three different applications
Foam Hob Cleaner
Herbaclean Foam Hob Cleaner is used on hob surfaces, oven interiors and extractor filters where the care instructions allow. It is not applied to a hot surface. Wear protective gloves and eye protection; spray the product on, wait a few minutes, wipe with a damp cloth or sponge and rinse. If necessary, repeat the application according to its own instructions.
Degreaser
Herbaclean Degreaser is sprayed directly onto greasy surfaces made of suitable materials. It is left for one to five minutes depending on how heavy the soiling is; then cleaned off with a sponge or brush and rinsed. It is not used on aluminium, painted, stainless steel or hot surfaces. If your hob or extractor hood is made of these materials, that directly changes the choice of product.
Kitchen Power
Kitchen Power is a separate powder product prepared in water for suitable kitchen utensils. It is not used on lacquered or coated surfaces. On a kitchen utensil, one scoop — that is 30 g of product — is covered with one litre of boiled water; leave for two to three minutes, clean with a cloth and rinse with plenty of water. Add the hot water carefully, without splashing. This recipe is not an instruction to pour boiling water and powder into the oven.
The order of application on a cooled surface
- Prepare. Make sure the appliance is switched off and the surface has cooled. Read the care instructions for the part you are cleaning and the product warnings.
- Set the right area apart. Remove user-removable parts only if the manual allows. Assess the panel, seals and different coatings separately from the main surface.
- Use a single method. Use the product you have chosen at its own dose and dwell time. Do not prepare mixtures with other cleaners.
- Finish the wiping and rinsing. Complete the final step the product describes. Before the appliance is used again, check that the surfaces and parts are in the condition their care instructions require.
Apply each product according to its own dwell time. The foam's few-minute application, the Degreaser's one-to-five-minute window and Kitchen Power's utensil treatment prepared in water are separate methods. Being used in the same kitchen does not mean they are applied together to the same surface.
On an oven that has a cleaning programme, check the name of the programme and the preparation steps in your own manual. Do not merge such a programme and a manual cleaner application into a single operation; decide which parts stay in the appliance according to the manufacturer's guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Does heating the oven first make cleaning easier?
The foam and degreaser described here are not applied to a hot surface. Do not preheat the oven in order to speed up cleaning; follow the appliance and product instructions.
Can I spray foam onto a catalytic surface?
For special coatings, take the appliance's care manual as your guide. Do not assume that general oven cleaner is suitable on catalytic or self-cleaning surfaces.
Can I use the Degreaser on my stainless steel hob?
Herbaclean Degreaser excludes stainless steel surfaces from use. For stainless steel, choose the method your appliance recommends and which is stated as suitable for that surface.
Can I put the extractor filter in the machine?
Check the type of filter and the manufacturer's care instructions. The same washing or soaking method does not apply to all filters.