Our good old friend, the oven, doesn’t need any introduction. It has been by our side to satisfy our cooking and cravings easier, efficient, and less tiring manner.
Once you have prepped your food to go in the oven there is no more worry. It won’t burn to bits like the stovetop, and you won’t have to check on it frequently. Thus giving us more time to focus on the side dishes we want or watch an episode of our favorite series.
But the thing you might get frustrated about is the cleaning of your oven. We don’t even want to clean our room, the oven is much messier, right?
It is a tedious job, but the end results are worth it. Numerous oven cleaners in the market make the job easier than ever. This raises the question, is oven cleaner acidic or basic.
As you don’t want to harm your oven with harmful substances, we understand your concern. That is why we are here to discuss that.
Is Oven Cleaner Acidic or Basic? Should You Use It?
We are not going to let you wait in pain, after all, we are not monsters. Oven cleaners are more basic than acidic. The pH level of the oven cleaners is high as 13, which allows them to cut down grease and oil residue in your oven.
Just like dishwashing soap, or hand soap, which are also basic for their alkaline properties. So stop worrying about damaging your oven with an oven cleaner and get on to it.
How Does Oven Cleaners Work
Oven cleaners are pretty simple in function. They are made out of caustic soda, ether, ethylene glycol, and methylene chloride. With the combination of those, it becomes a powerful cleanser for grease, oil, and dirt.
Think of it like a dishwashing liquid, but more powerful. The oven cleaner can easily combine with water for their pH level and for their basic nature than acidic.
This gives them the power to cut down on any form of dirt but not harm the internal parts of the oven. Leaving it squeaky clean.
So if you are worried if an oven cleaner will damage your oven, it won’t.
Is Oven Cleaner Safe for Your Skin
Sadly, just like dishwashing soaps, it has a high pH value, which is not good for the skin. You have to wear protective gloves and masks when you are cleaning your oven.
The oven cleaner won’t burn your skin but might lead to irritation or an itchy sensation. So better use protective equipment before you are cleaning your oven.
One other thing you have to keep in mind, if you are using your oven self-cleaning function, make sure there is enough airflow in your kitchen. Because of the high temperature along with the chemical reaction, it might get a bit toxic in the oven.
Open airflow will help clean out the air in your kitchen faster than in a closed atmosphere.
Homemade Alternatives for Oven Cleaner
If you are not into chemical oven cleaning products, you can simply make your own homemade solution.
A simple half-and-half solution of water and vinegar can do the trick. Also rubbing alcohol is a great substance for cleaning.
Both of these don’t have any harmful elements to your skin or to your oven. But it may not cut down on heavy grease and dirt in your oven. If you have not cleaned it for a while.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of acid is oven cleaner?
Oven cleaners are not acid, but alkaline, which is a basic formula. A combination of caustic soda, ether, ethylene glycol, and methylene chloride makes the oven cleaner and high in pH level which can cut down on any form of grease, oil, and dirt easily.
Is oven cleaner a strong base?
Yes. Oven cleaners are stronger than any dishwashing soap. It has a pH level of 12-15, which is good to cut down on any form of dirt in your oven. As it is a strong base, it might cause skin irritation and allergies. So protective gear should be worn during their use of them.
What is the base of the oven cleaner?
Alkaline is the base of oven cleaners. The materials that are used can be found in any home depo shops which are combined to make an oven cleaner. But as the combination should be friendly to the oven’s interior, it is wise not to make it on your own in your home. Rather you can opt to make vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and water solutions for safety measures.
Conclusion
No matter how strong your oven material is built, it is still prone to damage over time. The constant heating and cooling will wear off the parts eventually. So when you are using an oven cleaner, go through the ingredients. Using acidic fluids to clean your oven might seem to make them clean well, but isn’t good for either the oven or yourself. Rather stick to your homemade remedy or the off-the-shelf oven cleaner for better measure.
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