I’m a cleaning expert – why leaving your oven racks in the garden is the key to getting them sparkling
CLEANING oven racks is one of those annoying chores that takes ages, no matter how hard you scrub or what products you use.
If you are dreading this household task, Bake Off star Nancy Birtwhistle has shared a surprising hack to get rid of stubborn burnt stains overnight.
After winning Bake Off in 2014, the amateur baker decided to do her bit for the planet by rethinking how she used chemicals and plastics in her home.
She has even released several books on ‘green living’ and has even started her own TikTok page to share her household hacks.
It was during a recent viral video that the 70-year-old shared her top tips for getting burnt grease off of oven shelves.
Posing with the kitchenware, she told fans: “I’ve got my two oven shelves here. There is one, you can see, it’s fairly grotty.
“This is the other one, pretty much the same and I’m going to show you how we can clean them whilst we sleep.”
Rather than using a special brush or ingrident, the TV personality likes to bung her oven shelves on the grass overnight. (Yes, you read that right.)
She even demonstrated by lobbing the rack onto her own lawn.
Whilst It sounds too good to be true, Nancy showed just how effective the cost-free cleaning hack was.
Having left them out overnight, the proud granny then gave the rack a quick wipe with a clean cloth and showed how pristine the shelves looked.
Though she didn’t go into the science behind the hack, it works because the dew will help soft any stuborrn, burnt on bits.
However, we would still recommend giving it a proper wash to remove any bacteria once you’ve done this.
After stunning fans, the Bake Off star then said: “If you don’t have any grass, we can do it overnight in the sink.
“Use three to four large scoops of washing soda, some very hot water and add the shelf.”
In the now-viral video, she showed herself adding 3-4 large scoops of washing soda to warm water before submerging the oven rack.
She even had a hack for those that didn’t have a large sink.
“Now if you’re thinking ‘I haven’t got a sink this big or big enough for my shelves’, [but] I have followers that have used a wheelbarrow or a large plastic box big enough to hold the shelf,” she cheerfully told viewers.
The baker-turned influencer added: “Once it’s submerged, leave it to soak overnight.”
Showing the second shelf in the morning, the Bake Off star easily wiped it down and said: “Cleaning oven shelves doesn’t get any easier than this!”
Needless to say, her fans were impressed with one asking: “I do have to ask how the **** did you discover that grass cleans your oven shelves? I’ve done it several times now with great success – BBQ grid too! But HOW did you find this method?”
Another then complained: “I can’t believe it!!! I’ve spent years using chemicals and scrubbing for hours!”
“If I leave the whole oven outside on the grass overnight will it be clean by the morning?” a third then joked.
We wonder what other hacks cleaning hacks Nancy has.
Cleaning hacks and tips
Here are some tips to help you clean your home like a pro:
- How to clean your washing machine in a few easy steps
- Keep on top of cleaning your oven regularly
- Clean your shower to ensure it’s always sparkling
- How to clean your microwave using cheap household items
- Here’s how to get rid of that nasty limescale in your kettle
- You’re cleaning your carpet all wrong – here’s how to get it spotless again in no time
- Unblock a toilet without a plunger
- Clean your fabric or leather sofa in a few easy steps
- If you haven’t cleaned your mattress in ages, here’s how
- Steps to cleaning your dishwasher to leave it looking brand new
- This is how to clean mirrors and windows without streaking
- Keep your toilet clean in four easy steps
- Give your TV screen a once-over
- Did you know your Venetian, Roman, vertical, or roller blinds also need cleaning?
- Deep-clean your fridge in five simple steps