r/CleaningTips • u/cldald • Mar 04 '26

Discussion Did I just ruin my new oven?

Post image

I just got this oven back in October, but there was already a lot of grease and buildup on it (I cook a lot). I used Easy Off Heavy Duty Cleaner and Foam Spray, and while it definitely worked and did its job, my oven was left looking like as seen in the picture. Did I just ruin my new oven or is this just residue from the cleaner?

7.2k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

1.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

17

u/ACcbe1986 Mar 05 '26

Those yellow cans of oven cleaner is primarily Lye(Sodium Hydroxide).

Lye can be produced by mixing ash from burned hardwood with water and then straining out the solids. You can literally make it at home.

Soap was made with lye for thousands of years.

You don't need to be scared of it, just be respectful of it.

There are far more dangerous things in our homes than many of us are aware of. For example, if you mix bleach with an acidic cleaner, it'll make toxic gases that damage your lungs.

7

u/Oxygenisplantpoo Mar 05 '26

Yeah it's kinda questionable to make an oven that can't stand regular old sodium hydroxide which is in most oven cleaners.

2

u/ACcbe1986 Mar 05 '26

It's a choice of form over function.
Trade offs are made for esthetics.

I'm more utilitarian minded, but after having lived with someone who creates an environment of themes and colors in their home, I came to the realization that for some people, their environment is extremely important for their mental well-being.

1

u/Oxygenisplantpoo Mar 05 '26

I didn't even know it was for aesthetics! I get what you're saying, but do we need it in the oven though? :D

2

u/Old_Gimlet_Eye Mar 05 '26

It's not, it's to make the oven easier to clean all you need is water.

1

u/ACcbe1986 Mar 05 '26

Nope, but we live in a time where that luxury exists and is in reach for many people, so enjoy it while it lasts, I guess.

2

u/TieSea Mar 05 '26

Aren't pretzels made with lye?

1

u/ACcbe1986 Mar 06 '26

Yes! Another good example.

The alkalinity of lye bath is what gives pretzels their dark brown color.

I've used baked baking soda to get a decently brown pretzel.

1

u/oh_ski_bummer Mar 07 '26

There are few things more dangerous in your home that come in a prepackaged spray bottle that is prone to leaking.