Why didn’t I know about this cleaning trick with dishwasher tablets?

[MintyMabel]

Cleaning the oven last night, discussing whether we should just put the glass door in the bag with the metal bits even though the instructions says not to. OH suggested I googled to see what t’internet said.

Up came a MN post from 2016, suggesting you use a hard powder, unwrapped dishwasher tablet dipped in water. We tried it and it was amazing. The stuff just came off. Also takes the gunk off the kitchen cupboards and tiles next to the hob. I’ve been wondering round the kitchen with a tab wondering what else it will clean.

I’m a fair age, well versed in various cleaning tips and tricks, how did I not know about this? Neither did my mum. Is this actually really well known? And why hasn’t some bright manufacturing spark come up with an actual cleaning product like this?

@Molly499

I used to use Pink Stuff until I discovered Elbow Grease which is even better and also very cheap.

Haven't tried Elbow Grease, will keep an eye out for it.

I cannot believe I spent years buying toxic, expensive sprays like Mr Muscle which tell you to open all your windows and doors as the smell is so awful when there's a product which costs a tenth of the price and does the job so much better.

You do have to open the door with Elbow Grease too, it's strong.
Works on clothes stains as well though.

I use WD40 on my oven door to remove the baked on grease, it works really well

Done this for years. If it's any help you can use one on the bottom of pans to get the brown stains off. Also the inside of aliminium pans for burnt on food. Leave glass dishes with one in dissolving if theres burnt on food.
You can use loose washing powder and a stiff brush/wire brush on your paving or concrete.

And a wet 2pence coin on your taps to remove limescale.

I've heard that using Pink Stuff on the oven door can make the glass shatter

I use oven pride and swish some of the liquid up the door. Has always worked fine.

I just put an old towel down under the door to catch drips

But Pink Stuff, and Astonish and their ilk are abrasive and are pastes, Pink Stuff scratched my shower door. I’m talking about a big hard bar of stuff rather than tiny tabs.

Denture tablets work well left in the loo for a few hours too.

This one I knew. Also works in thermos flasks. And way back in my lodge cleaning days we used to use denclen on plates and cups to get the cutlery scratched off them.

I saw a great tip last week to pre warm the oven before you clean it.... just enough to loosen the grime!

Yep. Same with the wire trays.

I just use washing up liquid

Assume this is after every use and not after weeks/moths of “I really must clean the oven” Washing up liquid wouldn’t shift the stuff that was on the oven door last night.

@horseymum

Try wrapping trays in tin foil and putting in bath with dishwasher tablet, another good method.

@horseymum sorry if I'm being dense, but how does wrapping the trays in foil help? I could understand putting in the bath with a dishwasher tablet but if they're wrapped in foil doesn't it just prevent the tablet/warm water from getting to the baked on gunk??

use oven pride and swish some of the liquid up the door. Has always worked fine

Apparently as it is tempered glass, oven pride can make it crack. I assume they tested it a million times and it did it once so they warn against it, but given I’ve just had to replace my dishwasher, I didn’t want to take the chance!

You can use loose washing powder and a stiff brush/wire brush on your paving or concrete

Funny you should mention this, OH wondered out loud if the dishwasher tab trick would work on the path. I pictured him on his hands and knees doing the whole path 😄

I've done this but I broke up the tablet and dissolved it in a tiny bit of boiling water then spread the paste over the oven door. Worked well!

I use a toothbrush to clean around taps etc.

Going to try dishwasher tablets in the clothes washer and toilet too after reading this thread.

@AwaAnBileYerHeid

Yeah I tried it- didn't work.

It works for me. I got the tip on MN a few months ago and it has been discussed again in the past couple of weeks. You use it, slightly moistened, to scrape the glass.

Be very careful when cleaning the over door in the bath. If it slips out of your hands it will chip the enamel and shatter into thousands of pieces.

Whenever my mum mops her floors using disinfectant and warm water, she chucks the used water on her patio and then uses a broom to spread it about (not on frosty days obviously or she would end up with an ice rink!!). Her patio doesn't get moss etc on it and looks pretty light and clean.

Instructions unclear. Got arm stuck in wheelie bin.

@Chanandlerbong01

The pink stuff is really good for the oven door too!

And alloy wheel cleaning I found yesterday 👍

I order giant bottles of catering dishwasher liquid from Nisbets and use it to clean everything (especially excellent in the sink and shower) but assumed I'd burn a hole in some plumbing or something as punishment for not using it correctly.
Planning to try it on the kitchen floor next.

What’s a hard powder?

I 'hid' some stuff in my oven when someone was coming round so they couldn't moan that I hadn't washed up again but then I forgot it was in there and pre-heated the oven for dinner.
Now it has melted plastic all over the bottom of it. I really should clean it.

@MintyMabel

But Pink Stuff, and Astonish and their ilk are abrasive and are pastes, Pink Stuff scratched my shower door. I’m talking about a big hard bar of stuff rather than tiny tabs.

Denture tablets work well left in the loo for a few hours too.

This one I knew. Also works in thermos flasks. And way back in my lodge cleaning days we used to use denclen on plates and cups to get the cutlery scratched off them.

I saw a great tip last week to pre warm the oven before you clean it.... just enough to loosen the grime!

Yep. Same with the wire trays.

I just use washing up liquid

Assume this is after every use and not after weeks/moths of “I really must clean the oven” Washing up liquid wouldn’t shift the stuff that was on the oven door last night.

As I say, I use Brillo pads. They are also abrasive. Cant say as I notice the scratches inside the oven, it’s pretty robust in there. On the stainless steel surfaces of the hob and the front of the oven, I wouldn’t use them but they are very effective at getting the crud off the inside.

@WhatWouldPhyllisCraneDo

I 'hid' some stuff in my oven when someone was coming round so they couldn't moan that I hadn't washed up again but then I forgot it was in there and pre-heated the oven for dinner. Now it has melted plastic all over the bottom of it. I really should clean it.

I’d get a specialist oven cleaning company around for that job

Sorry dont understand your post but really want to "put the glass door in the bag" sorry- what?! Which glass door and which bag?

What "hard powder" and do you mix all this together then pour into oven/wipe down or what? Really confused....

@sundowners, one of the oven cleaning products (Oven Pride?) comes with a bottle of cleaning fluid and a big plastic bag. You take all of the racks and stuff out of the inside of the oven and put them in the bag with some of the cleaning fluid (which is really toxic and gives nasty burns if you get it on your skin). You leave it for a bit and it melts the crud off the racks.

Don’t know re ‘hard powder’ but I assume the cheapo dishwasher tablets. The basic powder type without a plasticky coating, not the gel ones. You wet them under the tap and then rub the tablet directly on the muck. It didn’t work for me but it does for others.

As for glass door, the glass in the oven door. Some ovens you can unscrew the door and release the glass panel for cleaning or repair. I never bother. Mostly because I’m worried it’ll break or I’ll not be able to put it back properly!

I think we have gel tablets, but if not I am going to try it right now.