Hints From Heloise

Sun., Aug. 25, 1996

King Features Syndicate

Dear Heloise: What is the best way to clean oven racks, especially if you have a self-cleaning oven and they have been left in the oven on the clean cycle? They are very discolored. - Margaret Sargent

The easiest way to clean dirty oven racks is an old Heloise hint from 30 years ago. Spray each piece well with oven cleaner, being sure to follow the directions on the can, including wearing rubber gloves and working in a well-ventilated room or outside. Then put them into a large, heavy-duty plastic garbage bag and seal it. Leave it, away from any curious children or pets, for several hours or overnight, if you can.

Remove the racks, wash them well with hot, soapy water (stubborn buildup may need to be scrubbed away with a ball of nylon net) and rinse thoroughly. Dry, and those oven racks should be sparkling once again.

If they are still discolored, it is probably a change from the high temperature of the self-cleaning cycle and, sorry to say, I know of nothing that will bring back the shine. - Heloise

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