Every couple of months I dedicate a day to deep cleaning my home, and without fail, there's always a few nooks and crannies I miss. And truthfully, they're probably the spaces that could use the most elbow grease and attention. Typically, these are overlooked areas that are out of sight, like refrigerator shelving, inside-the-home trash cans (yes, you should definitely wipe down the inside and outside of your trash bins), and my oven. Considering the oven is a kitchen appliance I use weekly, it could benefit from some extra (and consistent) TLC.

So, how can you tell when it's time to clean your oven? Well, if you can't remember the last time you removed and soaked the oven racks or scrubbed the interior, that's your first hint. It's recommended that families or individuals who utilise their ovens regularly — about a handful of times a week — give it a proper deep clean every three months [1]. To prevent build-up and residue or burnt food from collecting, aim to give your oven a light clean once a month. This will come in handy and make it easier when it comes time to do another deep clean. However, if you take after Carrie Bradshaw and use your oven to store your sweaters or only on the holidays, then cleaning the appliance twice a year will suffice.

It's more common for newer ovens to come with a built-in self-cleaning feature [2], but for those of us who aren't as lucky, it's going to take a lot of patience, time, and oven cleaner. Store-bought oven sprays are great if you're looking for something fast and effective but if you'd rather steer clear of chemicals, try making your own DIY [3] oven cleaner. Scrubbing your oven squeaky clean isn't a one hour job though, so be sure to plan your cleaning day accordingly.