It has actually been 15 years or more since I cleaned an oven. We have always had the self cleaning type, a house keeper or perhaps scrubbing bubbles that came while I was sleeping. Which ever, I, the Woman of the House have somehow been spared……..until now.
We have lived here, I am embarrassed to say how many years and though the oven has been wiped out from time to time, I don’t think it has EVER been cleaned. It really has not bothered me until now. I’ve actually been successful in closing the door and forgetting about it but the smoke alarms started going off anytime anyone cooked which became quite an inconvenience.
So, I put Easy Off on my shopping list………….eight weeks ago, six weeks ago, four weeks ago and ,,,,,,,,,,you get the picture. I kept forgetting it but I did finally manage to get a can into the house.
I decided not to do anything formal like set a date. I thought I would just wait until the spirit moved me and today was the day! A Hallelujah rang in the Heavenlies as I, with perfect timing sprayed the warm oven after baking some delicious (my kid’s tell me) breakfast pies (my name for quiche) for tomorrow after church.
I had donned myself with rubber gloves and turned on the fan but I forgot the fumigating effect the spray has on everyone within 30 miles. The kids, who had been happily coloring at the table, began hacking and screeching “What is that stuff??!!” “Oven cleaner” I replied as I opened the windows and doors to the frigid northern Michigan air outdoors. I might as well have been speaking Greek. The whole concept seemed foreign to them.
Soon the fresh air won and we could breath again. I opened the oven, ready to dive in up to my shoulders when my 13 year old, Tinisha said “Mom, do you want some help?” “No, this is a really dirty job but thanks!” I said. I started wiping the door and my rag was black instantly and, I had an idea. “Hey”, I said to Tinisha, “Could you bring me fresh bowls of water?” “Sure” she said and thus began our assembly line of two.
I wiped, rinsed and squeezed, she brought me bowl after bowl after bowl after bowl of fresh water, Soon we drew an audience, Tori (7) and Katherine (15). “Wow” they exclaimed! “Look how clean that is!
About half way through, I touched the light bulb in the oven with my cloth and it shattered. After cleaning it up, with Tori helping by bringing the garbage pail over, I continued wiping. Next thing I knew, Tori disappeared and came back with a flashlight. She stood patiently, shining it in the oven so I could “see” for the rest of the job.
As we stood and marveled at the newly cleaned oven, I thanked them telling them I couldn’t have done it without them. Tinisha said “well, you probably could have, but it would have taken you a loooooooooong time”
That was the truth!