Hydrolysis oven cleaning - what is it?

Hydrolysis cleaning of an oven occupies a special place among various ways of eliminating dirt in ovens. First of all, compared to other methods of pollution control in the oven, this method is the fastest and least expensive. Below we consider what this method is, how to use it, and what are the types of hydrolysis purification.

What is the hydrolysis cleaning of the oven

Features of the hydrolysis cleaning of the oven, what it is and what the process is based on, it becomes clear from the meaning of the word “hydrolysis”, which can be translated from Greek as “water decomposition”.More specifically, steam - the water in the oven, under the influence of temperature, goes into a vapor state. Steam, acting on grease and other mud deposits, softens them. After that, they are much easier to remove from the inside of the oven using a sponge or cloth. A variety of hydrolysis treatment can be considered the use of a steam generator, which produces a steam jet with a temperature of about 150 degrees. Hot-steam treatment of the surface makes it much easier to clean the kitchen.

How to start the hydrolysis cleaning

To carry out the hydrolysis cleaning of the oven it is necessary: ​​

• Remove the rails and trays from the oven.
• In the new models of electric ovens, in which the design provides the function of hydrolysis purification, there is a special recess in the bottom that needs to be filled with water. However, you can put an enameled bowl or baking tray with water inside, because cleaning the oven with hot steam can be used for almost all types of ovens, both gas and electric.
• Turn on the oven by setting the temperature within 50–90 degrees( the exact value can be specified in the instruction manual).
• Wait 3–40 minutes. During this time, hot steam will interact with particles of dirt and grease. Dried fat will absorb moisture and begin to flow down the walls of the oven.
• Turn off the oven and allow it to cool.
• After this, finish the cleaning by wiping the internal surfaces of the oven with a cloth or washcloth. It is better to use non-abrasive cleaners.

Important:

Do not use scouring powders - they can cause damage to the enamel, and subsequent hydrolytic cleaning can cause the appearance and development of corrosion.

To enhance the effect, you can use special gels that are added to water. The list of recommended products, as well as their concentration, manufacturers indicate in the instruction manual. However, it is possible to increase the effectiveness of steam exposure to oily stains using traditional methods, for example, adding vinegar to water( in proportion to 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar), lemon slices or table salt.

Versions of hydrolysis cleaning

Modern models of ovens have more advanced options for hydrolysis cleaning of the internal surface - the Cleaning and Aqua Clean functions. In the first case, instead of water, a special spray is used instead of steam. The oven is heated to 90 degrees, after that it is necessary to open the door and carefully, so as not to burn yourself, spray everything inside the oven with a spray gun. Close the door and wait another 15 minutes, turn off the oven and let it cool. After that, collect the remaining fat with a sponge or paper towel.

Aqua Clean allows you to clean the steam in a gentle way, at low temperatures, the oven does not heat up above 50 degrees. Premium segment ovens have special hydrolysis programs. They enable the user to independently select the temperature and duration of the cleaning process.

Advantages and disadvantages of hydrolysis purification

Pros and cons of hydrolysis cleaning of the oven associated with the use of steam - this makes the process very cheap. In addition, there is no need to heat the oven to a high temperature, and this saves electricity and makes this option of eliminating pollution even more cost-effective. Be sure to note that the process can be carried out without the use of chemical reagents.

However, there are a number of rather serious drawbacks:

• First of all, hydrolytic cleaning does not fit the definition of “self-cleaning”, because to get the final result you will have to wipe the surfaces manually from the fat split by steam.
• Hot steam is a fairly aggressive environment, so before carrying out the hydrolysis purification, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the instruction whether the manufacturer recommends it. The use of cheap coatings and low-quality metal in ovens in the budget segment can cause surface damage, which over time will lead to rust.
• Hydrolytic cleaning is ineffective when it is necessary to remove old or complex stains. Over time, under the action of temperature, the fat dries out and changes its structure, which greatly complicates the cleaning with steam. You may have to repeat the procedure several times - after hydrolysis cleaning, manually remove grease stains, and then repeat the operation. It is most effective to carry out hydrolysis cleaning immediately after the end of cooking, after allowing the oven to cool.

Compared to other methods - catalytic and pyrolytic - hydrolytic cleaning of the oven is the least effective and requires more manual labor. But at the same time it is the simplest in terms of technical implementation and the least expensive, therefore, it is actively used in models of leading manufacturers of household appliances, for example, Electrolux or Bosch.