Cleaning an oven is an unenviable task that commonly finds itself high on the list of hated household chores.

Dirty, boring and laborious, it’s a duty that tends to be avoided at all costs, unless absolutely necessary.

That being said, when needs must, productivity often hits a roadblock when it comes to cleaning the oven door.

Keep your oven from becoming a culinary crimes scene with this handy guide to cleaning oven glass.

Cleaning Oven Door Glass

The ability to clean the glass of your oven door can make or break your oven cleaning endeavour.

Unsightly drips and noticeable streaks are far from an uncommon occurrence on oven glass and can leave your oven appearing grubby, even if the inside itself is actually spotless.

However, oven glass accessibility isn’t always simple and can take a lot more effort than simply spray, scrub and wipe.

If your oven door glass playing hard to get, you may need to be a little creative in your approach. Luckily, there’s a tried and tested formula for just that.

Hang in There

Oven doors are notoriously tricky to clean, particularly when it comes to maintaining the transparent glass front.

Worse still, oven doors often comprise of multiple layers, a myriad of parts and a multitude of intricate fastenings holding it all together.

Avoid the headaches of dismantling and horror of reassembling your oven door by using this handy coat hanger hack.

Hang Fire

Before you do anything else, you’ll need to make your coat hanger contraption.

Straighten out a metal coat hanger and wrap a glass cleaning wipe around it, securing it in place with an elastic band.

Hey, presto – one wiry cleaning wand!

Infiltrate

Most ovens will have a drawer or casing below the oven door itself.

Remove this front panel to reveal the oven door’s exposed inner workings. This will give your additional access to the oven door, including the usually inaccessible oven glass.

Behind Enemy Lines

By laying under the now exposed door base, you’ll now be able to see open slots, giving you access between the oven and the window glass.

Slide the wire cleaning wand into the gap and simply wipe away the dirt from the grubby area.

For dirty glass, this may take a couple of goes with several new wipes – but be persistent. The result will be worth the effort!

Fall Back

Once clean, simply remove the wand and bask in the glory of a job well done!

When you pull out the hanger and see how much dirt has been removed by the glass wipes, you’ll be amazed at how effective this simple technique can be.

And all without removing a single screw!

For more information on oven cleaning, why not check out our other oven cleaning blogs for more hints, tips and hacks. Alternatively, if your oven is beyond cleaning and you’re in need a replacement part, call now on 02920 452 510 or get in touch online using the button below.

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Over the last several decades, kitchen appliances have seen a variety of technological breakthroughs, from the George Foreman Grill to instant-boiling taps.

Despite the range of inventions, innovations and advances, the humble oven has stood firm as a tried and true mainstay of the kitchen.

However, the ovenary option of gas and electric has long been a hot debate, with both sides of the argument staunchly loyal to their preferred supply.

So, which one is better? Let’s find out as we turn up the heat on gas ovens vs electric ovens, in the ultimate battle for kitchen supremacy.

Pros and Cons of a Gas Oven

If you think a gas oven will provide more of a spark to your culinary capabilities, check out these pros and cons and give yourself a balanced view.

Benefits of a Gas Oven

Gas ovens tend to heat up very quickly, speeding up the overall cooking process as it reduces the time needed to pre-heat the oven to the desired temperature.

They also provide a levelled heat distribution which can be useful for achieving different results while cooking things at the same time; e.g. cooking meat on the bottom shelf and roast potatoes on the top.

Disadvantages of a Gas Oven

Gas installation is a specialist skill and can be extremely dangerous if conducted by an untrained amateur. As such, you’ll need to enlist the aid of a qualified gas professional to install your gas oven safely. Naturally, this will usually come with a price tag.

Gas ovens usually won’t feature a fan either, which can make it harder for heat to circulate. While this can be great for achieving varying cooking results (as noted above), it can result in an uneven bake and require some serious shelf juggling if you’re looking to achieve the same results for multiple trays.

Pros and Cons of an Electric Oven

If you’re switched on to the idea of an electric oven, be sure to take the following into account for a well-rounded decision.

Benefits of an Electric Oven

While gas may have the edge in terms of heating speed, electric does tend to offer a quicker cooking experience.

Electric ovens tend to distribute heat more evenly, particularly fan-assisted ovens. This allows the hot air to be circulated around the oven, surrounding the item and cooking the food from multiple angles.

Disadvantages of an Electric Oven

As noted earlier, electric ovens can take a long time to heat up, extending the cooking time by potentially up to 30 minutes. It also retains its heat for a long period of time, making adjusting temperature tricky at times.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of electrical ovens is that they can be a notable casualty when a power cut occurs. If the power is down in your area and your midway through an oven bake, it’s an immediate roadblock that doesn’t have a detour.

Is Gas Cheaper Than Electric?

In short, yes. Cooking with gas typically works out notably cheaper than cooking with an electric oven.

One study by consumer watchdog Which? found that cooking with a gas oven worked out over 50% cheaper than cooking with an electric oven over the course of a year.

In addition to that, gas cookers are also typically cheaper to purchase up front as well, providing savings on a number of levels.

Gas Cooking vs Electric Cooking

While your decision will likely come down to costs, efficiency and practicality, it’s also important to note that gas cooking also provides a different cooking style to electric.

Gas ovens provide heat with more moisture than electric, culminating in a dish that itself is ultimately more moist. This prevents certain dishes from drying out and can make all the difference when cooking items like meat.

Meanwhile, electric ovens provide a drier heat that’s perfect for achieving crispier textures. This is particularly helpful when baking cookies of crisping up chips.

Which is Better - Gas or Electric?

Ultimately, who prevails in the battle between electric and gas depends largely on your own preferences and desired methods of cooking.

While gas can be cheaper in the long run, it does require specialist installation, whereas an electric model simply needs an outlet. That being said, if you live in an area where power cuts are common, an electric oven can be an unreliable solution.

The differences in cooking quality and end result can also be a decisive factor, while many will simply opt for what they are familiar with in a “better the devil you know” mindset. That being said, if you really are torn, there are hybrid options that provide the best of both.

Whichever option you ultimately go for, you can be sure that Cooker Spare Parts will have you covered if you need a replacement component, new rack or a spare tray to go with it.

If you need any help making up your decision, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 02920 452 510 or get in touch online using the link below.

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Buying new cooking equipment can an exciting endeavour for foodies and those that spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Unfortunately, getting rid of the old equipment to make way for the new can be notably less fun.

For those that own a small car, disposing of an old appliance can be a real pain in the boot. Meanwhile, if you have no personal transport at all, it can be nigh-on impossible without a helping hand and four helping wheels.

Luckily, as always, Cooker Spare Parts has you covered. If you have old kitchen equipment in need of shifting, save yourself a headache with this handy guide on how to dispose of appliances.

Recycling Old Appliances

The best way to dispose of any kitchen or household appliance is, of course, to recycle it.

This not only ensures you are safely disposing of the item in a responsible manner, preventing pollution, it also benefits the environment by enabling the materials to be reused.

To make this fact abundantly clear, the WEEE Directive was implemented in the UK in 2006 as a means of reducing waste products and cutting down on littering, fly-tipping and land-fill waste.

Focussing on waste electrical and electronic equipment (hence WEEE), this directive eventually became law in 2014 and allows for the safe disposal of most electrical items.

Despite this fact, government figures estimate that there are still around 2 million tonnes of WEEE items needlessly discarded in the UK every year.

What Appliances Can Be Recycled?

In a nutshell, you can recycle pretty much any electrical item that has a plug or requires batteries (within reason).

From fridges, washing machines and oven disposal to microwaves, toasters and iron clearance, you’d be surprised at just what you can recycle.

This even extends to a myriad of other electrical items, ranging from TVs and computers to games consoles and musical instruments.

If a product isn’t recyclable, it will usually be distinguishable by a small logo of a wheelie bin with an X through it. When in doubt, consult Prof. Google for further clarification.

How Do I Recycle Appliances?

To make things extra easy, there are actually a number of ways in which you can recycle your old electrical appliances.

We’ve listed the most common and popular methods of recycling appliances below for you – so there are no excuses for any of them ending up in your bin come collection day!

Collection on Delivery

If you have bought a new appliance from a high-street store or online supplier, you may be in luck right away. Many stores and suppliers offer to remove your existing piece of equipment on delivery of your new one.

This service is often offered in exchange for a small removal fee, typically starting at £15 for a large item. Meanwhile, some may even dispose of it free of charge if you bring it into the store.

However, it’s worth noting that this by no means a universal service, so be sure to check its availability beforehand.

Council Collection

If such a service isn’t on the table, an easy alternative is to simply put in a request to your local council.

Most councils operate a collection service of electrical items, including bulky items like ovens, fridges and washing machines (provided you let them know in advance).

This is also a great option if you are simply looking to get rid of an appliance that is faulty or beyond repair.

That being said, it’s worth noting that some councils will also charge a small fee for this service, so make sure you read the small print before you book.

Recycling Centres

If you’re mobile and would rather go down the independent route, there’s nothing stopping you from taking the proactive approach and disposing of it yourself.

Now, to be clear here, we’re in no way suggesting you load up your fridge in the back of a van a dump it in a shady layby. That, ladies and gentlemen, is fly-tipping and very much illegal.

We are, however, very much endorsing the use of local recycling centres. Simply take your item to your local recycling point and follow the instructions accordingly.

To locate your local recycling centre quickly and easily, follow the link and enter your address details to find a centre near you.

If you would like to know more about appliance disposal, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 02920 452 510 or click the button below to get in touch via email.

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When someone is cooking up a storm in the kitchen, there are few things that compare to the sweet, sweet aroma of a finely cooked dish.

Whether it’s a freshly made sauce on the stove, a roasting chicken in the oven or even the scent of toast gently browning in the toaster, the slightest whiff can get the taste buds tingling and the mouth salivating.

That being said, the cacophony of odours can create quite the aromatic cocktail over time and leave you with a less than harmonious oven smell (particularly when it comes to fish and meat).

Avoid a smelly oven with these tips to keep your oven smells under control.

How to Remove Odours from your Oven

When your oven smells become too much to handle, you can deodorise an oven in a number of different ways; however, you don’t even need to reach for the industrial power of chemical oven cleaners to do so.

In fact, perhaps the quickest and easiest way to neutralise your oven smells is to enlist a helping hand from Mother Nature. Here are three sure-fire techniques to rid your oven of its nasty odours naturally.

Lemon

A great natural way of getting rid of oven smells is to enlist the awesome citric power of lemons. In addition to smelling great, they also make for a great way to loosen grease for a one-two punch of citric power.

First, fill a large oven-proof dish with about an inch or so of water. Next, slice two or three lemons in half and squeeze the juice into the dish, placing the squeezed lemon halves into the dish as well.

From there, simply pre-heat the oven to 120 C, place the dish on the rack and leave it to boil over for up to an hour, depending on the extent of the smell. Voila – one citrus fresh oven!

Vanilla

Another fantastic natural ingredient for masking odours, vanilla is a great alternative for a sweet-smelling kitchen.

Simply mix a teaspoon of vanilla extract with a small bowl of water and mix. Dip a cloth into the mixture and ring out the excess water until you’re left with a damp cloth.

From there, use the damp cloth to wipe down the inside of the oven, making sure to cover all walls, roof, base and racks. Repeat this process two or three times to ensure the whole oven is appropriately coated.

Much like the lemon method, you can also use the evaporation technique to deodorise your oven. Simply follow the same steps using an oven-proof dish and an inch of water, replacing the lemon juice for a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Oranges

Much like lemons, the citrusy goodness of oranges makes them the perfect weapon for a fresh smelling oven.

However, unlike the lemon method, you only need the peel for this approach (so feel free to snack on the juicy segments while you prep).

All you have to do is peel an orange and place the skin on a baking tray in the oven. Leave them to bake for up to an hour and – hey presto – you should be left with an odourly wonderful tropical scent.

So, there you have it: three unbelievably easy ways to rescue your smelly oven from the stench of defeat. If your oven trays, racks and pans are simply beyond saving, you can always get a replacement here at Cooker Spare Parts. Click below to get in touch today.

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Has your Zanussi oven stopped working? There's a long list of reasons why your oven has become faulty, but fear not. We can help you determine the root of the problem and advise you on the best way to fix it. 

Zanussi Oven Not Getting Hot

If your Zanussi oven is warming up a little, but not getting as hot as it should be, then it's likely that your thermostat is faulty.

The thermostat in your Zanussi oven regulates the internal temperature, so if you suspect yours is damaged or broken, you should stop using your oven and resolve the problem immediately. Continuing to use your Zanussi oven with a defective thermostat is a serious safety risk! 

At Cooker Spare Parts we offer a selection of thermostats for Zanussi's gas and electric ovens. We're sure you'll be able to find the part you need in a few simple clicks. You can browse our selection of Zanussi thermostats by clicking the appropriate buttons below:

Gas thermostats >      Electric thermostats >

Need help fitting your new thermostat? We've got you covered! Take a look at our step-by-step guide, we'll walk you through the process.

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Zanussi Oven Not Working At All

If your Zanussi oven is not heating up at all then it's probable that your oven element is broken. 

If your oven is switched on at the mains, turned on as usual and supposedly 'ready to go', then it should definitely be getting hot! If for you, this isn't the case, then a new oven element is definitely on the cards. Luckily, replacing your oven element is fairly simple and they're not too expensive to replace. You can view all the Zanussi oven elements we offer by clicking the button below.

Zanussi oven elements >

If you find that these spares don't resolve the problem with your Zanussi oven, all hope is not lost! We have a huge range of spare parts for Zanussi ovens. Browse all of them here:

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