Cleaning the oven is one of those household chores that we tend to put off for as long as possible. Between grease splashes, burnt food residue and encrustations on the walls, returning it to its initial conditions can take a long time. It is therefore not surprising that tricks that promise to solve the problem effortlessly are so successful on social media.
One of these involves using a simple dishwasher tablet. No sponges, no scrubbing: according to the videos that have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, it would be enough to turn on the oven and let the product do everything by itself.
The method has won millions of views, but there’s a problem. Dishwasher tablets are not designed to be used in this way and, according to cleaning experts consulted by the British magazine Ideal Homethe remedy could prove to be more harmful than useful.
How the tablet in the oven trick works
The process shown in the videos is quite simple. Place a capsule of dishwasher detergent, generally a gel type, in a heat-resistant baking dish, add some water and leave the container inside the oven set to 100°C for about an hour.
The idea is that the heat, combined with the steam and cleaning substances, softens the encrustations on the walls, making them easier to remove with a cloth.
A video published by the TikTok account @healthy_eating_fitness has exceeded 4.3 million views, contributing to the spread of this system. The appeal is obvious: a product that many already have at home, very little preparation and the promise of saving time on one of the most annoying cleaning tasks.
But just because a trick is done thousands of times doesn’t necessarily mean it works, or that it’s safe.
Because experts advise against trying it
The first problem concerns the detergent itself: dishwasher capsules contain a combination of substances formulated to work inside a specific appliance, with certain quantities of water, temperatures and rinse cycles.
An oven works completely differently, the combination of heat and detergent could damage some internal surfaces, seals or other components of the appliance.
Then there is the issue of vapours, heating a chemical product outside of the intended conditions of use can cause the release of irritating fumes. Without knowing the formulation of the tablet and the conditions of use, it is not possible to establish which substances can be released.
It is therefore not a good idea to transform the oven into a sort of improvised dishwasher, especially considering that it is an appliance intended for preparing food.
But at least the oven comes back clean?
This result is not guaranteed either, steam can help soften some residues, but it does not necessarily reach all surfaces with the same effectiveness. Grilles, fans and door glass may require specific treatments.
In short, the risk is to leave the oven on for an hour, consume energy and still find yourself having to scrub. Added to this is the possibility of leaving detergent residues on the internal surfaces, which should then be carefully eliminated before using the oven for cooking again.
How to really clean the oven without risking ruining it
For ordinary cleaning you do not necessarily need aggressive products or complicated procedures. The first good habit is to intervene before the dirt accumulates. When the oven is completely cold, crumbs and residues can be removed with a soft cloth and a detergent compatible with the internal lining.
For light encrustations, on some surfaces a paste of bicarbonate and a little water may be useful, left to act before being removed with a damp cloth. However, it is important to check the manufacturer’s instructions: not all coatings, particularly catalytic ones or those with specific treatments, tolerate the same methods.
Even the integrated cleaning programs, when present, must be used according to the appliance manual. It is better to avoid improvised mixtures of detergents, products not intended for the oven and abrasive solutions that could scratch glass and surfaces. Ultimately, the dishwasher tablet trick demonstrates how easy it is to be won over by a seemingly ingenious shortcut.
Before trying yet another viral method, it’s always worth asking yourself if those few minutes of cleaning saved justify the risk of damaging an oven that costs hundreds of euros.
