Households urged to put lemons in their oven

It's something you probably use in your kitchen every day and you might not realise how it's slowly become more and more grimy over time.

But if you do open your oven door one day and suddenly realise it's become so grubby you can no longer see through the glass, don't panic. In fact, you don't need to reach for a litany of expensive cleaning products; you can simply fall back on a humble lemon.

While many homeware stores sell all sorts of oven cleaning products including sprays, gels, creams and even full on leave-in-the-packet tray blitzers, you don't need to fork out for pricey oven stuff.

Instead, according to cleaning experts, you can just use a sliced lemon to banish unwanted oven grease and grime.

That's because lemons contain antibacterial and antibiotic properties, acting as a 'natural bleach'.

Website Oven Clean says: "When life gives you lemons, use them to clean your oven. A good staple in most kitchens, lemons are useful for so much more than just adding to your favourite dish, and just like vinegar, it's a terrific cleaning agent - especially when it comes to oven cleaning.

"The citric acid found in lemons is antibacterial and antiseptic, making it one of nature's favourite cleaning tools, as it acts as a natural bleach. The fruit oils found in the rind also help add shine to your appliances - and with a little bit of salt, you could probably throw away most of your chemical-based cleaning agents in your kitchen cupboards!"

The site recommends that to clean an oven with a lemon, you should:

Fill an oven-proof bowl with water.

Take one or two lemons (limes would also work), cut them in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl.

Place the bowl in the oven.

Close the door of your oven, and turn your oven on.

Keep an eye on the water, and as soon as you see it start to boil, turn the oven off allowing it to cool down with the door closed, while the steam circulates.