UK households urged to put bay leaves in oven this week

Cleaning an oven often requires chemical products and elbow grease - but an unconventional trick to keep it smelling fresh could be the key to a hassle-free routine. The build-up of dirt and grime can leave ovens smelling unappealing, and countering it with the sharp scent of supermarket sprays can be an equally undesirable alternative. A kitchen hack commonly used in France could substitute in an unlikely cooking ingredient to keep hobs and compartments smelling fresh, however.

Landscape gardener Steve Tonks Garden Design laid out instructions for deodorising ovens using bay leaves in a recent blog post, describing the knack as "cheap, easy" and readily slotting into "real life". "A few minutes of gentle heat, a handful of bay leaves, and the oven smells different," he wrote. "This method doesn't replace a deep clean. But it refreshes between roasts, keeps lingering smells from transferring to your next bake, and adds a light herbal note that feels clean without being surgary or synthetic."

The unusual cleaning trick is already used widely in France, as families opt for it as a way to reduce their reliance on chemicals, the firm reported.

"Bay leafs hit that sweet spot," the blog post continued. "They carry a robust, resinous aroma thanks to compounds like 1,8-cineole and eugenol, used in flavouring and perfumery.

"Warm them, and those oils lift. In a closed oven, the scent spreads fast and pushes back on stale, fatty odours. Many readers say it nudges them to cook more fish and roasted vegetables midweek because the after-smell doesn't hang around."

The low-effort knack is easily done, but also requires homeowners to closely follow instructions, including not exceeding temperatures of 170C, at the risk of burning the leaves, and first wiping up excess grease to prevent it from smoking.

Line a baking tray with parchment.

Spread between 6 and 10 bay leaves, either dried or fresh, on the tray in a single layer.

Heat the oven to roughly 150C, but no higher than 170C.

Put in the oven for between 15 and 20 minutes without opening the door.

Switch the oven off and leave the tray inside for a further five minutes before opening the door for ventilation.

Other natural ways to more thoroughly clean your oven could involve mixing baking soda with water to create a paste and leaving it on the inside of the oven overnight, before spraying with white vinegar to create foam and wiping it clean.

Another popular home remedy involves putting a heat-proof bowl of water with lemon slices inside the oven and heating it to around 120C for 30 minutes, with the steam helping to both loosen dirt and leave a fresh smell.