NATURAL WAY TO CLEAN AN OVEN

Conventional oven cleaner and other degreasers are among the most toxic household products around, according to the Washington Toxics Coalition. I never use anything but a homemade paste: Mix 2 cups baking soda, 1 cup washing soda (found in laundry aisles), 1 teaspoon dish soap, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar. (You can thin it with a bit of water if necessary.) Wearing gloves -- I prefer heavy cotton to plastic -- scour the oven's interior with a scrubber, rag, and hot water to remove crust that hasn't yet stuck solid. Apply thickly to all sides of the oven and leave overnight. In the morning, put gloves on and scrub, wiping with a wet cloth until all traces are gone.