homegarden-20250126 by repubnews

8 ways to clean up a mess with a humble lemon

By Jennifer Barger

The Washington Post

MANY BOTTLED

cleaners and potions wear labels boasting about their natural ingredients and green bona fides. But you may already have an earth-friendly cleanser in your kitchen fruit bowl: a lemon, lime or orange.

“Citrus is a classic, nontoxic way to clean your home that really works,” says Shira Gill, a professional organizer in San Francisco and the author of “LifeStyled: Your Guide to a More Organized & Intentional Life.” “It’s what our grandparents used, and it smells good.”

But it’s important to remember that “while citrus will likely deactivate some germs and bacteria, it doesn’t kill them or disinfect surfaces,” says Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping Institute’s executive cleaning director. In general, lemons and limes perform best for cleaning tasks (they aren’t sticky and sugary); oranges, grapefruits and other citrus are great for deodorizing.

Here’s how to use these fruits to freshen and clean your home.

Zap baked-on grime in your microwave

To remove crusted-on food inside the microwave, professional organizer Alex Brouard of Bethesda’s Cozy Home Studios suggests placing lemon slices in a small bowl of water. “You put the bowl inside the microwave and then run it for two minutes,” she says. The acid in the lemon helps cut grease and the steam softens hardened food particles. You can just wipe them right out,” Brouard says.

Tackle bathroom messes

“Citric and ascorbic acid in citrus fruit juice are effective at dissolving hard water stains and soap scum in the tub,” Forté says. To harness these powers, create a paste from the juice of one lemon (or lime) and a tablespoon or

two of baking soda. Then use the mixture to clean porcelain tubs and sinks. For hard water stains on stainless steel or chrome fixtures, cut a lemon in half and rub it over the affected area. Leave it for a few minutes, then rinse the juice off.

De-gunk your garbage disposal

Like ice cubes, citrus peels can help remove debris from the garbage disposal in your kitchen sink. (Keep the fruit pieces small — say, lemon halves or chunks of grapefruit skin — to avoid clogging your pipes.) “I put orange peels and hot water in my disposal, then pulse it a couple of times,” Brouard says. This won’t kill germs or bacteria, but, Gill says, “the natural oils break down grease, and

the fresh scent masks odors.”

Brighten laundry

Citrus can act as a nontoxic alternative to bleach. “Add half a cup of lemon juice to your wash cycle to brighten whites, remove stains, and leave laundry smelling fresh,” Gill says.

For tough stains, try soaking garments or textiles in ½ cup of lemon juice diluted in a bucket of hot water, then rubbing affected spots together to help break up stains before washing. “My grandmother used to apply lemon juice and salt to rust stains on light-colored fabric and then set them out in the sun to bleach,” Forté says.

Clean your cutting board

“If you have stains on your wooden cutting boards from

chopping beets or herbs, put some salt on the surface, then cut a lemon in half and use it like a sponge,” says Caroline Solomon, a home organizer in New York City. “Let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse off the cutting board.”

Just remember: Citrus is highly acidic and can etch or dry out some surfaces. “Apply it sparingly on wood cutting boards, and treat them afterward with oil to help restore them,” Forté says.

Create a most-purposes cleaner

Make your own fruity

cleaner by placing the peels from two or three lemons or oranges in a jar with two cups of white vinegar. “Let it infuse for two weeks, then strain it into a spray bottle,” Gill says. “The citrus oil enhances the vinegar’s cleaning power while leaving a fresh scent. Use it to clean countertops, appliances, and windows.”

Just don’t spritz citrusy cleaners on hardwood floors or marble or granite countertops, because the acid could stain or bleach those surfaces. “Test any surface for safety before cleaning it with citrus to be sure it won’t damage it,” Forté says.

Deodorize your fridge

Out of baking soda to suck up stale smells in your fridge? Put a small bowl of citrus peels inside for a quick refresh. Throw them out after a few days, then repeat. Or assemble an old-fashioned pomander by sticking cloves thumbtack-style into an orange; it will last a few weeks, imparting a sweet, spicy odor.

Clean mirrors

Forget the glass cleaner — fresh lemon juice in a spray bottle is a cheaper, simpler way to shine up clear surfaces. “Simply spray it onto glass or mirrors, wipe with a microfiber cloth, and you’re done,” Solomon says.

To dissolve hard water stains, create a paste from the juice of one lemon (or lime) and a tablespoon or two of baking soda. (PHOTO, COVER PHOTO / ADOBE STOCK IMAGES)

Lee Reich | In the Garden

EXOTIC, TROPICAL FRUITS ARE turning up more and more frequently on grocers’ shelves these days: dates, papayas, guavas and others. I look upon these fruits opportunistically, because within each lies dormant seeds that can be coaxed to become exotic, if not beautiful, indoor plants that might even provide a delicious fruit harvest. Such plants provide a break from the humdrum of spider plants, philodendrons, and Swedish ivies.

Seeds of tropical fruits usually germinate best if planted as soon as the fruits are eaten. Cold-climate fruits, in contrast, have innate inhibitors that prevent seed germination until they feel that winter is over. So, all that’s necessary to grow most tropical fruits is to wash their seeds and sow them in potting soil, using the old rule of thumb of burying a seed to twice its depth. And then wait.

I have harvested fruit grown from the seed of a grocery store bought pineapple guava, also known as the feijoa (pronounced FAYHO’-A, from the generic part of its unwieldy Latin name, Feijoa sellowiana, more recently changed to Aca sellowiana). The fresh seeds, scooped from the fruit, germinated and grew.

Feijoa seems to me an ideal plant to grow. Even outdoors where it’s native, the tree is small, so does not mind being kept five foot high in a pot which can be carried indoors during our frigid winters. The plant is subtropical rather than tropical, so can stand a bit of cold, down to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feijoa has leaves which are shiny and dark green on their upper surfaces and felt-like and silvery on their lower surfaces. My plant spends winter decorating a sunny, south-facing window in a cool room in my house.

Papaya is one of many fruit plants that can be started from seeds of tropical fruits “harvested” in the grocery aisle.

(LEE REICH PHOTO)

GARDEN NOTES

STOCKBRIDGE Upcoming program at Berkshire

Botanical Garden

Berkshire Botanical Garden presents the following upcoming program: “Native Plants for Every Corner of the Garden Class.” This sequence of classes, taught by Duncan Himmelman on Zoom, is suited to gardeners of all levels, from novice to experienced. Sign up for individual classes or the whole series which run Saturdays, Feb. 1 to Feb. 22, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Series topics include Native Vines, Native Groundcovers, Living Mulch, Native Bulbs, and Native Plants for Container Gardens. Can’t do the entire series? Sign up for individual classes. Members: $15/ non-members: $20. For the whole series, $50 members, $65 nonmembers. To register or for more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical.

org. Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 W.Stockbridge Road.

SPRINGFIELD Garden Club upcoming gardening series

The Springfield Garden Club will host “Year-round Color in the Garden Horticultural Workshops,” a series of three classes for anyone interested in year-round interest in their yards and gardens. The programs will be at 2 p.m. on three Sundays in January and February.

Sunday, Jan. 26, will kick off the series with the class “Some of the Best Perennials and Shrubs for Seasonal Interest: Spring, Summer, Fall and even Winter!” Wondering what to plant? How to layer them for best effect? This hands-on workshop has you evaluating a wide variety of new and tried-and-true plants for the unique needs of your yard. Led by Vana Nespor, district director, Garden Club Federation of

Massachusetts. Sunday, Feb. 9, is “Trees that Bring Joy all Year Long” Looking to plant and care for a small tree that you will enjoy year-round? Learn which small trees bring joy to both you and the wildlife around you. Where best to place them, and learn how to make sure they survive in our changing climate. Led by Alex Sherman, tree warden and city forester for Springfield.

Sunday, Feb. 23, is “Landscaping for Year-Round Beauty” Want to enjoy your garden more in the spring, summer, fall, and winter? Learn how to design a garden that showcases vibrant color and fascinating textures that make it shine in every season. The classes will be held in the Old Monkey House, in Forest Park on Sumner Ave. The fee is $10 per class and tickets are available at the door, on Eventbrite, by emailing spfldgardenclub@ gmail.com or by calling 413.285.3163.

For more information on this and other Springfield Garden Club events go to www.gcfm.org/ springfieldgardenclub or visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/SpringfieldMA GardenClub/

SOUTHWICK

Planning your garden

Join particpants at the Southwick Public Library, Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m., for a casual workshop with Deb Humphrey. You should bring a rough measurement of the garden site you plan on planting. We’ll discuss making a plot plan and taking into consideration the sun, companion planting, soil conditions, and what needs to be started early. We’ll create a seed list (and check out the SPL’s seed library while you’re there). Please register so we know how many to expect.

Send items for Garden Notes to pmastriano@repub.com two weeks prior to publication.

The flowers’ stamens are arranged in a tuft like a red bottlebrush, and the petals are thick, purple and white. Those petals are very edible and very delicious, with a sweet, pineapple-minty flavor.

But best of all is the fruit itself. Beneath the thin skin is a gelatinous center with a spicy pineapple flavor. My feijoa plant hasn’t provided sufficient harvest to satisfy my feijoa-ish needs.

The waiting period for a date fruit can be

a long time, even a long time for the seed to germinate. But stop for a moment and think about deserts, where dates are native. Should a date seed send up a leafy shoot with the first hint of moisture? Of course not. The dry desert air would dehydrate the sprout in short order. When a date seed germinates, first its thick taproot grows straight downwards, seeking permanent moisture, long before even a small sprout appears aboveground.

I once planted some date seeds (first making sure they came from unpasteurized dates).

My new condo smells like the previous owners’ dogs. What can I do to fix this?

By Jeanne Huber The Washington Post

Q. We recently made an offer to purchase a groundfloor condo with concrete floors featuring radiant heating. It also has the distinct smell of dogs, as the previous three residents owned dogs and the last had one that was elderly and incontinent. We’re pretty sure the odor will diminish once the seller’s upholstered furniture and area rugs are removed, but we are concerned about residual smells. We plan to wash everything, including counters, floors, walls and woodwork, with a mild detergent and water. We’re hoping we won’t have to paint the walls and ceilings, as that would add a serious amount of work and expense before we could move in. We aren’t sure if the concrete floors have been sealed. How can we determine the source(s) of the odor, and what are the best methods to eliminate it?

A.Dried urine isn’t the only reason a space can reek of dog smells, but it’s one of the key factors. Other sources include shed skin cells (dander) and hair, as well as smells that dogs release from their scent glands or leave when they lick surfaces. You should be able to eliminate the dander and fur with a thorough vacuuming, including along baseboards and maybe even walls. Opening doors and windows should help clear other smells that don’t go away when the previous owners remove their furniture, rugs or other items, and when dogs are no longer living in the space. You might want to wash countertops just to be sure you are moving into a clean space, but these surfaces aren’t likely to harbor lingering dog smells. Nor is the ceiling. Concentrate on walls and woodwork within the height range of a dog’s pee, and on the floor.

As for urine, a UV flashlight, also known as a black light, can help you pinpoint the location of any deposits. Treat each area you find with an enzyme cleaner that works to neutralize the smells from dog urine.

UV flashlights are rated by the wavelengths, in nanometers, that they emit. According to various websites, a beam at any range between 365 nm and 385 nm can reveal both cat and dog urine. A beam with longer wavelengths, between 390 nm and 400 nm, can detect only dog urine, and then only in a very dark room. Working in a dark room is always best, although some flashlight manufacturers say their beams are strong enough to work even when a room has some light. Advice on whether you need UV-filtering glasses to avoid eye damage while using the flashlights is mixed, so it’s wise to also invest in a pair of eyeglasses that filter out these wavelengths. The website of Urine Eradication Systems, which makes the PeeDar2 flashlight (about $20 on Amazon), has a good overview of what to look for in selecting glasses. Never shine the beam into your eyes, and make sure the flashlight isn’t where children could get it.

Scanning the floor and lower walls and woodwork with a UV light should make areas where there is dried pee glow bright yellow. Proteins and phosphorus in the urine fluoresce — meaning they absorb one color of light and emit a different color — when exposed to the short wavelengths in the UV range. The light may also pick up spilled food or remnants of cleaning products, which may glow in different colors. When you find places that glow yellow, outline the area with chalk or painter’s tape, or use sticky notes to cover the area. Then, after you turn the lights back on, treat each area you marked with an enzyme cleaner, such as Nature’s Miracle Dog Stain & Odor Remover (lists for about $25 a gallon on Amazon). Enzyme cleaners

break down urine deposits and are far more effective in removing urine smells than general household detergents. If the product has separate instructions for dealing with stains or odors, follow instructions for odor control. The Nature’s Miracle cleaner, for example, recommends combating odors by saturating an area and letting the enzyme air-dry, rather than blotting up any excess after 15 minutes, as it recommends for stain removal.

Manufacturers of UV flashlights caution that fluorescence happens only when urine is dry. “Dry urine has a much more crystalline structure which is able to provide the greatest glows possible,” according to a blog post on the PeeDar website. When UV doesn’t illuminate old urine deposits, the culprit can be high humidity, perhaps from showers. So doing the scan before you move in is ideal. Weak batteries can also make a UV light ineffective. And a UV scan can also fail to detect urine that was absorbed deep into a surface, such as the carpet pad and flooring under a carpet once the carpet itself has been cleaned. To see the glow, you’d need to peel back the carpet and pad and shine the light on both the pad and the flooring. It’s not always possible to remove all of the smell from wood that has been soaked with urine. In that case, coating the subfloor with a stain-and-odor-blocking sealer is the best option short of ripping out the wood and starting over.

With a concrete floor, using an enzyme cleaner is usually very effective if the concrete was sealed. Removing smells from unsealed concrete can be more challenging, especially in basements, where humidity tends to be high. Retreating the concrete and keeping humidity low can help. But a concrete floor that has radiant heating should stay dry, and it is very likely to be sealed, so you may be able to get rid of the smell altogether.

Knowing that I would have a long wait before the first sprouts emerged, I planned to watch the roots grow to keep myself from becoming too impatient. I put an inch of water in the bottom of a peanut butter jar, slid a tube of rolled-up blotting paper (watercolor painting paper would probably also work well) into the jar, and then “planted” the date seeds halfway up the jar, pressed between the glass and the paper.

As predicted, the roots appeared and thrust downwards before there was any sign of a shoot. When I eventually became bored watching the progress of the roots, I planted the seedlings in potting soil.

Leaves finally did poke up through the soil, an event that was far from dramatic. Each emerging seedling looked like a green toothpick stuck into the soil. In time, the “toothpicks” did unfurl into a succession of fan-like leaves which would match any ordinary houseplant for beauty and tolerance of neglect.

Fruit production from a homegrown date palm is well-nigh impossible. The plant grows slowly. Climate here in northeastern U.S. is suboptimal, to say the least. And only female plants produce fruit, so enough plants would have to be grown to flowering size to ensure at least one male (for pollination) and one female (for fruit).

One winter day a number of years ago, I planted seeds from a papaya fruit I had just eaten. Having seen papayas growing wild throughout the tropics, I assumed they would not be hard to grow. I scooped the seeds from the fruit, washed them to remove their gelatinous coating, and sowed them immediately.

Growing papayas proved as challenging as growing dates. In this case, not only were the seeds slow to germinate, but the young seedlings were extremely fragile and subject to damping-off. I nursed a single survivor beyond this wimpy initial stage, and, in time, it began to grow robustly.

In the tropics, papayas are short-lived trees that often bear their first fruits as early as eleven months after seed is sown. My papaya tree was outgrowing its one-foot-diameter pot when warm weather arrived, so I decided to plant it outside and hope for fruit. Imagine the astonishment of my neighbor, who grew up in Florida, when he saw a tropical papaya tree in my garden!

Unfortunately, my plant succumbed to the first fall frost before it had a chance to fruit. Fruiting would have been chancy anyway, because papaya plants come in various combinations of sexes. Some plants have only male flowers; others only female flowers; and still others have bisexual flowers. Papaya have been known to switch their sex under certain conditions. To fruit, my single plant would have needed bisexual flowers, which remained so.

The feijoa, date palm, and the papaya take their place in the long line of avocados, prickly pears, tree tomatoes, kumquats, lemons, tangerines and other forgotten grocery store plants that once were and, in some cases, still are part of my indoor jungle.

Terry & Kim Kovel | Antiques & Collecting

Lunar New Year arrives this week

THE LUNAR NEW Year, as observed in East Asian cultures, occurs on the first day of the first lunar month, not on a calendar date. In 2025, it falls on Jan. 29. It is celebrated in China, North Korea, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and many other countries. Festivities include parades, fireworks, exchanging gifts and, most importantly, family reunions and traditional meals.

Each year is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals. The animals that belong to the zodiac can vary among cultures and are usually based on which animals are native to the region. The most common is the Chinese zodiac, which has been used for over 2,000 years. It consists of the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The year 2025 is the Year of the Snake. These animals play important roles in mythology and folklore. They also appear in decorative arts. This cloisonne charger, which sold at Keystone Auction LLC for $500, is effectively an illustration of the zodiac cycle. All 12 animals are pictured around the rim, in order, counter-clockwise, separated by panels with flowers.

Q. Years ago, my mother-in-law was looking for treasures and found this box with cows on the lid. Knowing my fondness for cows, she gave this to me. It was found in Columbus, Ohio. I have been curious about the provenance (if there is one), the age and value. On the bottom, it is marked “Lille 1767” inside a wreath with a crown on top.

A. The “Lille 1767” mark is used on faience, a type of tin-glazed earthenware pot-

The Chinese zodiac is a cycle of 12 signs, represented by the animals pictured on this cloisonne charger. Each Lunar New Year moves into the next sign. (KEYSTONE AUCTION LLC)

tery. Lille is a city in northern France with a very long history. Its annual flea market, believed to have started in the 12th century, is the largest in Europe. Pottery has been made in Lille since at least the 15th century. We have not identified a specific manufacturer that used the “Lille 1767” mark, but we have seen it on faience pieces dated to the 19th century. “1767” may be the year the factory was founded. Like your box, they are usually decorated with scenes depicting country life. Like many ceramic boxes, they are inexpensive, generally selling for about $20 to $75. However, be careful: Like many well-known ceramic marks, the “Lille 1767” mark has been used on recent reproductions.

Q. I have an antique footlocker with a key and a removable shelving unit. The lock says, “Patented with Eagle Lock Co. / EVURS / Terryville, Conn USA”. What can you tell me about it? What is its value?

cabinet. There are several patent dates on the machine starting with 1900-1910. It’s from the G series: G5350458. It’s in good condition.

CURRENT PRICES

A. The Eagle Lock Co. was established in Terryville, Connecticut, in the mid-1800s. It was a consolidation of several lock manufacturers in the area, including the James Terry Co., which was founded by the son of clockmaker Eli Terry Jr. Terryville is named after the family. In the 1800s, the Lock Company was the world’s largest maker of trunk and cabinet locks. Production slowed after World War II. The company was sold in the 1960s and closed in 1975. Their locks are sought by collectors and often appear on antique furniture and trunks. The letters “EVURS” are probably a code for the model of the lock. Antique trunks with Eagle locks sell for about $75 to $250, depending on their size, material and condition.

Q. Can you tell me if my Singer sewing machine has any value? It has a red eye decal design and a treadle “drop down”

A. Singer made the G series sewing machine in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Your serial number is for model number 44, made in 1917. According to the International Sewing Machine Collectors’ Society, Singer used the “Red Eye” or “Red Head” decal, officially named “Scroll (red)” for its gilt scrolls and red shapes, between 1902 and 1923 on machines made in the U.S. These machine models were part of Singer’s 66 class, which were made in both hand and treadle machines. We have seen this model of sewing machine sell for anywhere from about $50 to $300. Working condition and the presence of accessories increase the value.

TIP: Some disciplined collectors have a rule: Add a new piece to the collection only if you can get rid of a less desirable old one. Many of us just keep adding.

Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer readers’ questions sent to the column. Send a letter with one question describing the size, material (glass, pottery) and what you know about the item. Include only two pictures, the object and a closeup of any marks or damage. Be sure your name and return address are included. By sending a question, you give full permission for use in any Kovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We do not guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. Questions that are answered will appear in Kovels Publications. Write to Kovels, The Republican, King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803 or email us at collectors gallery@kovels.com.

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Photography, camera, Polaroid, instruction book, brown leather case, 10 x 9 x 3 inches, $25. Cash register, receipt box, National, cast iron, nickel finish, three glass panels, c. 1900, 6 x 7 x 7 inches, $85. Jewelry, pin, figural, snake, Etruscan style, coiled, textured scales, cabochon eyes, ruby, jade, marked, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1985, 2 inches, $130. Pottery-midcentury, bowl, raised dots around side, blue and purple tones, black ground, rough texture, mottled gray interior, short foot, Aldo Londi, Bitossi, Italy, 4 x 10 inches, $160.

Clock, advertising, Longines, electric, round dial, The World’s Most Honored Watch, script lettering, lights up, 14 1/2 inches, $170. Lamp base, electric, prancing goats on arm and around base, pierced triangular base, ring finial, signed, Robert Garret Thew, 1920s, 58 inches, $210. Rug, Arts & Crafts, light blue field, repeating yellow and salmon stylized flowers, leafy lattice, flower vine border, William Morris, runner, 2 feet 8 inches x 7 feet 10 inches, $290.

Glass-Bohemian, box, jewelry, hinged lid, rectangular, green flashed, cut to clear, ormolu mounts, 1800s, 3 x 4 inches, $520.

Furniture, sideboard, H.W. Klein, teak, two cabinets, sliding doors, flanking four drawers, recessed square pulls, bracket base, paper label, Bramin, Denmark, 17 1/2 x 88 inches, $1,125.

Furniture, mirror, Victorian, bamboo, shield shape, pierced crest, embossed ground, rectangular glass, side & lower shelves, c. 1900, 25 x 21 inches, pair, $1,665.

Average rate on 30-year mortgage slips below 7%

Rate had climbed 5 weeks in a row

By A lex Veiga Associated Press

The average rate on a 30year mortgage in the U.S. eased this week to just below 7%, its first decline after climbing five weeks in a row.

The rate fell to 6.96% from 7.04% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, it averaged 6.69%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, also eased this week. The average rate dropped to 6.16%, from 6.27% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.96%, Freddie Mac said.

“While affordability challenges remain, this is welcome news for potential homebuyers, as reflected in a corresponding uptick in purchase applications,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

Mortgage applications edged up last week, but have been subdued in recent weeks as the average rate on a 30-year home loan hovered around 7%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

This week’s decline in the cost of home loans reflects a pullback in the bond yields that lenders use as a guide to price mortgages, specifically the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury.

The yield, which was at 3.62% in mid-September,

Deeds

AGAWAM

Cathleen M. Heald to Michael G. Robie and Lisa I. Robie, 66 Beekman Drive, $230,000.

Jaclyn A. Wright to James Griffin, 32 Reed St., $335,000.

John W. Dunlop and Carol E. Dunlop to Amy F. Geracitano and Mark James Geracitano, 148 Clover Hill Drive, $460,000.

Nancy L. Dostal to Paul Harlin and Marlene Harlin, 10 Ash Lane, Unit 10, $240,000.

Ronald F. Bulat, Kathleen M. Bulat and Jody K. Anderson to Maggie Wang and Jun Zai Pan, 475 Meadow St., $400,000.

Steven R. Reed, Scott M. Reed and Elaine P. Bowler to Christopher Howe and Taryn Egerton, 59 Strawberry Hill Road, $353,000.

AMHERST

Good Ol Daves LLC, to Wild Onion Rentals LLC, 203 Northampton Road, $445,000.

Rocky Hill Road Partners LLC, to V&H Properties 10 Tyler Place LLC, 10 Tyler Place, $902,500.

Karen E. Freeburg, personal representative, Shiv Cariappa, estate, and Shiv Caraippa, estate, to Ellen M. Loos, 26 Greenleaves Drive, $100.

Mary E. Egan to Laura Annette Wylie, 13 Edgehill Place, $375,000.

Kathleen Marie Chlanda to Katherine L. Hayes and James M. Hayes, 23 Kettle Pond Road, $675,000.

Joel M. Greenbaum and Lisa M. Greenbaum to Bercume Construction LLC, Concord Way, $220,000.

climbed to 4.78% early last week following strong reports on the U.S. economy and worries that tariffs and other proposed policies by the Trump administration could boost inflation along with economic growth.

The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.64% in midday trading Thursday.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions.

Home loan rates have been mostly rising since the Fed signaled last month that it expected to lower its benchmark interest rate just twice this year, down from the four cuts it forecast in September. The central bank’s poli-

Nantucket Cliff LLC, to Gregory J. Neubauer, 3 Chadwick Court, $300,000.

Railroad Street Partners LLC, to A1N1 LLC, 140 Sunset Ave., $605,000.

Pelham Road Partners LLC, to North Harlow LLC, 40 Kendrick Place, $800,000.

Kendrick Place Partners LLC, to North Harlow LLC, 32 Kendrick Place, $850,000.

ASHFIELD

Michael Epstein to 527 Main LLC, 527 Main St., $365,000.

BELCHERTOWN

Erwin J. Mercik Jr., and Jeannette Mercik to Erwin J. Mercik, Jr., trustee, Jeannette Mercik, trustee, and Mercik Family Trust, 121 Turkey Hill Road, $100.

Glen F. Bogdanovich, trustee, Myndi B. Bogdanovich, trustee, Glen F. Bogdanovich Trust and Myndi B. Bogdanovich Trust, to Carla Leonard Hoffman and Maynard Scott Hoffman, 28 Rockrimmon St., $975,000.

P & T Enterprises Inc., to Crystal Spring Enterprises LLC, Harris Way, $100.

Kirk B. Stephens to Daniel Shays LLC, 80 Daniel Shays Highway, $100.

John Wildman and Laura Wildman to Eric D. Lebeau and Ashley L. Lebeau, 225 State St., $395,000.

CHICOPEE

3 Highland LLC, to Murtadha Jaber and Dhuha A. Abdulazeez, 1-3 Highland Ave., $409,000.

Amber L. Wassmuth to Nelson Sharpe, 606 East Main St., $266,000.

cymakers are due to meet again next week.

Elevated mortgage rates, which can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, have discouraged home shoppers, prolonging a national home sales slump that began in 2022.

While sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in November for the second straight month, the housing market was on track to end 2024 as its worst year for sales since 1995. Full-year home sales data are due out Friday.

Many would-be homebuyers have been priced out of the market as mortgage rates and prices have risen in recent years. The median U.S. monthly housing payment climbed to $2,686 in the four

Daniel F. Muldoon to Hingris Alcantara and Yisel Alcantara, 74-78 Percy St., $499,900.

Gerald L. Gamache and Kathy T. Gamache to Rafael Perez, 75 Felix St., $315,000.

John D. Griffin to Pah Properties LLC, 27 Janine St., $150,000.

Kimberly Lareau, Kimberly A. Dziel and Jeffrey Michael Lareau to Julie Dasilva and Allison E. Brown, 69 Francis St., $405,000.

CUMMINGTON

Andrew N. Schmidt to George B. Thorn and Peggy A. Thorn, Worthington Road, $20,000.

DEERFIELD

David Hayes and Lynn Hayes to Jeremy Ober, 55 Eastern Ave., $125,000.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Jamie Downing, Jamie J. Downing and Daniel M. Loftus to James Kwaskin and Dawn Kwasnik, 9 Revere St., $304,000.

Peter J. Whitney III, representative, and James Baltsois, estate, to Monique Downey, 136 Parker St., $356,047.

EASTHAMPTON

Charles Miller, Charles N. Miller and Melissa A. Miller to Alan Krystian Holota, 13-15 Dartmouth St., $410,000.

Robert A. Porter and Laura J. Porter to Maura MacLean, 8 Keddy St., $450,000.

James E. Paul and Marilyn Paul to David Deland and Heather Deland, 12 Oliver St., $340,000.

weeks ended Jan. 19, according to an analysis by Redfin. That’s the highest it’s been in nearly seven months.

Forecasting the trajectory of mortgage rates is difficult, given that rates are influenced by many factors, from government spending and the economy, to geopolitical tensions and stock and bond market gyrations.

Several economists’ forecasts call for the average rate on a 30-year mortgage to remain above 6% this year, with some including an upper range as high as 6.8%.

“Economic and monetary policy uncertainty and inflationary concerns will likely keep mortgage rates elevated for the near future,” said Bob Broeksmit, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

GRANBY

Susan Tetrault, trustee, and Albert P. Tetreault & Susan Tetrault Revocable Trust to Massachusetts Comm Conservation & Recreation, Ridge Path and Batchelor Street Off, $22,500.

GREENFIELD

EDS Enterprises LLC, to Davis Property Management Inc., 1 Coombs Ave., $375,000.

Emily R. Ballard and Timothy J. Ballard to Just Roots Inc., 50 Glenbrook Drive, $330,000.

EDS Enterprises LLC, to First Generation Investments Group LLC, 40-42 Colrain Road, $550,000.

Jane M. Rozak and Richard A. Rozak to Emily R. Ballard and Timothy J. Ballard, 140 Leyden Road, $348,000.

HADLEY

Gina M. Barry, personal representative, and Sandra A. Bromwich, estate, to Michael Banach and Rebecca Crockett Banach, 4 Joelle Terrace, $426,000.

Rosemund LLC, to James R. Jackson Jr., trustee, Joanne M. Kuzmeski-Jackson, trustee, and James R. Jackson Jr & Joanne M. Kuzmeski-Jackson Trust, 1 Adare Place, $891,000.

HAMPDEN

Frances Ferrera and Frances M. Novembrino to Bridget Katherine Delaney and Owen Patrick Kelleher, 69 Valley View Drive, $335,000.

Deeds

HEATH

Stephen Parker to Suzanne Davis, 148 Taylor Brook Road, $135,000.

HOLYOKE

Appleton Grove LLC, to Marli Oze Nonaka and Arena Rae Kittle, 1 Fairfield Ave., $275,000.

Frederick Steinman, representative, and Jessica F. Steinman, estate, to Emily Whitelock, 41 St. Kolbe Drive, Unit D, $150,000.

Holyoke City to Pine Suffolk LLC, 133-137 Pine St., $4,500.

Kassandra Liquori, representative, Norman James Liquori, estate, Norman J. Liquori, estate, and Norman Liquori, estate, to Danielle Cousineau, 86 Kane Road, $285,000.

Kathryn F. Famulari, representative, Thomas C. Famulari and Michael Everett Long, estate, to Alicia A. Higgins, 75 Cherry Hill, $246,000.

Stephen E. Westcott to Brandon Anthony Grise, 10 Upland Road, $263,000.

Thomas J. Kennedy to Pah Properties LLC, 24 Old Jarvis Ave., $175,000.

LEVERETT

Zachary Woodis to Elizabeth Burns, 132 Shutesbury Road, $345,000.

LONGMEADOW

Alexander Savich, representative, trustee, Peter P. Savich Revocable Trust, trustee of, Peter P. Savich, estate, Helen Savich Rennie, trustee, and Natalie Savich Komaiszko, trustee, to Natalie S. Komaiszko and Jan J. Komaiszko, 147 Wild Grove Lane, $337,000.

Deanna Hanson to Joan Guernsey, 500 Bliss Road, $100.

Kenneth Tamsin, Christine Tamsin, Cabot Raymond and Nancy Giel to Ingolfur Bergsteinsson, 447 Williams St., $495,000.

Maria O. Perales, Alfredo C. Orejuela and Alfredo Orejuela to Samantha H. Carleton and Ross M. Cowieson, 18 Barbara Lane, $370,000.

LUDLOW

Alec Ostrowski and Jenna Ostrowski to Allison E. Brissette, 16 Georgetown Road, $325,000.

Darrell P. Albee to Nuray Karaca, 68 Howard St., $292,000.

John A. Bettencourt, Isabel Bettencourt and Maria Fraga to Daniel M.

Loftus and Jamie L. Downing, 82 McLean Parkway, $412,000.

Judith A. Nicoll, trustee, and Judith A. Nicoll Living Trust, trustee of, to Simone Scarlett and Jason Larsen, 24 Windwood Drive, $467,250.

Pah Properties LLC, to Ryan C. Belden and Kayley J. Davis, 15 Nash Hill Road, $390,000.

MONSON

Richard W. Brooks to Justin Pluff, 240 State Ave., $175,000.

MONTAGUE

Francis M. Doughty and Laura B. Doughty to Evelyn L. Nemec, 369 Old Greenfield Road, “aka” Old Greenfield Road, $309,000.

Michael J. Salustri and Karen M. Shippee to Allison Lamb, 97 Greenfield Road, $306,500.

NORTHAMPTON

Katie Temes and David Kates to Emily Noel Gresh, 125 North St., $627,500.

Deanne M. Payne-Rokowski and Deanne M. Payne to Deanne M. Payne, trustee, and Deanne M. Payne 2025 Trust, 49 Warburton Way, $100.

Linda L. B. Kleinerman and Shivani Kleinerman to Shulamit L. Kleinerman, 55 Laurel Park, $100.

NORTHFIELD

Loretta A. Fitzgibbons and Melissa K. Heckman to Anne C. Doran and Peter A. Doran, 6 Pine St., $375,000.

Holly J. Holloway, trustee of the Powers Investment Trust, to Carlton M. Brown III, and Louella V. Brown, 619 Millers Falls Road, $309,000.

ORANGE

Jennifer L. Hammonds, personal representative of the Estate of Pamela Ann Hammonds, “aka” Pamela Hammonds, to William P. McNelley and Leah C. Wilson, 108 Mattawa Circle, $320,000.

Lianna C. Brooks and Luanne L. Goguen to Christina Harriet Jewell and John Jewell, 399 East River St., $310,000.

Megliola Realty LLC, to Karen Aijala and Samuel Nelson, 34 Carpenter St., $219,000.

Nathaniel C. Dillenback and Robert C. Dillenback to Tegra Properties LLC, 65 East Myrtle St., $150,000.

PALMER

Henry G. Marx III, to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Resolute Realty Trust, trustee of, 4161 Pleas-

ant St., $138,000.

John Morrison and Pamela A. Haveles to Wendy Ballard and Manuel A. Salgado Jr., 2022 Calkins Road, $308,000.

SOUTH HADLEY

Diane J. Lauzier and Muriel L. Krebs to Barstows Longview Farm Inc., 73 Alvord St., $275,000.

Diane J. Lauzier and Muriel L. Krebs to Barstows Longview Farm Inc., Alvord Street, $750,000.

Pawel K. Misniakiewicz and Malgorzata Misniakiewicz to Pedro J. Santiago and Lexie Arbour, 30 Wilson St., $420,000.

Eric D. Simard and Janette Simard to Sean Lucey, 221 Lathrop St., $273,000.

Daviau & Robert Properties LLC, to Matthew Remillard, 37 Haig Ave., $364,000.

Tamara W. Granger, trustee, and Tamara W. Granger Revocable Trust to Wicero LLC, 8 San Souci Drive, $1,150,000.

Q Offers-A LLC, to Gerardina Caizan, 1 Maple St., $195,000.

SOUTHAMPTON

Elsa B. Kraemer to Prime Flips LLC, 34 Bluemer Road, $165,000.

Ryan L. Geeleher to Alex Gene Bouthillette and Samantha Whalen Bouthillette, 75 Russellville Road, $679,000.

Matthew P. Biskup and Danielle L. Teitelbaum to Keith D. Saltmarsh, Keith Saltmarsh, Kelly A. Saltmarsh and Kelly Saltmarsh, 48 Pleasant St., $789,000.

SPRINGFIELD

55 Margaret Street LLC, to Gabriel Lopez, 55-59 Margaret St., $443,877.

Barbara A. Cohen to Kesav Parvathaneni and Radhika Parvathaneni, 140 Chestnut St., Unit 310, $90,101.

Barbara J. Collins, Adrian J. Joseph, Jocelyn R. Pitts and Antoinette M. Joseph to Genevieve Construction Development Group Inc., 44-46 Edgewood St., $215,000.

Blue Oak Development LLC, to Melissa A. Liriano De Mendez, 86 Paulk Terrace, $350,000.

Bobby J. Coleman to MPR Properties LLC, 154 Kimberly Ave., $150,000.

Bonnie A. Whitehouse and Barbara J. Graveline to Alexander Mendez, 152 Carroll St., $289,000.

Bretta Construction LLC, to Mohammad Mourad, 29 Senator St., $430,000.

Campagnari Construction LLC, to Jonathan M. Martinez, Norma B.

Martinez and Madaline Martinez, 126 East St., $340,000.

Federal National Mortgage Association and Fannie Mae to Harold Albee and Kathleen Albee, 35 Ranney St., $265,000.

Danalax LLC, to Carleen My Huynh, 7-9 Noel St., $380,000.

Hector Concepcion and Christina Yarmesky Concepcion to Geecaa Investments LLC, 1333 Page Boulevard, $160,000.

New England Farm Workers Council Inc., to Parent Villages Inc., 32-34 Hampden St., $549,000.

Ileana Garcia to Sandra Seymour, 15 Burns Ave., $315,000.

Jocephus Grant Jr., to Vitaliy V. Gladysh, 182 Jasper St., $200.

John D. Caldwell and Marion Caldwell to Maritza Chatman and Blake Chatman, 75-77 Healey St., $340,000.

John Tran LLC, to Ofelia Perez and Sandra Roblero, 35 Cliftwood St., $321,000.

Joshua Cruz-Birriel to Yovanny J. Rodriguez Colon, 70 Amore Road, $265,000.

Kimberly J. Weir to Andrew Teasley, 137 Benz St., $385,000.

Leonel Perez to Sarvelio Roblero Mejia, 20-22 Marshall St., $180,000.

Linda Cramer, representative, and Maria L. Cramer, estate, to Curtis Johnson, 37 Bretton Road, $298,000.

Lyle Douglass and Jennifer Hammond to Norma Maldonado and Tony Rodriguez, 569 Cooley St., $370,000.

Michael A. Nixon to Better Builders Construction LLC, and Keys Upgrade LLC, 1362 Page Boulevard, $140,000.

NEOS Realty LLC, to Springfield 300 MP RK6 LLC, 300 Birnie Ave., $27,300,000.

Norma I. Maldonado and Tony Rodriguez to Carlos H. Vazquez and Denise I. Vazquez, 56 Winding Lane, $380,000.

Owen P. Kelleher and Bridget Delaney to Alan Robinshaw, 45 Gail St., $396,000.

Posiadlosc LLC, to Eufemio Gonzalez Ortega, 17-19 Washington St., $390,000.

Saremi LLP, and Tyler Saremi to Jody M. Roots, 34 Sumner Ave., Unit 407, $170,000.

Vitaliy V. Gladysh to Aldo Properties LLC, 182 Jasper St., $205,000.

Walter S. Davis, representative, Walter D. Davis, representative, and Joanne M. Davis, estate, to MPR Properties LLC, 117 Monrovia St., $150,000.

WARE

DH & N LLC, to Jack T. Wilkins, 12 Aspen St., $465,000.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Ale Ventures LLC, to 1022 Main St. West Springfield LLC, 1022 Main St., $440,755.

Gail S. Fitch to Battista & Sons Property Management LLC, 105 Vincent Drive, $275,000.

Marianna Cosentini, Vincenzo Rettura, Stella E. Kalamarakis and Pasquale Rettura Jr., to Asma Usman, 585 Rogers Ave., $375,000.

Mary E. Dillon to Michael P. Douthwright and Mark M. Douthwright, 80 Brush Hill Ave., Unit 67, $140,000.

Mokhtar Alsammarraie to Alanis N. Andino Rodriguez, 80 Brush Hill Ave., Unit 53, $178,500.

WESTFIELD

Brian Duggan and Maryanne Duggan to Nextgen RE LLC, 1232 Russell Road, $450,000.

Brian P. Duggan and Maryanne Duggan to Nextgen RE LLC, 1244 Russell Road, $450,000.

Inpart LLP, to Andrew D. Kurtz and Roxanne F. Kurtz, 0 Southampton Road, $800,000.

Stephanie C. Labrie to Hannah E. Larkham, 549 Russell Road, Unit 8D, $135,000.

William Cavanaugh to Justin Luis Enriquez, 1 May St., $260,000.

WILBRAHAM

AC Homebuilding LLC, to Mark A. Valley, Sandalwood Drive, Unit 88, $495,000.

Congamond Management LLC, to Wonderlyn D. Murphy, 511 Ridge Road, $325,000.

Doris R. LaFerriere, Suzanne M. Gougeon, Lee A. LaFerriere-Bates and Michael Gougeon to Frances Ferarra, 81 Cherry Drive, $454,900.

Nancy S. Barton and Steven Barton to Maryellen Newsom, Jesse Newsom and Thomas Newsom, 215 Stony Hill Road, $550,000.

WILLIAMSBURG

Keira B. Durrett and James R. Ayres to Lynn Whitney, 20 Kingsley Ave., $515,000.

WORTHINGTON

Melissa A. Porter, personal representative, Melissa Porter, personal representative, Kenneth Martin Granger, estate, Kenneth M. Granger, estate, Catherine L. Granger, estate, and Catherine Louise Granger, estate, to Christine Diane Jones, 786 Old North Road, $380,000.

The dirty truth: There is no good way to clean your oven

By Jolie K err

The Washington Post

AFUNNY THING

about being a cleaning expert is that it’s a bit like being a doctor at a cocktail party: Everyone wants to show you their proverbial mole. Usually, this is fine — in fact, it often leads to an interesting or hilarious conversation, or both. But there is one common cleaning question that I do not like to answer, that I find myself, if not outright lying about, at the very least doing some impressive fudging and fibbing to avoid answering directly.

The question is: “What do you use to clean your oven?”

The problem with oven cleaning

Rachel Hoffman, a cleaning expert and the author of “Unf*ck Your Habitat,” sums up the problem of oven cleaners thusly: “Either it either works and wants to kill you, or it doesn’t work all that well, but you can breathe.”

But what is it that makes cleaning an oven, in particular, so challenging? I had an inkling that stubborn oven messes had something to do with polymerization, a chemical process in which small molecules join, forming more complex structures called polymers. In the kitchen, you know polymerization by the more colloquial name “seasoning,” which refers the process of heating thin layers of fat to give cast iron cookware a nonstick coating. I floated this theory by Daniel Gritzer, the editorial director of Serious Eats, who has long been my go-to expert on all things cast iron, to ask if I was onto something.

“I think you’re right,” he said. “The problem is fat splatter can polymerize on the surface of the oven and, essentially, it’s like you’re seasoning the interior of your oven like you would a cast iron pan. Except that it’s not intentional.”

Bikramjit Singh, a research and development manager at Reckitt, the maker of Easy-Off oven cleaner, confirms this.

“After cooking, the food and grease baked and burnt into

your oven turn into a hard polymer of varied hardness that’s very tough to clean.

Leave the viral sensations to the influencers

Clever-looking hacks abound on social media, where influencers peddle the latest “must-have” cleaning agents and tools. Unfortunately, what you see online doesn’t reflect real life. “I think it gives people false expectations of how easy or how effective they are,” Hoffman says of typical CleanTok content. “Like, let’s be transparent about that.”

In 2024, I reviewed three viral cleaning products — the Pink Stuff, a highly alkaline abrasive scouring paste; the Bissell Steam Shot, a handheld steam cleaner with attachments for scrubbing and scouring; and motorized scrub brushes of various sizes that are designed to lend powerful mechanical action to tough cleaning jobs — testing them on everything from stained concrete to my oven. While each had its standout uses, all three failed spectacularly when it came to oven cleaning.

The Pink Stuff did virtually nothing to break down polymerized fats and left behind a chalky film that took ages to wipe away. The Steam Shot, which produces an impressive plume of steam that was a revelation when used on dirty grout lines, fell totally flat when it came to cleaning the oven. And the electric scrub brushes made a huge mess, leaving the oven splattered with cleaning agents that did absolutely nothing to penetrate and break down baked-on messes.

Hoffman tried a viral steam-cleaning method that calls for placing a pan of water in the oven and heating it to create steam. The idea is that the steam will loosen burnedon food, allowing you to easily wipe the oven clean once it’s cool enough to touch. It is a lovely idea, but one that, in Hoffman’s experience, doesn’t bear out in reality. “I don’t know that it was necessarily a lot more effective than just heating stuff up until it burns and then wiping it off.”

ter and oil-based ingredients like ethers that help to break down grease. Sodium hydroxide, in particular, is highly irritating and corrosive and can cause severe burns to any tissue that it comes in contact with, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also warns that it can be immediately irritating to the respiratory tract if inhaled.

Forget baking soda and vinegar — it doesn’t work Hoffman mentions using a baking soda paste to scour a dirty oven, which she says was “somewhat effective,” adding, “I don’t believe that the baking soda itself actually added that much cleaning power. Honestly, regular elbow grease with a scrub sponge is probably just as effective.”

Adding vinegar to the mix won’t move the needle, either. After the fun fizzing effect created when baking soda and vinegar are combined dissipates, you will be left with, essentially, a salt solution — and a salt solution will do absolutely nothing to penetrate polymerized fat. It’s why kosher salt is often recommended for scouring cast iron pans: Salt will remove stuck-on food from the cooking surface without removing the pan’s layer of seasoning.

So yes, you could scour away with a sponge and some baking soda in an effort to avoid harsh cleaning products, but as cleaning experts, we have something we want to say to you about that choice. “I want people to be honest about how much work the homemade ones actually take,” Hoffman says. “You’re sacrificing efficiency.”

On the other hand, she points out, “And if you’re going for the commercial ones, you’re sacrificing safety.

Don’t even think about using the self-cleaning option

Ovens with a self-cleaning function use high heat or steam to clean the interior. While in theory the clean-it-with-flame approach sounds grand, the

self-cleaning function has significant drawbacks. The self-cleaning cycle, which typically takes 1½ to three hours to complete and as long as six hours, produces strong, noxious fumes. It also carries the risk of costly damage to oven components, as well as of fire: Heat cleaning uses temperatures of 800 to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit to turn residue to ash that can be wiped away. Exposure to such intense heat puts a lot of stress on the oven’s interior and electrical parts, weakening the oven’s door seals, hinges and the accuracy of its internal thermostat.

It’s also worth noting, Gritzer says, that “self-cleaning” is a misnomer. “You’re not saving yourself the cleanup if you use the oven self-cleaning cycle — you still have to deal with whatever happens,” he says.

The experts agree: The stuff in the can is the best stuff, and we’re sorry about that By now you’ve guessed our dirty secret: We use Easy-Off to clean our ovens. Why? “EasyOff works,” Gritzer admits. Unfortunately, harsh chemical cleaning agents are needed once a cooking mess in the oven has polymerized. “Your everyday household cleaning items alone just aren’t enough to tackle that hardened grease,” Singh says. “Conventional grease removal methods do not work on these types of grease, therefore requiring an alternative chemistry.”

Oven cleaners like EasyOff typically contain sodium hydroxide, which is also known as caustic soda or lye, an alkali that can penetrate organic mat-

But when faced with what Gritzer calls “a disgusting oven,” there’s almost no way around using the canned stuff. Its corrosivity is what makes it so effective at breaking apart polymerized messes in an oven. “The exposure of fats, oils and food molecules at high temperatures cause reactions like dehydration and oxidation,” Singh says, “which results in cross-linking between those molecules. The higher the cross-linking, the more rigid it becomes and is difficult to remove by conventional grease removal processes.” The active ingredients in oven cleaners, he says, “penetrate this polymerized grease, cause saponification and make it easy to clean.”

To avoid the can, clean regularly (we’re also sorry about that)

“Here’s the truth,” Gritzer says with the deeply relatable sigh of a person who has something unpopular but totally correct to say. “The best method of cleaning an oven is to not let it get dirty in the first place. It is 100 percent easier if you can have a maintenance strategy versus a, um, recovery strategy.”

Routine spot cleaning, then, is the answer to avoiding the can. When something spills in the oven or after you’ve cooked a dish that produces fat splatter, like bacon or a roasted chicken, use a mild cleaner and a Nonscratch scrub sponge to wipe the interior clean. This type of routine cleaning will prevent the polymerization effect from occurring or, at the very least, will keep the worst of it at bay. But once a spill or oil has cooled and been reheated, polymerizing on the surface of the oven like the coating on a cast iron skillet, you will need the can.

Homemade cleaning methods tend to sacrifice efficiency, while the commercial ones sacrifice safety. (ADOBE STOCK IMAGE)