She never called it a “hack.” To her, it was simply the right way to care for something that fed the family.

A low, gentle heat, a bowl of water, and a dishwashing pod doing silent work while she set the table or folded laundry.

An hour later, the oven door opened like a reveal: softened grease, loosened stains, and only a cloth needed to finish the job.

For the stubborn corners, she’d patiently go back, sometimes repeating the process rather than reaching for a harsh spray. “If it steams, it softens. If it softens, it lets go,” she’d say. No stinging eyes, no rubber gloves up to the elbows—just a warm kitchen and a clean oven ready for the next meal. In a world of complicated products, her simple, eco-friendly ritual still feels quietly revolutionary.