Introduction
As a proud owner of a self-cleaning oven, you likely enjoy the convenience of being able to easily clean the inside of your oven by simply setting it to self-clean mode. However, even self-cleaning ovens require a bit of maintenance and cleaning in between cycles. Follow these tips to keep your self-cleaning oven looking its best and functioning optimally.
Prepare the Oven
Before starting a self-cleaning cycle, be sure to remove any food or debris from the oven. This includes any pans, aluminum foil, oven racks, etc. The high heat from the cleaning cycle can cause these items to warp if left inside.
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Remove oven racks. Most oven racks can be left in during self-cleaning, but it’s best to remove them first to prevent discoloration. Place racks in a safe place until the cycle is complete.
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Wipe out debris. Use a damp cloth to wipe out any large spills or pieces of food from the oven bottom and sides. Scrape off baked-on debris with a plastic scraper if needed.
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Remove oven door. Check your oven’s manual on how to remove the door. This prevents heat damage during cleaning. Place the door in a safe location until the self-cleaning cycle is done.
Run Self-Cleaning Cycle
Refer to your oven’s instruction manual for how to start and operate the self-cleaning mode. Here are some tips for a successful clean:
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Double check oven is empty before starting clean cycle.
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Ventilate your kitchen to remove any odors or smoke from the oven vapors.
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Keep kids and pets away from the oven during and right after the high-heat cleaning.
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Use the recommended clean cycle time per your manual, often 2 to 4 hours.
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Do not open the oven door during the cleaning process. This releases the hot air and could cause injury.
Clean Oven Exterior
While the oven interior cleans itself, look for ways to tidy and disinfect the outside surfaces:
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Wipe down the oven window with a non-abrasive glass cleaner until clean.
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Use a mild soap and warm water to wash the oven door handles and any control panel or knobs.
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Clean the stove top surface around the oven with an all-purpose cleaner and rinse.
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For stainless steel surfaces, use a stainless steel cleaner and wipe down with a soft cloth.
Finish Up Cleaning
Once the self-cleaning mode turns off, follow these steps:
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Wait for the oven to fully cool down before attempting to remove the door or replacing racks.
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If there is any ash or debris residue, wipe it away with a damp cloth once the oven interior is cool.
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Replace oven racks and door. Insert racks fully and check that the door opens and closes properly before using oven again.
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If racks are heavily discolored from the cleaning, you may want to replace them with new ones.
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Give the oven one final wipe down, if desired, before using again.
Do Regular Manual Cleaning
While the self-cleaning is excellent for deep cleans, you should also:
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Wipe spills quickly after they happen and before baking again.
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Every few months, clean the oven door gasket to remove grease and crumbs.
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Use a baking soda paste with a scouring pad to scrub stains on oven bottoms.
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Replace old light bulbs to maintain good visibility inside oven.
Know When to Self-Clean Again
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Self-clean every 2 to 6 months for light to moderate oven use.
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When the oven interior looks dirty, with stains or baked-on food remnants.
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After heavy oven usage like holidays or large gatherings when food splatters likely built up inside over time.
By regularly self-cleaning and doing light manual cleaning, your self-cleaning oven will stay pristine for all your baking needs! Let me know if you have any other self-cleaning oven tips.
