Cleaning your oven is probably one of the most dreaded chores in the entire house. Manufacturers have known what a hassle cleaning the oven can be and added the self-clean feature in most modern models. But with self-clean, is your oven really clean, or should you even use the feature? Below, Alpha Appliance Services shares some information on oven self-cleaning and how to keep your appliances in top shape.

How Does Self Clean Work?

Most appliance owners assume that all you have to do is turn on the self-clean feature, and after 30 minutes, the oven will be spick and span. While that is how it is marketed, there is prep work that is required before you use this feature.

Before using an oven self-clean setting you have to actually clean the oven first. Confused? Most people would be. Ahead of using the feature the drips, crumbs, and other loose debris must be removed from the oven and the broiler drawer. The reason for this extra step is so that your house doesn’t end up full of smoke.

The self-clean setting on an oven is its highest heat setting, which literally burns off baked-on food and debris. Not only does this heat up your oven, but it also heats your entire home. The self-clean cycle, for all its bells and whistles, can actually break some of the components on your oven. Temperatures inside can reach 800 degrees, so it is no surprise that something will break eventually.

Should I Use The Self Clean Feature?

Due to the high temperatures involved, damage to your unit over time is all but guaranteed. Instead of using the self-clean feature, there are many ways to keep your oven clean instead. For dishes that may boil over, you can always place it on top of a cookie sheet to catch the overflow. If you have several racks in your oven, you can also place a layer of foil in the rack under your dish to catch anything that may drip or fall. Of course, you should clean your oven once a month with an oven-safe degreaser similar to Simple Green.

Using Vinegar Steam to Clean Your Oven

No one actually enjoys cleaning their oven, but with our simple guide below you can clean yours in a snap.

  1. Soak Your Grates – Take your oven racks out and soak them in hot, sudsy water. This will help loosen the grit and oil that has been baked on overtime. After soaking for several hours, use a steel wool pad to buff away the baked-on grime.
  2. Vacuum Your Oven – Take the hose attachment from your vacuum and use it to suck out crumbs and loose debris from inside of your oven.
  3. Replace the Bottom Rack – Once the racks are clean, replace the bottom one in your oven on the center rack setting.
  4. Make your Vinegar Cleanser – Take an oven-safe glass or metal dish and fill it with one part water and one part vinegar.
  5. Bake Your Mixture – Place the solution in the oven on the center rack and turn the heat up to 250 degrees. Let the solution bubble and steam with the oven door closed for about 15 minutes after it starts boiling.
  6. Spray It Up- Turn off the oven and remove the rack, tray, and remaining solution. Be careful not to burn yourself. In a separate spray bottle use the same solution and spray the entire interior of your oven, close the door and let it soak for half an hour.
  7. Wipe It Down – Once your oven is cool enough to touch, take a damp sponge and wipe away all that baked on grime. Most will come off with a gentle swipe. Stubborn stains will respond to steel wool.

Keeping Your Oven Clean with Alpha Appliance Services

No one likes to clean their oven, but even fewer people like to pay for oven repair. The best way to keep your oven working properly is by cleaning it regularly. With our tips above you can get rid of stubborn stains and baked on grime with ease. However, if your oven still happens to break down, we can help. Give us a call at (416) 577-5354 to find out more about our Newmarket appliance repair and installation service. We can’t wait to speak with you!