Uploaded July 2020 | Updated September 2026, 14 hours ago
More Quick Tips: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2eh4zI-dJCevBTEdY5ioSAPQ
An important part of taking care of your house is taking care of your appliances.
Self-cleaning ovens work by oxidizing (burning off) soils at a high temperature, about 850 degrees. If something should spill in your oven or on the range wipe it up immediately. If it lingers you may have to deal with excessive smoke during the cleaning cycle. Especially wipe up sugar spills and other carbohydrates (such as casseroles) which become very firmly attached to the surface and sometimes damage the porcelain enamel glaze as they are burned off.
Oven models and brands vary so it is extremely important that you follow directions in your manual to the letter.
Pre-clean the areas not reached in the self-cleaning cycle: the frame around the oven opening, and the edge of the door outside the gasket. NEVER clean the gasket with anything!
Use hot water and detergent or a paste of baking soda and hot water on difficult spots; rinse well with vinegar water to remove all residue. This prevents this soil from being baked on during the high heat of the cleaning cycle. Re-clean these areas after the cleaning cycle is used.
If your manual recommends it, you may also place the broiler pan in during self-cleaning cycle, but wipe off all excess grease or it may catch fire.
At end of cycle and after the oven has cooled down, wipe out the small amount of fine ash left inside with a damp cloth.
NEVER use chemical oven cleaners in a self-cleaning oven. Some residue may remain, and be changed by the high heat into compounds that can etch the porcelain enamel.
Then once a year, inspect the oven-door gasket. It needs to be soft and pliable. If it isn’t it could be leaking heat and that will cost you money in your energy bills. If your gasket is held on with clips and screws you can replace it yourself, however, if you need to disassemble the oven door to replace it, you may want to call in a technician.
For continuous cleaning ovens:
NEVER use oven cleaners on continuous-clean ovens, as they will clog the pores in the coating, and, may damage the coating, or the aluminum backing if it is used.
NEVER use scouring powders or any other powdered cleaners, as they will clog the coating, and the abrasive action also damages it.
NEVER use any metal pads or abrasives, as they will wear off the coating, and also metal filings may come off and clog the coating.
In a gas range, inspect the pilot flame. The flame should be a sharp blue cone 1/4 to 3/8 in. high.
More Cleaning Information:
Removable parts, such as broiler pans and racks, can be cleaned more easily if allowed to soak in a sink or pan of sudsy water to which a little ammonia has been added. A lot of soaking is better for the surface, and easier, than a lot of scrubbing. Never soak aluminum in ammonia or other alkalis.
If necessary, you can scour oven racks or porcelain enamel with steel wool or a scouring pad to remove baked- on grease or food spills, which have not come off in regular cleaning. Occasional use of such abrasive pads, or scouring powder on badly baked-on soil is OK, but don't use these too often or scrub too hard for you can scratch the smooth surface and make it harder to clean from then on. Do not scour mirror-finished metals, glass, or baked-on enamel.
Interior oven surfaces are coated with a catalyst, or chemical mixture, which lowers the temperature at which heat will dissolve food soil. It operates while oven is used for baking and roasting, starting at about 350 F. and more active at higher temperatures.
MORE FROM YOUR NEW HOUSE
Featured videos:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2eiqktEDbaQunVDuiTidxPxd
Great DIY Projects from Your New House:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2ejNSy9ywo1mKiGaSXuTsEgE
Quick Tips - easy tips to make your projects (and life) better:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2eh4zI-dJCevBTEdY5ioSAPQ
Gardening and Landscaping:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2ejdcWzNkAARBzUQDvT3W1ME
Adventures in Homebuilding - Home info with a smile:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2ehA9bTrvQ58AHfE_utaBCLc
More Quick Tips: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2eh4zI-dJCevBTEdY5ioSAPQ
An important part of taking care of your house is taking care of your appliances.
Self-cleaning ovens work by oxidizing (burning off) soils at a high temperature, about 850 degrees. If something should spill in your oven or on the range wipe it up immediately. If it lingers you may have to deal with excessive smoke during the cleaning cycle. Especially wipe up sugar spills and other carbohydrates (such as casseroles) which become very firmly attached to the surface and sometimes damage the porcelain enamel glaze as they are burned off.
Oven models and brands vary so it is extremely important that you follow directions in your manual to the letter.
Pre-clean the areas not reached in the self-cleaning cycle: the frame around the oven opening, and the edge of the door outside the gasket. NEVER clean the gasket with anything!
Use hot water and detergent or a paste of baking soda and hot water on difficult spots; rinse well with vinegar water to remove all residue. This prevents this soil from being baked on during the high heat of the cleaning cycle. Re-clean these areas after the cleaning cycle is used.
If your manual recommends it, you may also place the broiler pan in during self-cleaning cycle, but wipe off all excess grease or it may catch fire.
At end of cycle and after the oven has cooled down, wipe out the small amount of fine ash left inside with a damp cloth.
NEVER use chemical oven cleaners in a self-cleaning oven. Some residue may remain, and be changed by the high heat into compounds that can etch the porcelain enamel.
Then once a year, inspect the oven-door gasket. It needs to be soft and pliable. If it isn’t it could be leaking heat and that will cost you money in your energy bills. If your gasket is held on with clips and screws you can replace it yourself, however, if you need to disassemble the oven door to replace it, you may want to call in a technician.
For continuous cleaning ovens:
NEVER use oven cleaners on continuous-clean ovens, as they will clog the pores in the coating, and, may damage the coating, or the aluminum backing if it is used.
NEVER use scouring powders or any other powdered cleaners, as they will clog the coating, and the abrasive action also damages it.
NEVER use any metal pads or abrasives, as they will wear off the coating, and also metal filings may come off and clog the coating.
In a gas range, inspect the pilot flame. The flame should be a sharp blue cone 1/4 to 3/8 in. high.
More Cleaning Information:
Removable parts, such as broiler pans and racks, can be cleaned more easily if allowed to soak in a sink or pan of sudsy water to which a little ammonia has been added. A lot of soaking is better for the surface, and easier, than a lot of scrubbing. Never soak aluminum in ammonia or other alkalis.
If necessary, you can scour oven racks or porcelain enamel with steel wool or a scouring pad to remove baked- on grease or food spills, which have not come off in regular cleaning. Occasional use of such abrasive pads, or scouring powder on badly baked-on soil is OK, but don't use these too often or scrub too hard for you can scratch the smooth surface and make it harder to clean from then on. Do not scour mirror-finished metals, glass, or baked-on enamel.
Interior oven surfaces are coated with a catalyst, or chemical mixture, which lowers the temperature at which heat will dissolve food soil. It operates while oven is used for baking and roasting, starting at about 350 F. and more active at higher temperatures.
MORE FROM YOUR NEW HOUSE
Featured videos:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2eiqktEDbaQunVDuiTidxPxd
Great DIY Projects from Your New House:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2ejNSy9ywo1mKiGaSXuTsEgE
Quick Tips - easy tips to make your projects (and life) better:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2eh4zI-dJCevBTEdY5ioSAPQ
Gardening and Landscaping:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2ejdcWzNkAARBzUQDvT3W1ME
Adventures in Homebuilding - Home info with a smile:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjTMbsoHW2ehA9bTrvQ58AHfE_utaBCLc
