Oven Cleaning 101

Cleaning an oven is one of those household chores that is easy to put off. As any appliance repair specialist will attest, however, cleaning your oven at least a few times per year can help extend its useable life and efficiency. Read on for tips on the various ways to clean your home’s oven.

Using the Self-cleaning Function

Many modern ovens come equipped with a self-cleaning feature, although it may not always be readily apparent to users. Check the owner’s manual for information on how to use your oven’s self-cleaning feature, if it is available on your appliance. An oven self-cleans by heating to a very high temperature (approximately 900 degrees Fahrenheit), at which point any leftover bits of food, grease, and dirt are incinerated and turned to ash. This ash can then be wiped away easily with a damp cloth or rag.

Using the self-cleaning function is one of the easiest ways to clean your appliance, but there are a few considerations homeowners must keep in mind. The oven will be locked up for three to five hours during a self-clean cycle, and the amount of heat released during the process can be overwhelming. In addition, a strong odor may emit from the appliance as all the accumulated grease and food residue is burned away. Households with pets and small children should therefore consider vacating the premises while the oven completes a self-clean cycle.

Some newer ovens connect to a water line and allow for a steaming function that adds moisture to a variety of foods. This same function also helps an oven during the self-cleaning cycle, and typically allows the appliance to not get as hot as traditional self-cleaning ovens.

Store Bought Oven Cleaners

Store-bought oven cleaners use a variety of chemicals to break down grease and grime from your oven. While some homeowners swear by these products, others are wary of the chemicals used to attack tough baked-on grease. Caustic soda, dichloromethane, and even ethylene glycol (used in antifreeze) are examples of some of the harsh chemicals used in commercially-available oven cleaning products.

When opting for this method of oven cleaning, ventilation and proper protective gear are important considerations. Make sure you open any nearby windows and turn on a fan if possible to increase ventilation in your kitchen. Wear rubber cleaning gloves and a face mask, as you will need to be in close proximity to harsh fumes while cleaning the inside of the oven.

Do-It-Yourself Cleaning Solutions

A natural DIY alternative to the harsh chemical-based oven cleaners can be created using ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. Combine a half cup of baking soda with one quart of warm water. The baking soda will act as an abrasive agent, and the warm water helps to loosen stuck-on bits of food and grease.

For added cleaning power, you can add vinegar to the baking soda and water mixture. Spray some vinegar on top of the mixture after it is applied to the oven, and let it bubble and set for 20 minutes. Then use a non-abrasive cleaning sponge to scrub the surfaces.

Cleaning Oven Racks

Metal oven racks are notoriously difficult to clean from inside the oven. To make the job easier, remove the racks from the oven and soak them in hot water with some dishwashing detergent for about two hours. Some homeowners may find that soaking the racks in the bathtub is the easiest way to get the job done. Wherever you decide to soak your racks, make sure to use a drain filter to catch any larger pieces of burnt food and grease before they enter your plumbing.

Cleaning Oven Knobs and Doors

Oven knobs and doors require a gentler approach, as excess liquid behind knobs can short out electrical components, and excess abrasion on glass oven doors can cause scratching. For knobs, a damp microfiber cloth should be sufficient. A small amount of vinegar can be sprayed on the cloth as well.

For glass doors, opt for a paste made of water and baking soda. Apply to the glass door and let it sit for about 20 minutes, then wipe with a non-abrasive cloth.

At Diamond Appliance, we are the St. Louis oven repair experts for brands like Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, GE, Frigidaire, and more. If you need quick, effective oven repair, call us today.