How to Clean A Self-Cleaning Oven? Step by Step Easy Guide

Table of Contents

Last Updated on July 13, 2022

The self-cleaning feature in today’s world ovens provides great facility and ease of use. Though sometimes, this feature isn’t sufficient to meet the cleaning needs and gives more harm than good. That’s why cleaning manually proves to be very beneficial in keeping the condition and performance of the oven up to the mark.

It might seem easy to turn on “Self-Cleaning Mode” and sit on the couch to wait until everything is done by itself. However, many negative outcomes are expected that can be avoided by manual cleaning.

In this post, we have elaborated on how to clean a self-cleaning oven with details. Follow the steps to get it done correctly.

How to Clean A Self-Cleaning Oven Without Using the Self-Cleaning Feature

Though self-cleaning is a great time saver for all, this happens only for a short period. With time, heavy grease accumulation and burnt regions will impact the cooking experience badly.

Sometimes the oven gets too hot to blow off the fuse, leading to severe electrical damage. Luckily, various cleaning agents, such as ammonia, baking soda, and citrus, are now available to safely clean a self-cleaning oven.

A little variation will be found in the case of different ovens and types of cleaners used.

Things You’ll Need To Clean A Self-Cleaning Oven

Following essential items will be needed to collect before heading to clean a self-cleaning oven:

A plastic bowl
Latex gloves
Aluminum foil
Paper towels
Garbage bag
Buckets of clean & hot water
Sponges
Toothbrush
Citrus & baking soda as cleaners

Ammonia As Oven Cleaner

Ammonia is one of the best-known oven cleaners that works great for removing grease. Even the hard stains and dried oil will clean easily with just one wipe. Make the solution of water and ammonia, then apply it inside the oven. Let the solution sit and penetrate evenly to remove all dirt.

Precautionary Measures

It is not recommended to use ammonia over an ignited gas oven. Also, avoid using cleaning agents specified for caustic ovens as these cleaners will badly damage the interior. Cleaning the door gasket with the help of chemicals is also harmful and results in the area’s discoloration.

Step-By-Step Guide On How To Clean A Self-Cleaning Oven

Cleaning The Interior

To clean the oven’s interior, you need to create the space for cleaning. Detach all the parts of the oven, including racks but not the delicate parts such as the heating element.

Cleaning The Interior Using Ammonia

Ammonia is very suitable for removing grease from the grates. It melts down the debris and dissolves them to be cleaned by a single wipe.

Make a mixture of ammonia and water inside a bowl.
Keep the mixture in the oven and let it rest overnight to evaporate and reach all over the interior.
Wipe it with a sponge in the morning, and you will be astonished by the results.

Cleaning The Interior Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is the best cleaner for removing dirt and bad smells from different places in the home, including washers and ovens. You can use it with other chemicals to enhance the cleaning effects. It is very effective to clean the toughest grease.

Make a paste of baking soda and water.
Apply it to the dirty areas.
Wait for almost an hour to wipe everything by using a soft cloth or paper towel.

Cleaning The Interior Using Citrus

Take 2 tbsp of lemon juice and water and mix the ingredients.
Put the mixture inside the oven and let it evaporate.
Turn the temperature on at 400F and then allow it to cool.

Removing Grease From Oven Racks

Using Dryer Sheets

Place the oven racks in one line over the top of the dryer sheets present in the bathroom.
Mix the dishwashing liquid and warm water in a tub.
Place racks in it and let them soak inside it.

Using Baking Soda

Dust some baking soda and vinegar over the racks and let them rest for a night.
Clean everything with a soft towel to get the best results.
Avoid using any hard or abrasive object for cleaning racks.

Using Ammonia

Pick up the garbage bag and add ammonia into it.
Keep it sealed tight for the night and check the bag in the morning.
Take care while opening the garbage pocket as fumes coming out of it will be harmful to inhale.

Wiping the Glass Window of the Oven

Using Vinegar

As vinegar can easily be found in every home, this trick will save lots of money.

Take 2 Tbsp of vinegar and add it inside cups of water.
Also, add some essential oil to the solution.
Put the mixture inside a spray bottle and sprinkle over the glass window.
Wipe it with a paper towel. The pungent smell of vinegar will fade away by oil.

Using Cornstarch

Make a mixture of alcohol and vinegar in equal quantities and twice the quantity of water and cornstarch.
Mix the solution until cornstarch fully liquefies.
Spray the solution on the glass and wipe to see the results.

Using Alcohol

Add vinegar, alcohol, and water into the spray bottle.
Apply this solution to hard grease and dirt.
Clean the solution by using a sponge or soft cloth.

Cleaning Stovetops

Use a hot towel instead of an ordinary towel or sponge to get rid of burned food stains and tough stains from the stovetop. You can also use a spatula for scratching dried food particles.

Washing Burner Gates

To wash the burner grates, use warm soapy water and add some kosher salt and baking soda. The hard stains will also get away with the solution.

Inspect The Hood Filter

A hood filter basically gathers fats to avoid their presence inside the oven. It is not difficult to wash these filters as you just clean them with liquid soap and baking soda mixed in a bowl of hot water. The debris and fats will clean within 10 minutes.

How Long It Take To Clean A Self-Cleaning Oven Without Using Self-Cleaning Feature

The manual cleaning of a self-cleaning oven takes almost 3 to 4 hours. The duration can vary for different styles and varieties of ovens. Many oven parts must be washed, such as a gasket, door, frame, and racks.

Sometimes, the stains are kind of stubborn to remove easily, so the duration can exceed if hard-baked or burned food spillage is present all around. At the maximum, it can take about 6 hours to clean everything perfectly.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Self-Cleaning Feature in a Self-Cleaning Oven

Under self-cleaning mode, Carbon Monoxide emits out of the oven grease during incineration. High levels of CO are very harmful and cause severe breathing problems and even death. You should keep in mind some dos and don’ts of using the self-cleaning cycle.

You can not touch your oven for 4 to 6 hours of the self-cleaning cycle as it will cause skin burns. It won’t be easy to look after the kids and pets to go into the kitchen.

The risk of oven catching fire increases many folds in self-cleaning ovens. That’s why cleaning a self-cleaning oven without using the self-cleaning feature is highly recommended to avoid the chance of house fire.