How to Clean Built In Ovens

Hot diggity, dinner ... but then there's cleanup. Built-in ovens come with cleaning instructions, and you should follow the manufacturer's directions. But if you've lost the manual or aren't sure what to do, the following green cleaning guide should get you cooking clean again. Lucky "self-cleaning" oven users only need to lock the door and turn on the self-cleaner function.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Mask (optional)
• Old clothes
• Plastic drop cloth
• Newspaper
• Sponges
• Ammonia (optional)
• Green cleaner such as Bi-O-Kleen or CleanEz
• White vinegar and baking soda
• Large glass bowl
• Paper towels, rags or white nylon scrub pad

Instructions

1. 

   Open windows, if possible, for ventilation. Lay plastic in front of the oven and then top with newspapers. Suit up in cleaning gear: gloves, an old shirt and a mask, if desired.

2. Treat the oven if it is exceptionally dirty. Pour 1/2 cup of ammonia in a large glass container and let it sit inside the oven overnight.

3. 

   Make a paste of a green cleaner such as Bi-O-Kleen or CleanEz and baking soda. Apply it to the surfaces of the oven. Let it sit and work for an hour.

4. 

   Soak your broiler pan and racks in dish washing detergent, ammonia and water in a kitchen sink. Use steel wool if baked-on food is stubborn. Exercise caution with smooth stainless steel surfaces and abrasive pads that scratch. Scratched, scuffed surfaces catch more food later on.

5. 

   Make an equal-parts mix of white vinegar and water. Use a sponge to rinse the oven with this solution.

6. 

   Prevent excessive cleanup by blotting up spilled liquids with a sponge as soon as you see them.

Tips & Warnings

• Match the right size pan or casserole dish with your recipe to avoid spillovers.

• Self-cleaning ovens are generally more energy-efficient than regular ovens.

• Use a pumice stone from the beauty/cosmetics department to scrape off stuck-on foods.

• Sprinkle salt on oven spills when still hot. After cooling, the spills should come right up.

• Commercial oven cleaners are very caustic. Protect hands, skin and eyes. A breathing mask may be warranted as well.

• Never apply a self-cleaning solution to hot ovens, electric elements or gas pilot lights inside appliances.

• Turn off the gas pilot light when using commercial cleaners; the caustic properties may react.

• Remove self-cleaning oven dust with a vacuum hose attachment.

References

• Clean Oven From How Stuff Works
• An Alternate Cleaning Method
• Built-in Oven Catalogues Fom Expo