Instructions for Cleaning a Self-Cleaning Oven

Clean your oven to remove drips and spills.

Cleaning the oven is often a dreaded household chore. It's not as simple as just wiping it out with a rag since the oven is often exposed to drips and spills during cooking. Whether your oven is a self-cleaning model, or one that requires manual cleaning, removing the baked-on grime from inside of the oven doesn't have to be an all-day chore. With the right cleaning products and methods, you'll have your oven sparkling clean in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Rags
• Metal spatula
• 1 cup household ammonia
• Empty spray bottle
• Baking soda
• Distilled white vinegar
• Sponge
• Nonabrasive scrubbing pad

Instructions

Self-Cleaning Ovens

1. Remove everything from the oven such as pans and other dishes. It's OK to leave the oven racks in place.

2. Set the oven to the self-cleaning cycle. If the oven is really dirty, set it to longest cycle. For light cleaning, set it to the shortest cycle. Typically, the self-cleaning cycle will range from two to four hours.

3. Allow the oven to run the entire self-cleaning cycle. Don't attempt to open the oven door or touch the oven. Temperature during the self-cleaning cycle can get over 600 degrees. Most ovens have an automatic lock feature that will not allow you to open the door while the cycle is running or until the oven has cooled down to a safe temperature.

4. Wipe out the inside of the oven with a damp cloth once the oven has cooled down. You will see white, ashy residue in the oven from the cleaning.

Manual Cleaning

1. Remove everything from the oven, including the oven racks.

2. Chip away any loose pieces of burnt-on food and grime with a metal spatula. Wipe away the loosened debris with a damp rag.

3. Pour 1 cup of household ammonia into a clean, empty spray bottle. Make sure the bottle is completely cleaned of any other cleaning products. Spray down the inside of the oven with a liberal coating of the ammonia.

4. Let the ammonia sit for at least five minutes. Sprinkle baking soda onto any tough stains in the oven, then add a few drops of distilled white vinegar on top of the baking soda. Let the baking soda and vinegar sit for a few minutes.

5. Scrub the inside of the oven with a sponge until all of the burnt-on food and grime is loosened. Wipe away the residue with a clean, damp sponge or rag.

Cleaning the Glass

1. Spray down the inside of the oven glass with household ammonia. Let it sit for five minutes.

2. Scrub the oven door with a nonabrasive scrubbing pad.

3. Wipe down the glass with a damp rag to remove any residue. Dry off the glass with a clean, dry rag.

Tips & Warnings

• Open some windows and/or turn on the exhaust fan while cleaning the oven to provide adequate ventilation.

References

• Naturally Savvy: How to Clean a Self-Cleaning Oven; Melissa Maker;
• Stanford University: How to Clean Your Self-Cleaning Oven
• Good Housekeeping: How to Clean Your Range