How to Maintain a Self-Cleaning Oven
October 27th, 2006 (Cleaning)
1. These types of ovens use very high temperatures to clean the oven’s interior. After a self-cleaning cycle (about three to four hours), all you have to do is wipe out a little ashy residue.
2. Scrub the parts of the oven that aren’t affected by the self-cleaning heat, like the edges just outside and inside of the rubber gasket that seals in the heat. Clean these extra parts before the self-cleaning process starts. Use hot, soapy water or, for tougher stains, a baking soda-water paste. Don’t clean the gasket itself, or it will become prone to cracking and deterioration.
3. Remove the oven racks and the broiler pan before starting the self-cleaning cycle. Clean them by hand, or follow the instructions above.
4. Pull the knobs and the dials off before starting the self-cleaning process. The extremely high heat tends to weaken connectors on knobs and dials, and when those plastic pieces crack or break, replacing them is very pricey.
5. Don’t use chemical oven cleaners in a self-cleaning oven. And read your instruction manual carefully!