This time, it’s got a partner in crime! 

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we're already swamped from the nightmare that is 2020. There's meals to plan, family to either pick up or travel to and somehow you're supposed to clean the house too? We're right there with you. One thing we can say though, no matter how tempting, don't use the 'self-clean' function on your oven. 

Let's start off by looking at how it works. Technically speaking, a self-cleaning oven is a misnomer. It's not actually cleaning itself. Instead it super heats the bits of leftover food and whatnot inside of your oven to make it easier to remove. It's not even meant to replace a cleaning routine.

When we're talking about a self-cleaning mode we are discussing two different possibilities. You have your high heat models and then you have steam models. 

Light It Up! 

A high heat model starts by locking the oven door. This is important because the next step is to raise the internal temperature between 900 to 1,000° F. The cycle lasts between 2 and 6 hours. The door unlocks only after the oven has cooled completely. So why do people choose this method? Most people think that the high heat model is going to reduce the food and any other debris like tinfoil down to ash. It actually doesn't. It might end up blackening the waste, and it does help with removing it from the walls of the oven where it can get caked on, but it doesn't reduce it down to ash. 

It's Getting Steamy In Here 

The steam-based cycle on the other hand requires putting approximately one cup of distilled water into the bottom of your oven. Typically there's a special reservoir. The door stays unlocked for the entire cycle because the temperature is only being raised to 250° F.  The grime is softened and loosened by the steam, allowing you to wipe it out much more easily. This cycle lasts between 30 minutes to an hour.

The Downsides 

Fumes 

During their cleaning cycle both types of ovens emit foul smells, burning odors, fume and can even release potentially harmful byproducts such as carbon monoxide. The North Texas Poison Center even suggests that you leave your house while you have the high heat models running because they can produce a volume of fumes that is toxic. According to them "  Although Teflon ...  when it is heated to 600 degrees F, breathing the fumes can cause chills, fever, profuse sweating, cough, flu-like symptoms and chest tightness." 

Costs Add Up Quick! 

Another downside to the high heat model is that the excessive heat built up within the oven can short out fuses or burn out your heating elements. Yes we can replace them for you, or if you're handy with appliances and electronics, you can purchase the parts and do it on your own. The problem is that those pieces add up quickly. Not to mention when you're wanting to host Thanksgiving dinner in the same week, if not the next day as one patron recounted, there's not enough time to get it fixed before your oven. 

How Much Does It Use? 

One final issue with these two options, to us at least, is that the high heat version, which is what the majority of our customers have, will cost you the equivalent amount of entire months worth of oven usage. For just one cycle of self-cleaning it typically takes 8 kW hours. The steam clean option is slightly better with only taking three kilowatt hours worth of power. But that still roughly 1/3 of your monthly usage.

Instead what we suggest is doing the process by hand. Cleaning your oven yourself, or having someone clean it for you won't damage any of the internal components or burnout your heating element. All you need is white vinegar, baking soda, and water. Make sure that you avoid anything abrasive though, as they can damage the coating of your oven, causing chips and scratches. Those chips and scratches can then make it far more likely that they will get in your food, or through your exhaust fan, out into the air you're breathing. 

If you're wanting to avoid all that, here's how to clean your oven. 

-Start by removing the racks. They might need to be cleaned too, but for the time being you can put them into the kitchen sink, or your bathtub. (We advise putting down an old towel to prevent it from scratching the finish.) 

-From there, grab a rag, wet it down and wipe down all of the surfaces of the oven. Pay attention to where the built up crud is and take note. 

-Grab a mixing cup and some baking soda. Pour one half cup of baking soda into the cup and add water a few drops at a time. Keep going until you have a thick paste. 

-Take the paste and apply it thickly over every surface in the oven. You want a solid coat, without any of the enamel underneath showing through. Let that sit overnight. 

-Once the requisite six to eight hours have passed, lay out a mat or some newspapers under your oven door and grab a sponge. Moisten the sponge slightly and wipe out as much of the baking soda as you can. You're going to have to rinse out the sponge several times, as you keep wiping until no more paste is in the oven. If your oven still seems dirty, go ahead and repeat the process, being sure to let it sit overnight again. 

We hope we've answered some of your questions about self-cleaning ovens! If you have questions, comments or concerns, please let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook. If your oven, or any of your other major appliances, are giving you trouble, feel free to call or come over to our website to book an appointment. We want to help keep your home running smoothly!