Oven Cleaner

Updated on October 06, 2008
J.S. asks from Saint Paul, MN
20 answers

Hi ladies,

SO, this is kind of embarrassing, I have not cleaned my oven in years. It is disgusting. I was going to run the self clean option, but there was so much smoke after a few minutes that it was obvious that was going to be more of a problem than it was worth.

My question is, can I use an oven cleaner in a self cleaning oven? What kind of cleaner should I use for a really big job? And, could I also use it under the burners on the stove top to remove cooked on stains?

Thanks!
Jessica

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks to everyone for your help! I ended up using baking soda in a paste, spreading it and letting it sit for a few hours, then scraping it off and washing with warm water and an all purpose 7th Generation cleaner that I have. I took the stink away, and most of the nastiest bits. My husband suggested calling it good enough until after baby comes, when I can try the easy off or wait for another warmer day and try the self clean again.

Thanks again.
J.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from Minneapolis on

Yes, you can use oven cleaner on it. I usually do it in the summer becaue the self-clean heats up the whole house. Since you seem to have a major mess :0 I'd go ahead and use some Easy Off (fume free is better) and just blast the whole thing with the Easy off and let it sit overnight. Then scrub it out with a rag that you're planning on throwing out anyway. good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.F.

answers from Minneapolis on

J.,

I would read the instructions of any oven cleaner before you use it. I was helping my SIL move into her house and went to spray the oven cleaner into the very dirty self-cleaning oven and my stepmom-in-law stopped me saying it could ruin the interior of the oven. She said she had made that mistake in the past. Maybe you can find something that isn't as strong to get most of it and then do the self-clean.

Good luck!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

Since you are pregnant, you should not be using that spray stuff. Anything you are breathing, gets into your unborn baby's blood stream. There was a recent study that the EPA (Enviomental Protection Agency) did and they found many chemicles in over 200 newborns they did they tested. They believe that could have something to do with so many kkids having asthma, adhd,cancers and other health related problems.

Can you use the self cleaning, and just go outside with kids while isnt's running? If not, do a google search for safe oven cleaner. I have used one in the past when we had our old ovenan Here's what I did: Make a baking soda paste with water, using brush (I used an old bbque one) brush it on the side and bottom. Let it sit over night. The next morning, it should be soft enough to scrape out.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

W.A.

answers from Madison on

Hello,

There is a product for cleaning self cleaning ovens, I just not sure what it is called. I did want to caution you about being pregnant and trying to clean the oven. Those fumes are not entirely safe to be breathing in especially so close to term. Please be careful or ask for help.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.K.

answers from Sheboygan on

Easy off oven cleaner will work on both. The lemon scented one isn't as harsh on your lungs. It works great and you can run the self clean mode when your done.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.I.

answers from Des Moines on

mr. clean magic eraser bars... you can use them until they are just a thread. sometimes my husband uses bleach for the stove-top burners (the metal plates) and after soaking they are clean.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.E.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

Hi J.,

When using self-cleaning ovens, you need to clean the crumbs and such out first. I use just some water to do this. Then you use the self-cleaning system on your stove. REMEMBER TO HAVE YOUR WINDOWS OPEN A LITTLE WHEN YOU DO THIS. IT PRODUCES CARBON MONOXIDE, BECAUSE IT IS SO HOT THAT IT IS ACTUALLY BURNING THE RESIDUE THAT IS INSIDE. THIS WARNING CAME WITH MY STOVE AND I READ IT SOMEWHERE ALSO.

I try to do this when I can have the windows open. My system works great. Yes, you will get smoke that is the stuff burning, but, if you get the worst of the build-up out of there it is not so bad.

If you use the oven cleaners in the store, please read the label about what kind of ventilation you need for them. They give off some nasty fumes also.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.N.

answers from Lincoln on

you can use easy off let it set a little bit and use sos pad and you can also use that on your top

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.L.

answers from Rapid City on

J. -- it had been 3 1/2 yrs since I cleaned my oven and unfortunately I don't have a self cleaning one. Because of my back problems, I can't get on the floor and bend to do it soooooo, I paid one of the custodians $20 to come to my house one Saturday and scrub my oven for me. She did an awesome job and I'm so pleased.

Sometimes, paying someone to do it and start all over is the best idea :-) atleast it was for me!

Good Luck,
D.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.D.

answers from Des Moines on

You can use oven cleaner on lots of things (just follow the directions) but I WOULD NOT use it when you are pregnant! The fumes can be quite overpowering even with the windows open and I just wouldn't take any chances. I'd say see if you can get your husband (or someone else) to help you out with it (at least spraying it on, I think it would be ok after it sits a while) or just wait until after your baby is born. If it's waited several years, it can wait a couple more months, right?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.V.

answers from Lincoln on

I know that there is an oven cleaner that you can use on self cleaning ovens. I'm not sure of the brand I think it's easy-off. You could try that.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I use Scour Off and Basic H from Shaklee. They are organic based and non toxic, so you don't need to worry if your child gets into them. I usually clean it with the product and then run the oven cleaner after...?? I don't know if that's what most people do though!!! Hope I helped!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.Z.

answers from Omaha on

J.,

The smoke from the self-cleaning oven only lasts a few minutes. If you have an exhaust fan above your oven, turn it on. Clean your oven on a day when you can have your windows open. I have even experienced little flames occasionally (as the element is heating up) which I was told from the oven company, is no big deal. I use my oven often (and spill often) so I am pretty seasoned at cleaning it. The advantage to self-cleaning it is that you don't have to spray chemicals and then deal with that. You simply wait until the oven is COMPLETELY COOLED and then wipe it out with a wet paper towel. I made the mistake one time of getting over-anxious to wipe it out and cracked the little glass window on the door. Lesson learned. Also, make sure you take your racks out as they are not made to withstand the heat from the self-cleaning. They won't melt, but they will be very difficult to slide in and out afterwards.

Good luck!
C.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

All you have to do is preheat your oven to 200 degrees, turn it off, spray Easy Off on all the sides top and bottom, starting at the top and working your way down. Be sure to wear gloves and open the windows or wear a mask because there will be fumes. Close the door. Wait 20-30 minutes and then wipe down all the surfaces with a disposable towel or paper towels. I just helped my cousin move into her new house and the kitchen was horendous!!! The stove was so gross, that I suggested she buy new appliances. Since that was not in the budget, I went over there Tuesday night and helped her clean her kitchen. The Easy Off worked great! As for the cook top, use either vinegar or 409 to disinfect and help in to shine, but the best thing that worked to get the grease off her cooktop and walls around the stove was Dawn dish soap, hot water, and a scruby sponge. You can also use a Mr Clean Magic eraser for difficult spots that will not come off after scrubbing.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.W.

answers from Davenport on

I am not sure about the self cleaning part but I use the cleaner on the top of my stove, it is the only way to get all that built up, baked on gunk off. Just be sure to open a window to allow for some ventilation...it can be strong and that's not good for anybody!

Good Luck on the cleaning....if you're lucky maybe you can convince the hubby you just need a new one!!!!HAHAHA!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Green Bay on

I was guilty of the same thing. Though it wasn't perfectly clean when we moved in to start with and then I waited over a year to deal with it until something cooked over and I did have to clean it or deal with smoky food every time I used it. I did use regular Easy Off oven cleaner and was careful to not spray directly on the elements. I was also pregnant when I did it, so I made sure to have the overhead vent going and windows open to keep the fumes to a minimum.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

You can use it in a self-cleaning oven. The risk/problem you may encounter is the chemicals will burn out your electricals and pilot. So you will have to be careful when spraying so you don't get it into any hardware. Afer you wipe out the stuff, follow up a couple of times with just plain water.

There are some non-aerosol versions of oven cleaner, but they're kind of hard to find. Easy Off made these sponges that released cleaning foam when you squeeze them directly on a surface.

I had an oven like what you describe. The people who owned our house before us, left a self-cleaning oven in some pretty rough shape. Like you, the smoke was too toxic, so I used oven cleaner. The oven was so dirty, all the oven cleaner could really do is get the first layers of goook off the walls etc. Once I got as much off as I could, I then used the self-cleaning option.

The smoke was better. But only a little bit, because it smelled like oven cleaner instead dead rodents like before.
After I got the inside presentable, I just wound up trading it in and buying a new one. The oven never really smelled right, even after cleaning it.

It was pretty embarrassing when we had guests for dinner. It was so bad, people would actually say it smelled like something died. UGH!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.F.

answers from Milwaukee on

I used Easy Off cleaner made for self cleaning ovens. It worked well for me.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

J.,

Easy Off makes an oven cleaner for self cleaning ovens. It comes in a blue spray container (I think) and indicates "for self cleaning ovens" on the label.

I recently quit using oven cleaner (and a lot of other cleaners) to save money and go green. I now use baking soda and water and it works just as well as Easy Off after the self cleaning cycle. I don't know if it would work in your situation, but you can give it a try.

Good luck,
S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.G.

answers from Rapid City on

I do think there is an oven cleaner made for small spills between cleaning in a self cleaning oven but for easy off and all those, make sure you read on there, you wouldn't want to harm your self cleaning oven since that is such a easier way of cleaning. You could heat the oven up a little bit then wipe out what you can before you start the cleaning cycle. You might have to put it at a longer time, say 2 and half hours or 3 hours if it is really dirty and of course there will be smoke, so do it on a day that you can have windows open and the fan going. Try not to be in the kitchen or closed into the house, the smoke wouldn't be good for the baby. If you can start it and go outside for the time it is working with the windows open and the fan going, it would be healthier for you both. Of course you don't want to leave it going while you are gone for a while in case there is a problem, but being outside wouldn't be so bad. I use a SOS pad under my stove top to get a lot of that off. My stove is 16 years old this month and the SOS pads never put a scratch in it, it still looks pretty new inside and out. You could try some grease cutters like 409 kitchen cleaner and let it sit on it for a while, then scrub it off. If you have porcelain drip pans you can put them in the oven on the racks while you do your self cleaning cycle and they will wipe clean after. If you dont' know if you have porcelain or if you have stainless steel ones, you can't do that.

Have fun

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches