Last Updated on September 5, 2023 by The Tampa Maid

Maid Cleaning tips – Using a Self Cleaning Oven

Cleaning an oven using the self-cleaning cycle without using a maid cleaning service sounds pretty easy. Surprisingly, a lot of people don’t know how to use a self-cleaning oven. If you’ve never used the self-cleaning feature on your oven, there are just a few things to know. It’s pretty easy to use and can save you a ton of time when it comes to cleaning your oven and it really helps maid cleaning services near you if you would like them to clean the kitchen.

If you’ve wondered how to use the self-cleaning feature on your oven or were scared to use it, you should know, it doesn’t require any cleaning products like oven cleaner to use. A self-cleaning oven gets your oven clean without using chemical cleaners or scrubbing. It cleans your oven by heating it to an extremely hot temperature, typically above 800° F. By getting the oven incredibly hot, it burns away the grease, crumbs, and food splatters from the inside of your oven.

Keep in mind, the self-cleaning feature does the dirty work, but you’ll still need to wipe and clean your oven once the cycle is completed or use a maid cleaning service near you. Before you get started, read through our guide on how to use a self-cleaning oven.

Maid Cleaning Service Precautions Before You Get Started Cleaning Your Oven

Clear off your oven and stovetop

Remove everything from the inside of your oven, including the oven racks. Clear your stovetop as well. You don’t want any dishes, pots, pans, or food sitting inside or on top of your stove when you run the self-cleaning cycle. The oven gets really hot when it runs. This can produce smoke and fumes as it burns off the food debris in your oven. You don’t want anything inside your oven once you turn it on.

Read the manufacturer’s instructions before you get started

Although using a self-cleaning oven is not that difficult, you should over the instructions for your particular oven before you start. If you don’t have the manufacturer’s instructions, you should be able to find this online by doing a search for your oven’s make and model.

Do not use oven cleaner or other cleaning products when the self-cleaning cycle.

Commercial oven cleaners are not intended to be used during the self-cleaning cycle. The self-cleaning cycle gets your oven extremely hot. Cleaning products can be flammable when heated to high temperatures or produce dangerous fumes. If you are unsure then please use a home cleaning service near you.

Keep children and pets away from the oven while it’s cleaning

Because the oven is heated to a high temperature, every part of your oven and stove may be hot to touch. It’s best to run the self-cleaning cycle overnight while any children are sleeping. You should also keep any pets out of the kitchen when you use the self-cleaning cycle.

Keep the kitchen ventilated

Because smoke and fumes may be produced when you run the self-cleaning cycle, it’s important to keep the kitchen ventilated. If you have a fan, place it in the room to help circulate the air. Open any windows to let fumes escape.

How to Use the Self-Cleaning Cycle

Using the self-cleaning cycle is really easy. But, before you start running it, read through our instructions on how to use it.

Wipe down the oven first.

Before you start the self-cleaning cycle, remove any food debris from your oven. Take a damp cloth and wipe out as much as you can from inside the oven. This will help prevent smoke and fumes from happening when you run the cycle.

Select the cycle time

Many self-cleaning ovens allow you to choose how long the cycle runs. If your oven is dirty, select the longest cycle. If your oven just needs a little cleaning, you can use a shorter cycle.
When you’re ready to run the cycle, make sure your oven door is closed. The oven will automatically lock the oven door during the self-cleaning cycle. If your door isn’t completely closed, it won’t run. Select the cycle time, and press the start or clean button (see your manufacturer’s instructions for further instructions)

Wait for the cycle to complete

The self-cleaning cycle will run for an hour and a half to six hours, depending on your oven and which cycle you choose. During this time you will not be able to open the oven door or use the stovetop or oven. If for some reason you need to cancel the cycle, you can just press cancel.

Allow the oven to cool

Before you touch the stove or attempt to wipe down the inside of the oven, allow the oven to completely cool off. It may take a couple of hours to completely cool down and be safe to touch.

Wipe down the inside of the oven

Once the oven is completely cooled, you or a maid cleaning service can wipe down any debris that was cooked off during the self-cleaning cycle. Use a damp cloth and soapy water to wipe out the inside of the stove. The debris should come off easily.

Tips for keeping your oven clean

Using a self-cleaning oven is easy, but to minimize the amount of cleaning you need to do, it’s best to keep grease and food splatters from getting in your oven in the first place. Nobody likes the way an oven smells when it’s smoking off cheese, crumbs, or other food spills. Here are a few tips for keeping your oven clean.

Place a baking sheet under your food dish when baking

If you are making a casserole or a food dish that is likely to splatter, place a baking sheet on the rack below to catch any spills.

Don’t overfill casserole pans

If you make casseroles or bake meals with sauces, these are the source of a lot of spills. Don’t fill your casserole dishes to the top. When possible cover your dishes with aluminum foil to prevent splatters. Of course, this can’t be used for every baked meal, but this will keep your food from bubbling into the oven.

Clean oven spills when they happen

This is easier said than done. If you clean out your oven after you notice a spill, it will keep your oven cleaner. However, you need to wait till the oven cools off before you wipe anything out. When food is left to sit in the oven, that’s when stains become stubborn. They will continue to burn every time you run your oven, making them much more difficult to remove.

Deep clean your oven once a month

As convenient as the self-cleaning feature is, many people rarely use it. If you want to keep your oven looking new and free from smelly burned food, deep clean your oven once a month. The self-cleaning cycle makes it so easy. You can run the self-cleaning cycle while you clean the rest of your kitchen. See our ultimate kitchen cleaning checklist for tips on deep cleaning your kitchen.

Using a self-cleaning oven is not hard at all. If you struggle to keep your kitchen clean on a daily basis, Ulitim8 cleaning service in Tampa has maids for hire who can do some of the work for you. Our experienced professional house cleaning team can get your kitchen in tip-top shape and can give you tips for keeping it clean in between cleanings. We offer home cleaning services. Whether you have a large house or a small apartment, we can help you keep your kitchen and whole house clean.