How often do you clean your oven?

[LauraGB]

My mil cleans hers every month. Hers looks brand new.

 

I am currently cleaning mine for the first time in 5 years. Mine didn't look bad, but it sure looked like I used it a lot more than hers did. I picked off the chunks of stuff before I cleaned it, but I have already set off the smoke alarms, and my windows are open (it is 25 degrees F here).

 

So, whether you have a self cleaning oven or you have to manually do it with something like Easy Off, how often do you clean your oven? And I don't mean wiping it out when you know something dripped and it'll smoke the next time you use it.

Edited December 5, 2010 by LauraGB

[Denise in Florida]

Sadly, I answered 'huh'. I know I should clean my oven but....

[Violet Crown]

I'm still waiting to see if mine is self-cleaning. It's been ten years, but I'm patient.

[Jen in NY]

What she said.

 

And I don't even want to think about what might be underneath my oven!! Ack.

[Whereneverever]

At least once a month. I also do under and behind the fridge that often.

[LauraGB]

I'm still waiting to see if mine is self-cleaning. It's been ten years, but I'm patient.

 

:lol:

[NanceXToo]

Sadly, I answered 'huh'. I know I should clean my oven but....

 

LOL I'm just glad I wasn't the only "huh?"

[coffeegal]

Month to 3 months, depending on need and outside temperature. (It heats up the house, so I prefer to save cleaning the oven for cooler days.)

[MamaT]

I clean mine once a month.

[cathmom]

I don't even know how LOL.

[Renthead Mommy]

other - I clean it when we PCS out and are getting inspected by either base or the rental company.

 

I do scrap the drippings, which are usually either sweet potato or squash, with one of those pampered chef stoneware scrappers.

 

Of course it did take a little explanation when the husband walked in and I was vacuming the oven out! He didn't realized that was how I got the scrapped bits and other burnt dropped bits out!

[Sherry in OH]

I scrape it and scrub with a Brillo pad when something drips. Unless I have a total baking disaster, I run the self-clean about once a year.

[catalinakel]

I have cleaned it only when absolutely necessary....never had one of those self cleaning ones.

[gardening momma]

I'm still waiting to see if mine is self-cleaning. It's been ten years, but I'm patient.

:lol:

 

I answered "once or twice a year." And I usually neglect to clean out the ash when it's done.

[JFSinIL]

It is self-cleaning (yeah!) and can go months w/o needing to be cleaned - only if something has spilled do I set the oven to 'clean'. The smoke alarm going off as smoke from spilled whatever burning is my clue it is time to clean the oven. ;)

[gardening momma]

Of course it did take a little explanation when the husband walked in and I was vacuming the oven out! He didn't realized that was how I got the scrapped bits and other burnt dropped bits out!

Good idea. I'll have to do that with the ash.

[Jen+4dc]

other - I clean it when we PCS out and are getting inspected by either base or the rental company.

 

I do scrap the drippings, which are usually either sweet potato or squash, with one of those pampered chef stoneware scrappers.

 

Of course it did take a little explanation when the husband walked in and I was vacuming the oven out! He didn't realized that was how I got the scrapped bits and other burnt dropped bits out!

 

Yup, this is me, only when I spill or move.:tongue_smilie:

(Of course, we are military so we move more often..., I still answered Huh?)

[hsbaby]

Mine has a self cleaning feature. I have no idea how to use it. Just push the button? Will we explode? It's been 5 years now......

[secular_mom]

Military family here, and I clean the oven when it's time to move again. LOL

[LauraGB]

:lol:

 

I answered "once or twice a year." And I usually neglect to clean out the ash when it's done.

 

So, when I'm done cleaning it, I'll have a pile of ashes on the bottom?

 

And I just need to vacuum those out?

 

I won't have to scrub any grease from the window or anything?

[cathmom]

How would I know if my oven is self-cleaning or not? And if it's not, how do I actually do it?

[Brindee]

I don't even know if mine has a self-cleaning option. I'll have to go check.....later! ;) I clean out spills as needed, but I've not done a thorough cleaning. It's been 8 years since we moved in here.

[LauraGB]

Mine has a self cleaning feature. I have no idea how to use it. Just push the button? Will we explode? It's been 5 years now......

 

I just clicked the button to "clean". I've got my fingers crossed and the windows open. My kids are coughing and the air is weird, the smoke alarms have sounded, but there is no visible smoke.

 

I'm not sure I get this whole thing, really.

[gardening momma]

Mine has a self cleaning feature. I have no idea how to use it. Just push the button? Will we explode? It's been 5 years now......

Yes (push the button). No (you will not explode).

 

You're "supposed" to take out the oven racks before you set it to clean, but I don't. They'll stay shinier and slide more easily if you take them out and clean them by hand.

 

Lock the oven door, push the self clean button, push start, and it should start. Once the temperature gets over a certain degree, you will not be able to open the door until it cools down enough. It takes a few hours from start to finish, including cool-down. I don't remember how long. You can cancel it at any time, but won't be able to open the door until it's cool enough (at least normal baking temps, probably under 500).

[gardening momma]

How would I know if my oven is self-cleaning or not? And if it's not, how do I actually do it?

If it is self-cleaning, there will be a button that says "Self Clean" or "Clean."

[gardening momma]

I just clicked the button to "clean". I've got my fingers crossed and the windows open. My kids are coughing and the air is weird, the smoke alarms have sounded, but there is no visible smoke.

 

I'm not sure I get this whole thing, really.

I do get smoke when I clean my oven, but it depends on how much drippings there are.

[myfatherslily]

I'm still waiting to see if mine is self-cleaning. It's been ten years, but I'm patient.

 

:lol: Still laughing out loud here!

 

I suppose I clean mine about every other year, give or take a year;)

[kokotg]

Ours is self-cleaning. I think we've cleaned it once in the 6 or 7 years we've had it.

[Daisy]

Whenever it needs it. Probably 2x a year. Mine rarely gets dirty. Oh, and I have a self-cleaning oven so it is easy-peasy.

[ereks mom]

I'm still waiting to see if mine is self-cleaning. It's been ten years, but I'm patient.

 

18 years here. :lol:

[Jenn in Mo]

And I just need to vacuum those out?

 

 

Vacuum? That's an AWESOME idea! I have never cleaned my oven. I wipe up stuff that I know will smoke next time I use the oven and I occasionally wipe out the ash on the bottom, but I've never cleaned it, going on 15 years of marriage now.

[DarlaS]

LOL I'm just glad I wasn't the only "huh?"

 

Apparently, we're the majority. I can count on one hand the number of times mine has been cleaned in the 16 years (today!) since we moved in.

 

I do, however, clean under it. Frequently. We have a Siberian Husky. Appliances can only take so much. :tongue_smilie:

[Dawn in OH]

I just cleaned my oven two days ago. It's not self cleaning. I sprinkled baking soda on it, spritzed it with water, and let it sit overnight. The next morning I spritzed it again and wiped it out. No foul smell or harsh chemicals. I still need to do the sides of the oven. I just did part of it after getting these "green" oven cleaning instructions off the internet. I wanted to see how well it would work. Now I'm trying to decide how often I should clean it. I use the oven a lot.

[Audrey]

I voted other. It's on my schedule to do it on the first day of every odd numbered month. I "book" lots of annoying chores that way. If I didn't, I'd never remember to do them.

[1bassoon]

I voted, "Other".

 

As in, "Oh dear! My mother's coming to visit - better clean the oven, so she doesn't think that I don't clean my oven!"

 

:D

[anneofalamo]

I just cleaned my almost 40 year old harvest gold in the wall tiny oven. I sprayed with generic brand easy off, and used a dust pan to scoop the ooze into a bucket and then a face clothe to wipe the walls, floor and door down. It was a lot easier than I remember.

I did it because my stainless steel new stove top was black and nasty, and the easy off works for it.

I don't usually, but think I will do the stove top once a month again.

The stove looks so nice inside, I think I have more room now!!

[ElizabethB]

Yup, this is me, only when I spill or move.:tongue_smilie:

(Of course, we are military so we move more often..., I still answered Huh?)

 

:iagree:

 

Except I answered other.

[Ellie]

I've been in this house for 6 years and cleaned the oven twice. It's self-cleaning, but the lever thingie doesn't work right and I don't know if I can use it again. Darn.:lol:

[KidsHappen]

I have a self-cleaning oven and it really is like a miracle. After you run the cycle, your can honestly, vacuum it out and the wipe with a wet rag and it looks like new. I also put foil in the bottom of my oven to catch any drip so I don't make a lot of mess in the first place but it is great.

[gardening momma]

I've been in this house for 6 years and cleaned the oven twice. It's self-cleaning, but the lever thingie doesn't work right and I don't know if I can use it again. Darn.:lol:

When I was a kid, mom had an old oven that would start cleaning if you locked the oven door (it wasn't supposed to until you turned the dial to clean). We had a older lady who would babysit us and thought she should lock the oven door to keep us safe. Except it would start cleaning.

[bugs]

I'm still waiting to see if mine is self-cleaning. It's been ten years, but I'm patient.

 

This totally cracked me up! (because this is me too). Glad I had no food in my mouth.

[Ohdanigirl]

I put other, because I do not use the oven on a regular bases. I Clean the entire stove every Friday. If the oven has been used since the last cleaning, it gets cleaned. Of coarse any major splatters will be wiped off during post meal clean up. With five guys in the home, having a routine keeps my house clean and me sane.:D

 

Danielle

 

Editing: To mention that I don't even know if it s self cleaning or not. just do it by hand. The one I have at the moment is new, and I am still getting used to the fact that it s Celsius. And the top oven has no degrees, just the numbers 1-9. I've been meaning to learn more about that. Our last range was brought dow from the US. I didn't even think about it when we went out and got this one.:o

Edited December 5, 2010 by USDGAL

[Melissa in Australia]

I clean mine every month. I have a wood combustion stove, anything that spills gets carbonised, and all I have to do is sweep it out.

[sagira]

Mine says self-cleaning, so....

[IsabelC]

I don't do the oven, so if it has to be cleaned it's up to my husband. He only does it when it gets disgusting.

[mom2denj]

I answered huh?? However, I have been thinking about doing it for quite a while.:D

[delaney]

I'm still waiting to see if mine is self-cleaning. It's been ten years, but I'm patient.

:lol: that's me

[C_l_e_0..Q_c]

I had to vote other.

Basically I clean the oven every single time my DH prepares dinner and uses the oven. Or when he bakes pies. That's the worst. He will usually drop some pie filling, and let it stay there.

[BikeBookBread]

I voted other. I do it as soon as it needs it. I love the self-clean feature.

[cathmom]

I voted, "Other".

 

As in, "Oh dear! My mother's coming to visit - better clean the oven, so she doesn't think that I don't clean my oven!"

 

:D

 

My mom always tells me that she cleaned the house well pretty much only when her mother was coming to visit. So she tells me not to worry about it LOL!