Help With Oven Stains

Self-Cleaning and Continous-Cleaning

• Many of today’s ovens are self-cleaning or continuous-cleaning. For self-cleaning ovens, start the process by selecting “clean” on the dial or control panel. Ventilate the area by turning on fans, vents and opening windows. A heavily stained oven will smoke during the self-cleaning process. After the process is complete, use a warm, soapy rag to wipe away the stains. Continuous-cleaning ovens have a textured, porcelain surface that lifts and removes stains every time the oven is used. When the oven cools, wipe the oven with a damp rag.

Preparing for Manual Cleaning

• Manually cleaning your oven requires some preparation. Remove all racks from the oven. Attempt to clean the oven with warm soapy water and a rag. Some stains will easily lift. Lay old towels under the front of the stove. Ventilate the area to reduce the harsh fumes from the oven cleaner. The active ingredient in chemical oven cleaners is sodium hydroxide, known as lye, and can damage other surfaces such as floors. Use rubber gloves to protect your hands and wear old clothing during the cleaning process. Prepare a bucket of hot water with at least five large, old rags.

Manual Cleaning

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenehit. After the oven reaches 200 F, turn it off. Open the oven and spray the oven cleaner over the entire interior surface. Step back if the fumes become overpowering, then spray the oven again. After the entire oven is sprayed on the inside -- including the inside of the door, sides, top and bottom -- let the cleaner lift the stains for about 15 to 20 minutes. Dampen the old rags one at a time in the bucket of hot water and wring them out. Use one rag to clean the oven. When the rag is covered with oven cleaner and dirt, put it aside and use a new dampened hot rag. The oven cleaner leaves a white residue. Remove all of the dirt and residue out of the oven.

Maintenance

• Busy lifestyles often lead to neglecting some chores such as oven cleaning. Self-cleaning and continuous-cleaning ovens require general care and maintenance to avoid stains. Aggressively cleaning the oven with sodium hydroxide is quite a chore and easily avoidable. Add a simple chore to your kitchen cleanup routine after meals made in the oven -- allow the oven to cool, and wipe it with a warm, soapy rag after each use.