Isn’t it frustrating when something that’s supposed to make life easier ultimately makes it harder? The real question is, is it safe to use self-cleaning oven features before the holidays? Unfortunately, self-cleaning oven dangers far outweigh the ease of use.
The latest info from professionals and owners who learned the hard way is that you should forgo the self-cleaning feature for a natural oven cleaner. And we couldn’t agree more.
Is It Safe to Use Self-Cleaning Oven Features? What You Need to Know
Now that you know our professional opinion you may be asking yourself what are the reasons to avoid your self-cleaning oven feature and is it safe to use self-cleaning oven settings?
We’ll go through some self-cleaning oven dangers and provide a natural alternative that is just as effective at getting your oven clean. But to best inform you, here’s a rundown of how the self-cleaning function works:
How Self-Cleaning Ovens Work
The self-clean feature on your oven uses extremely high temperatures to burn away food stains. Now, we’re not talking about the 500-degree temperature on your oven’s temperature dial.
Your oven will actually reach temperatures between 800 and 1000 degrees over 1.5-3 hours to incinerate these stains.
Why it’s Dangerous to Use the Self-Cleaning Feature
It’s so tempting to take the easy way out when faced with a job we dislike doing. But after you read the information below, we think you’ll know the answer when asked, “Should I use self-cleaning oven feature?”
#1. Damage to Thermostat: the thermostat controls your oven’s normal cooking temperatures and can malfunction when exposed to extreme heat. A telltale sign of a broken thermostat is when your food is under or overcooked. A professional repair is the only fix in this instance.
#2. Damage to Oven’s Electronics and Wires: the electronic control panel that tells your oven what to do can easily be damaged by exposure to high heat. A malfunctioning control panel will do crazy things like turn on and off on its own or display error messages, rendering your oven useless. Meanwhile, the wires inside your oven are insulated to protect against exposure to cooking temperatures. However, high heat can burn off this insulation and require expensive wire repair.
#3. Harm to Numerous Oven Parts: generally speaking, almost any part of your oven can be damaged during a self-cleaning cycle. The oven light, temperature sensors, and even the wall enamel are all susceptible to damage from high heat.
How to Clean Your Self-Cleaning Oven Manually
After reading the answer to the question, “is it safe to use self-cleaning oven?”, you may be wondering if a safe AND convenient cleaning method is even possible. Fortunately, a natural oven cleaner is not only possible, but also easy to make with some simple ingredients. Read on to learn how to clean a self-cleaning oven manually:
- Combine ½ cup of baking soda, some coarse salt, and liquid dish soap until it forms a thick paste similar to cake frosting
- Remove the oven racks from your oven (clean those separately with the same paste). Spread the paste all over the interior of your oven with a sponge. Leave it to sit overnight.
- Wipe down the oven with a sponge dipped in warm water, scrubbing any stubborn stains away. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
- Use a spray bottle with white vinegar to wipe away any residue from the paste.
If you’re still wondering, “is it safe to use self-cleaning oven settings” but you need oven repair in Edmond, AlphaTek Appliance Repair is just a phone call away.
