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12.07.2024 - 15:23 / thespruce.com
Self-cleaning ovens are designed to make life easier, eliminating the need for harsh cleaners and vigorous scrubbing. Just hit the self-clean mode and it’ll do the dirty job for you, right? Not necessarily.
Some people believe they can get a more thorough clean by hand than by machine. Others swear by this feature, saying it keeps their oven’s interior squeaky clean while saving time and effort.
On a quest to get to the bottom of this oven-cleaning debate, we tapped cleaning and appliance experts for answers. Read on to find out if self-cleaning ovens are actually effective and what to know before pressing the self-clean button.
You might be wondering what goes on when an oven is set to self-clean mode. Why is the oven door locked shut? Why is it smoking inside? Side note: a small amount of smoke and burning smells are to be expected during the process.
Essentially, this feature uses high heat to eliminate difficult stains, food drips, and grease. Ken Doty, chief operating officer and cleaning expert at The Maids, explains:
“Throughout this operation, the oven temperature is considerably increased, frequently surpassing 800°F (427°C).” This, he notes, initiates a decomposition process in organic substances inside the oven known as pyrolysis.
“As these organic materials decompose, they transform into a fine ash that can be effortlessly cleaned once the process is finished,” Doty says.
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Doty says this feature certainly offers a cleaning advantage for ovens with light to moderate messes. Once the intense heat generated during the cycle burns off these messes, all you have to do is wipe away
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