How to Use Self-Clean on an Oven

By
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette 2018
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years.
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Updated on 08/08/22
Reviewed by
Katie Berry
Katie Berry
Reviewed by Katie Berry
Katie Berry is a cleaning expert with 30 years of household management experience and 12 years of writing about cleaning methods and routines for Housewife How-Tos. She is the author of several books about homemaking.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Self-clean button being pressed on oven

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 10 - 20 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hrs - 5 hrs, 30 mins
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $2-3

One of the most dreaded chores in the kitchen is cleaning the oven, especially an oven that has been neglected after several boil-overs and spills. But, you're in luck if you have an oven with a self-clean feature. Using the self-clean cycle is simple—all it takes is a small amount of prep time, some patience, and a quick final wipe-down.

What Is Self-Clean on an Oven?

The self-clean cycle uses extremely high heat (around 880 degrees F.) to decompose food residue and oils. The soil is reduced to ash that you remove when the cycle is complete. The oven is locked during the cleaning, which lasts from two to five hours, depending on the soil level and model of the oven.

How Often to Use the Self-Clean Oven Cycle

Typically, the recommendation for running the self-clean cycle is every six months, maximum. How often you need to use it depends on the frequency of oven use and your cooking and cleaning habits.

Before You Begin

Always consult your oven model's use and care guide. If you have lost the operating manual, most are available online from the manufacturer. Self-clean cycles can last from one to five hours so plan to do the cleaning during times you will not need the oven. The oven door will lock. Do not attempt to stop the cycle once it has begun or open the door until the cycle is complete.

Because of the high temperature, the self-clean cycle produces smoke and fumes as it incinerates the soil in the oven. It is important to keep the kitchen well-ventilated during the process to help clear smoke and odors. Do not block the oven vents so air can move freely.

Warning

Some birds are extremely sensitive to the fumes released during a self-clean cycle. They should be removed from the room and placed in a well-ventilated space. The self-cleaning cycle produces VOCs, which can also cause issues for people with sensitivities, allergies, and respiratory problems including COPD.

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What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Microfiber cloth
  • Scrubbing sponge
  • Large sink

Materials

  • Dishwashing liquid

Instructions

Materials and tools to use self-clean on an oven

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  1. Clear the Oven

    Be sure that there is nothing—cookie sheet, broiler pan, aluminum foil, temperature probe—left in the oven. Check the operating manual to be sure the racks are self-cleanable. Most racks, especially stainless teel racks, should be removed before using the self-clean feature.

    Since the self-cleaning cycle exhausts through a vent on the stovetop, you should also remove anything on top, such as spice containers if you store them on the ledge above your stove and oven dials or trivets kept on the stovetop. If you hang towels or oven mitts from the oven door, remove those as well.

    Baking sheet removed from inside oven racks

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  2. Wipe Down the Door Seal

    Dip a lint-free microfiber cloth in warm water and wring until just damp. Wipe the inside edge of the oven door and around the door frame to remove any crumbs or soil that might prevent a good seal. Take care not to move or bend the gasket around the door.

    Oven door seal wiped with blue microfiber cloth dipped in water

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  3. Increase Ventilation in the Kitchen

    To help remove excess heat and fumes, turn on the range hood to increase ventilation in the kitchen. Open windows and turn on overhead fans, if possible.

    Oven ventilation turned on under range hood

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  4. Lock the Door and Select the Cycle

    Most oven doors will lock automatically when you select the self-clean cycle. If it does not, lock it manually. Select the self-clean cycle on the control panel and let it run.

    Self-clean cycle button pressed on oven

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  5. Clean Away the Residue

    The oven door will not unlock until the interior temperature has dropped to a safe level. When the cycle is complete, open the door and use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe away the ashy residue that remains on the sides and bottom of the oven.

    Damp microfiber cloth wiping residue from bottom of oven

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  6. Reassemble the Oven

    Clean any oven racks that have been removed from the oven by washing them in hot, soapy water with a scrubbing sponge. Rinse, dry, and replace the racks. The oven is ready to use.

    Oven rack dipped in sink with soapy water for cleaning with green sponge

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

  7. Clean the Oven Exterior

    Now that the inside of your oven is clean, it's a good time to clean the exterior of the door and the control panel. How you clean depends on the type of surface but most can be cleaned with a microfiber towel dipped in hot, soapy water. Wipe down the surfaces and then dry with a fresh towel.

    Exterior of oven door wiped clean with blue microfiber cloth

    The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Tips for Getting the Best Results From a Self-Clean Oven

  • Wipe up spills as soon as the oven is cool enough to clean safely.
  • Do not use any type of commercial oven cleaner at the same time as the self-clean cycle.
  • Do not leave any bakeware, oven liners, or utensils in the oven during self-cleaning.
  • Check your operating manual for instructions on how to clean the oven racks. Most should be removed during the self-clean cycle.
  • Run the self-clean cycle before soil levels are heavy. It is nearly impossible for the self-cleaning feature to remove thick layers of burnt-on food in one process.
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Article Sources
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Sudden death in ten psittacine birds associated with the operation of a self-cleaning oven, J.H. Stoltz, F Galey, B Johnson.