How to Use a Self-Cleaning Oven: 4 Quick Steps

Self-cleaning ovens bring the heat so you don’t have to spend hours scrubbing. Traditional self-cleaning cycles heat the oven between 800°F and 900°F, helping turn soil and spills to a powdery ash you can then wipe away. They utilize only heat—no chemicals—and are built to withstand high temperatures. They’re also built for safe use, but you should expect some smoke and odor. A typical cycle on a Maytag^® range can take anywhere from 3.5–4 hours, while a wall oven can take 4–6 hours.

SELF-CLEANING OVEN DO’S & DON’TS

Do	Don’t
Do Keep the kitchen well ventilated. Remove racks, cookware and any loose items inside the oven. Wipe out loose soil before running a cycle to reduce smoke. Clean the oven window before the cycle to prevent stains. Soil will not burn off glass the same way it will the rest of the oven.	Don’t Don’t clean with commercial chemical cleaners that could damage the enamel coating. Don’t leave pets or children in the kitchen during a cycle. They could be irritated by the smoke or touch the hot oven. Don’t block oven vents. Air must be able to move freely. Don’t open or touch the oven until it cools.

Self-Clean Oven Instructions

Follow these four steps to run a self-clean cycle. Always check your oven’s Use and Care Guide for model-specific instructions.

Step 1: Remove loose items and quickly wipe down the inside

Remove any loose items to prevent damage: oven racks, the broiler pan, all cookware, foil and any plastic on the range cooktop.

With a damp cloth, wipe out loose soils to reduce smoke during the cycle. Clean as much residue off the oven window as possible; soil left on the glass prior to self-cleaning may leave dark streaks or stains that will require additional cleaning effort.

Wipe inside the door edge and oven cavity frame, being careful not to move or bend the gasket. This area does not get hot enough during the self-cleaning cycle to remove soil.

Step 2: Run the Self-Clean Cycle

Make sure the door is closed completely or it won’t lock and the cycle won’t begin. Press the “Clean” button and select your setting or cycle time. Select more or less time based on how dirty your oven is. You may also need to press a “Start” button to start the cycle.

Step 3: Wait for the Cycle to Complete and Oven to Cool

The oven door will lock shortly after the cycle has been started and won’t unlock until the oven cools.

You should be able to stop the cycle at any time by pressing “Cancel” or something similar. But the oven will remain locked until it’s cool.

When the cycle is complete and the oven cools, “End” or something similar should appear on the display.

Step 4: Wipe Out the Oven Cavity

Once the oven has completely cooled, remove ash with a damp cloth. The special enamel coating on self-cleaning ovens should make it easy to wipe clean. If any scrubbing is required, use only mild, non-abrasive cleaners like dish soap and water or vinegar diluted in water. Do not use any commercial chemical cleaners.

HOW LONG DOES A SELF-CLEANING OVEN TAKE?

Most ovens will let you select how long to run the cycle, usually anywhere from two to six hours. Select more or less time depending on how dirty the oven is. Hand-cleaning the oven as spills happen will make cleaning up after a self-clean cycle easier. Heavy soil results in longer cleaning times and more smoke. Learn how to clean an oven by hand.