Of course! Why have it and not use it?

You should have been using it more often, if it's gotten that dirty.

The first time you use it, it will smoke up the house a bit, but that's only because you left it too long. Just wipe out any really big spills - you don't want to run the self-clean cycle if you've spilled a boatload of cake batter, or something like that.

Turn on your kitchen vent fan, and self-clean away. After the cycle is complete, you may have some ash to wipe away, but that's easy - water only wipedown.

I'm continually amazed that people are afraid to use this feature. It can stink for a while, but I'd much rather put up with an hour of stink than dealing with the vile chemical cleaning sprays!

I sure do! I will never, ever, clean an oven by myself. Trust me turning on the selfclean feature is safer than breathing in the fumes from oven cleaner.
When I bought this stove it came with a selfclean oven. But I will never buy another without it!
It does take awhile, and it does smell a bit, but nothing like oven cleaner!
You just wait, then let it cool, and wipe up the ash. All done.
Easier than pie!

I always do (with a window open for ventilation). My oven is about 15 years old now and still looks great.

I wouldn't own a non-cleaning one either.

I do too! It's a great feature, and it SHOULD be used!

I've used it, and I've learned I have to leave the house. I am sensitive to fumes, and the smell/fumes really made me feel sick.

So Julia25 2007,

Have we convinced you?

yes..
although I am a little scared of the high temperature, but you all have convinced to give it a go and try it.

Thanks a bunch.

If you keep a kettle on the stove (we use the kind you plug in), take it off the stove before you turn it on.

They are made to withstand those temps. I've had mine for 7 years now, and used it 3 times. I don't use my oven much. I have to replace my microwave (hopefully with my tax refund). The fan doesn't work on it, nor the lights. No one seems to know why. I'll be cheaper just to buy a new one.
Leslie

I always use the self cleaning feature.
It stinks, but it's safe.

I usually do mine 2-3 times a year, depending upon how often it needs it. And how often I have cast iron that needs to be cleaned and reseasoned.

The oven is insulated and made to withstand the high temps. I always make sure I put the cat in the bedroom farthest from the kitchen, with towels stuffed under the door so she doesn't get too many of the fumes. I try to pick a mild day so I can open the windows. Also, I turn on the bathroom fan--they say one of those will pull all the air out of the house in an hour, so I figure it's a good way to get rid of the excess smell.

Oh, don't forget to disable your smoke detectors before you start the self-cleaning cycle--they WILL go off, otherwise.

I'm another who would never be without a self-cleaning oven.

Julia, I take the racks out of mine--learned the hard way they will lose their shine and look pretty awful. But I sure do use it--in fact, it needs it right now!

I try to wait for a month when the heat/air don't have to be on because it will raise your electric bill quite a bit--at least mine did.

Yes, I do.
And I also use my self-cleaning oven to clean my cast iron when and if necessary!

Azzalea,

My downstairs smoke detector is about 10' from the oven. They never go off during the clean cycle.

Just do it.

Mary, I'd consider getting a new smoke detector, then. It SHOULD go off. What if you had a real fire and it didn't detect the smoke? Mine on the second floor goes off, if I forget to take out the batteries.

I just used mine a few weeks ago for the first time.
It smoked the house up some (the directions said it would...burning off a finish or something) but I'll do it again. My oven looks brand new!

Lori

Azzalea,

I have the downdraft vent fan on, and usually windows open. Mine is a wall oven, not a combo oven/cooktop. I'd put the vent fan on no matter what. I clean it often enough that there is no significant smoke issue. If my oven was smoking enough to set off a smoke detector, I would assume I'd not been cleaning enough!

I don't need to remove my smoke detector batteries, ever. I get a "smell" of high heat cooking - but nothing that would set off a smoke detector.

Of course I use it, I paid for a self cleaning oven, I certainly am going to make use of it!

Yes, I use it. Granted I don't cook very much any more so the oven doesn't get too soiled. The oder and fumes are very slight, the smoke detectors never go off. When the oven is cleaning, it doesn't seem to create much heat in the kitchen.

Julia, I have read that you should never use any kind of spray cleaner in your self clean oven. If you have been spraying it, you might want to check with someone about what could happen if you turn on the self clean.

I have to confess that I need to find a way to clean the top surface. I know mine is in bad shape. I have the cleaner that came with the stove, but I've never been able to really clean them. After waiting for the burners to cool off I often forget to go back and clean them.

I really don't prefer the ceramic top.

Sue

Hi everyone,

I was going to suggest turning off the smoke detector.

Can you twist the body of yours and remove it? Easier than taking out the battery.

Do you have a test button on your detector?

Usually there's a button to push to make it beep to show that it's O.K.

Or - you can set your toaster near it and turn the control to "Dark" before toasting ... anyone in your house like dark toast, like son does?

He's welcome to it ... I like mine light golden.

The one that my landlord installed a year or so ago has another button that you can push to make it shut up for ... something like 15 min., I think. Have you ever heard, with all of the wonderful discoveries that modern man has made, whether they've developed one of them for a kid?

The electric stove here is rather old. I doubt that it may be a self-cleaner.

What kind of control indicators indicate a self-cleaning oven, please?

Has any of you heard of a wife with a button on her neck to push to keep her from getting hot under the collar?

Have a great (short) week.

ole joyful

P.S. I've been around for quite a while, but ... haven't found the "self-clean" button to push on me, yet. It must be in the middle of my back, somewhere, I think.

o j