Cleaning the oven before you start the "self clean" function. Gas oven.

[CTyankee]

something has spilled and set on my oven floor. I wasn't aware of the spill until I tried turning on the oven a few days later and even at 350 it started to get a bit smoky. I turned the oven off immediately.

Now I wonder how to clean up the spill before I set the "self clean." I've never used this function because frankly I am freaked out by it. Also, I don't use the oven that much.

My question is how to clean up the spill in a cold oven (prior to putting aside my phobia and running the damn self clean cycle). The manual isn't helpful. It just says "wipe up the spill" and shows a hand with a cloth. It does say you can clean the front frame of the door (Not the gaskets tho) with a soap filled scour pad or SoftScrub. Does that mean I CAN'T use the Brillo pad on the floor of the oven? That is, is there a coating to the inside of the oven that will be damaged if scoured?

[NMDemDist2]

1. i'd be careful scrubbing the enamel finish

what i'd do first is just put a puddle of water on it and let it soak for 10 minutes or so, then wipe as much as i can up

if that isn't enough, make a wet paste of mild cleanser (Bar Keepers Friend or Bon Ami) and use a nylon scrubby gently

that should pull up most of it so it won't smoke anymore........

[CTyankee]

2. Great, thanks!

OK, so you think the Bon Ami and a nylon scrubby will make it OK?

I'll try that. Thanks...

[Stinky The Clown]

3. The self clean feature is probably *very* effective at getting rid of that stuff.

The smoking you encountered is normal when gunk spills inside the oven. Annoying, but not a worry.

The self clean cycle gets the oven *very* hot inside and literally burns up all the gunk. No flames, just a reduction to carbon and then to ash. A real dirty oven will need the ash cleaned off after the self clean cycle is done.

Don't forget to remove the oven racks before you run the self clean. The high heat discolors them. They're not harmed functionally, but their appearance will be permanently changed to a dull "rainbow" color - and not in an attractive way.

[CTyankee]

4. Thanks. I'm following all the instructions from the manual.

No problem removing the racks anyway since they are not all that dirty.

My worry is the fact that this is a gas appliance. Are you saying the self cleaning is not done by actual flame fire? If so, that helps calm my fear somewhat.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. No visible flame. No drama. No danger. No worry.

In essence, the self clean cycle is an override on the thermostat. It gets the oven cavity up to a temperature high enough to reduce the "stuff" to carbon and then to ash. No flames involved.

[CTyankee]

7. OK. That's good to hear!

I've had this stove for a few years but my irrational fear that during the self clean cycle it would either burn thru the floor and simply burst into flames has kept me from doing anything.

How can I safely clean the glass on the front?

[NMDemDist2]

6. what Stinky said

i've used the self clean on my gas oven and it works great BUT not something i do in the summer as it heats the house quite a bit.

but i usually do a self cleaning cycle once a winter for sure....

[beac]

8. Do be aware that the self-cleaning cycle can take HOURS (mine takes 4) and

will make your kitchen hot, hot, HOT!

I never use the self-clean in the summer. Then again, we have no A/C, so any extra heat is highly unwelcome. ;)

If you want to get the spill up w/out using the self-clean, try this:

Take several paper towels or a rag and wet them with a combination of water and vinegar. You want them REALLY wet, but not dripping. Place the wet towel/rag on top of the dried spill so it is completely covered. Let the liquid soak into the dried gunk for a few hours. Wipe off.

You may need to repeat or re-wet the towels a few times to get all the gunk up, but it usually works eventually. Do wipe the area with plain water to remove any vinegar residue. And, of course, no using the oven while you have towels in it. ;)

Good luck!