Why You Should (Almost) Never Use Your Oven's Self-Cleaning Function This past week marked a special moment in my life. After living with an extra-small oven for years, pushing it hard — using it to test an entire book about casseroles, with pans that barely fit into its little cavity — I'm now the proud owner of a 30-inch double oven. I lucked out and found the exact oven I desired (and couldn't afford at full price) for a fraction of its list price on Craigslist, barely used and with a 3-year warranty remaining. I can hardly wait to fire it up — cakes, ribs, casseroles, oven-cooked beans — this thing will handle them all. I'll tell you one thing I'm not going to be doing with this oven, though, and that's using the self-cleaning cycle. I have been doing a lot of research on appliances, and as I researched ovens, one complaint seemed to arise over and over: "I used the self-cleaning mode and poof! The fuse burnt out!" When ovens went bad, the evidence seemed to say, it was after the self-cleaning cycle.

I asked Adam Dahl at The Appliance Loft, an appliance shop in Cincinnati. He explained that yes, many oven repair calls are due to self-cleaning problems. First, newer ovens nearly always have hidden heating elements underneath the oven floor and above the oven ceiling. This is a great improvement over older ovens with exposed heating elements. If you drip cake batter, nothing will smoke or scorch. It's easier to clean. But this also means that it's more difficult to vent the heat from those elements and keep air circulating. Self-cleaning, often with temperatures that go over 1000°, is a particular problem. The elements and the oven just get so hot — much, much hotter than the 350° to 500° range of normal baking — that sometimes fuses pop and control panels burn out. Manufacturers, Adam implied, know this and they understand that self-cleaning cycles are a problem. But, he said, customers demand self-cleaning options. They're so highly desired that it's very difficult to sell an oven without one.

And yet it's pushing an oven to do something that is fairly extreme and difficult to engineer, and so there are genuine risks of damaging the oven. And then, if the oven does have a problem, those hidden heating elements can make it much more expensive and difficult to fix. The entire oven has to be pulled out from the wall and fixed from behind, which makes it a more expensive service call, involving more time and trouble.Well, the easy one is: Just don't use your self-cleaning cycle. If your heating elements are hidden anyway, that makes cleaning with soap and water that much easier.I love my self-cleaning option. It hasn't ever broken anything! It's just good to understand that you do run at least a small risk when using the cycle. If you really want to use it, some repairmen and manufacturers recommend running it for a small amount of time — an hour, perhaps — instead of a full four hours. What's been your experience with self-cleaning ovens? Do you have one? Does the self-cleaning work?

Or do you just avoid it in favor of hand-cleaning? Updated: Adam left a comment below to expand on his point, and I'm pulling it up here so everyone sees it: Hey there - this is Adam (same guy from the above mentioned article). The calrod element in electric ovens can "burn-out" during use. but with a greater probability as the oven gets older and repeated uses of the self-cleaning feature. how much does a wii lens cleaning kit costThis calrod element is easy to replace if exposed, but much more difficult if hidden. uv air purifier for air ductsAnd as some have posted, the electronic control panel can be at greater risk of failure when subjected to the high temps in the self-cleaning cycle. air purifier japanIf you have a self-cleaning oven, you can use Easy-Off for self-cleaning ovens which will be less harsh on the porcelain finish.

You can also use the Ammonia method: First, turn the oven on, let it warm to 150°F (65°C), and then turn it off. Place a small bowl containing 1/2 cup ammonia on the top shelf and a large pan of boiling water on the bottom shelf. Close the oven door, and let it sit overnight. The next morning, remove the dish and pan, and let the oven air out awhile. Then wipe it clean using the ammonia and a few drops of dishwashing liquid diluted in a quart of warm water -- even old burned-on grease should wipe right off. Warning: Do not use this cleaning method with a gas oven unless the pilot lights are out and the main gas lines are shut off. More Tips & Advice on Cleaning the Oven • Our Adventures in Oven Cleaning • More Adventures in Oven Cleaning • Good Question: Are There Natural Oven Cleaners? • Good Question: How Do I Get Melted Plastic Off the Oven? • Best Way to Clean Between the Oven and the Counter? Air conditioning & heating> Kenmore®/MD Console Air Cleaner

This Electronic Air Cleaner/ Negative Ionizer & VOC Filter is the perfect solution to indoor air pollution! Electronically removes dust, mites, pollen, mold, bacteria, viruses, pet dander, tobacco smoke particles, cooking smoke and grease, and more, down to 0.01 micron (1/2,540,000 of an inch). It is user-friendly with no complicated controls and easy to access filters that are easy to maintain. Removes irritating airborne allergens which is a must for allergy, asthma and respiratory sufferers. Helps smokers and non-smokers live and work together in harmony by reducing or eliminating offensive tobacco, cooking or pet odours. Helps reduce housekeeping time and redecorating costs by removing the black, greasy and staining airborne particles. Most importantly it improves indoor air quality for a healthier, more comfortable environment, year-round. See more products by You may also like OPERATOR'S MANUAL ® INFO - LINE: After reading this manual, if you have any questions or comments on your Kenmore Air Cleaner, call 1-888-277-2810 0M-85264 Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.

Read all instructions before operating the air cleaner. o Place the air cleaner where it is not easily knocked over by persons in the household. o ALWAYS unplug air cleaner when not in use. ONEoyEAR FULL WARRANTY ON KENiViORE AIR CLEANER For one year from the date of purchase, when operated and maintained according to the owner's manual, if any part of this air cleaner fails due to a defect in material or workmanship, OR OTHER KENiVIORE OUTLET mN THE UNITED STATES FOR FREE REPLACEMENT. 2 Protective Screens (Only used when cleaning the Collecting Cell in a dishwasher...see pg. 12) Place air cleaner near a power outlet, and avoid using an extension cord. Lock the caster wheels to prevent the air cleaner from moving. These electrically grounded plates hold the dirt until the cell is removed and washed. Stage 3 The Ionizer, when turned ON, adds negative ions to the exiting stream of clean air. This function provides additional air freshening and revitalization. Fig. 1 Front Grill Collecting Cell Pre-filter Air Cleaner...

Press the Power Button. The LCD screen and the buttons will light up. The air cleaner starts in Low Speed with the Ionizer On and the Timer Off. NOTE: When any button is pushed, the LCD will have back lighting for 30 seconds. Your air cleaner has a timer function that allows you to select the number of hours you want it to run and then shut off. Press timer button once and the air cleaner will run for 1 hour. Each time you press the button extends the time 1 hour. MAINTENANCE CLEANING SCHEDULE Your air cleaner also has built=in cleaning reminders to let you know when the Pre-Filter and Collecting Cell should be cleaned. The Pre-Filter and Collecting Cell require periodic cleaning in order for the air cleaner to operate at peak efficiency. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the environment in which the air cleaner is used. 4. Wipe off the front grill with a damp cloth. 5. Place front grill into the air cleaner front so that the tabs on the bottom engage into the slots at base of unit.

6. Gently push the front grill forward until the magnetic latches catch and hold the grill in place. NOTE: When you clean the cell, it is also a good time to clean the pre-filter. 3. Swing out the two handles on either side of the cell. 4. Firmly hold these handles and lift the cell up and out of the air cleaner. IMPORTANT: Be extremely careful and DO NOTTOUCH the fine ionizing wires and collection plates on the cell. 6. ALLOW THE CELL TO DRY THOROUGHLY. A hand-held dryer may be used to speed dry cell after washing. 7. Carefully place cell back into the air cleaner and swing handles inward. 8. Follow instructions RE-INSTALLING CLEAN PRE-FILTER to complete installation (See page 9). Let it cool before handling. 3. The protective screens MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE placing the cell back into the air cleaner. The air cleaner can be damaged if the protective screens are left on the cell. GENERAL CLEANING To Clean the Outside of the Air Cleaner Cabinet 1. Turn Off the air cleaner by pressing the Power Switch.