How Does an Electric Oven Self Clean?

An electric oven is a great oven choice because of the advanced self-cleaning feature often available on certain models. A self-cleaning oven uses high temperatures to clean crusty baking spills and splatters and free its owner from having to use harsh chemicals to clean his oven. The following 4 steps lay out how a self-cleaning oven works.

Step 1 – Setting the Self Cleaning Mode

Depending on the style and brand of oven you own, you start the self-cleaning cycle by setting the oven's operating dial to "Clean," a function that can be as simple as setting a timer knob or pushing one or two buttons.

Step 2 – Cleaning Cycle

Once you have set the self-cleaning cycle, the oven coils–both lower and upper--will begin to heat. These self-cleaning ovens are protected from high oven temperatures damage by heavy insulation installed in their walls and door during the manufacturing process.

Step 3 – Automatic Door Lock

When the oven reaches a pre-determined temperature, the lock on the oven door engages, preventing anyone from opening the door until the oven temperature has cooled.

Step 4 – Removing Residual Ashes

Once the cleaning process is completed, including cooling, you can then remove the residual ash by wiping the bottom oven surface with a damp cloth or sponge.