Self cleaning ovens vs. non ?

[bamamom]

We are updating our kitchen so we are buying a new stove/oven. This is the only one I have ever had that I have now and it's a self cleaning. I was wondering are they worth the extra cost. Since I have never had one that wasn't I was hoping to get insight from those of you that do know The oven we are looking at, the difference in price for self cleaning is $175.
Thanks

 

[MickeyP]

Not to dampen the thread, but my friend's house just burnt down because she left the oven on to clean and went to work. (7:30ish) By noon, her neighbor called to say that fire trucks were at her house.And, yes, she lost everything.

 

[Disneydreaming6]

Sorry to hear about your friends house. How horrible.

But I have to say, I love my self cleaning oven. I have both and hated having to clean the baked on stuff which builds up in there. You really do have to becareful with them as they clean by burning the stuff off at incredibly high heat.

 

[shades]

Self cleaning ovens are the only way to go, IMO! Instead of scrubbing my oven with cleansers, I just turn on the self-cleaning thing and let it do its thing. I use a damp papertowel to clean up any ash left behind. VERY easy!! They do heat up to around 700-800 degrees during the cleaning cycle and I'd recommend running the cleaning cycle while you are at home and awake. I also recommend keeping a fire extenguisher in your kitchen in a safe location (not stored under/near a stove/oven). You never know when you will need one and it is one of those things you don't want to be without when you do need it.

 

[fakereadhed]

Personally, I hate the self cleaning feature and never use it. I think it makes the house smell like you've burned dinner. I like Easy Off Fume-Free. Spray on and wipe off. Yes, I think they should rename it to Low Fume, but IMO it smells a lot better than burning the stuff off in your oven.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Yes a self cleaning oven is worth it. Have you ever actually cleaned an oven? It is the worst. Never put you oven on self clean and leave. This goes for dryers too.

 

[wdwaholic]

I used to think that self-cleaning was the only way to go until I was in the middle of cooking chicken in the oven and the computer module went,locking my oven and turning on the self-clean feature,I couldn't shut it off or open the door!!My chicken started to flame up and my whole house filled with smoke -I finally had to turn it off @ the circuit breaker and call the company to find out how to get teh door unlocked.They said it would cost $350 to replace the computer chip board as it wasn't covered by my extended warranty.It was only 6 years old! For $400 I bought the same model-just no self-clean.i now have a special oven mat that i place on the floor of the oven and this catches all the spills.I take it out every week to clean it with soap and water. I never want to go thru that frightening day again!!
Trish

 

[cwf1028]

Just moved into new house 6 months ago and this is my first self cleaning oven-won't ever have anything else. I will make sure next time that the weather is nice so that I can leave some windows open while it is on. Had continuous clean oven in last house. It is just continuously not clean. Love my new oven!

 

[powellrj]

cleaning the oven is one of the jobs I hate most. $175 is a small price to pay to never have to stick my head in another dirty oven again!!

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

Personally, I hate the self cleaning feature and never use it. I think it makes the house smell like you've burned dinner. I like Easy Off Fume-Free. Spray on and wipe off. Yes, I think they should rename it to Low Fume, but IMO it smells a lot better than burning the stuff off in your oven.

I agree with this post - Easy Off works great!

Mine is a self clean oven and I will only use Easy Off!

 

[ncbyrne]

DH and I have been married for 30 years. For the first 29½ years I had the continuously clean ovens (gas oven with teflon lining for easy cleaning). When we updated our kitchen this year I opted for a self cleaning oven (still gas, not electric) and I L-O-V-E it! I have used paste cleaners, spray cleaners and even left dishes of ammonia in the oven overnight to make the job of cleaning the oven easier. Oh my word, I can't believe how easy it is now. I just push a button! When the cleaning cycle is finished and the oven is cool again, I just vaccum up the reside, and oila - done! I can't believe that anyone would opt to clean an oven if they didn't have to!

 

[rcpae]

My self cleaning is broken on my oven so I have been using the Easy-Off fume free. It is definately NOT fume-free, but not horrible. I would pay the extra for the self clean. Even with the Easy-Off it is hard to get completely clean and hard to rinse so there are no fumes after cleaning.

 

[mlwear]

OK, I will once again allow myself to seem a moron. I have a self-cleaning oven, but I never read the instructions.
I really didn't know what "self-cleaning" meant...I guess I just thought it would be easier to cleaner or spills wouldn't stick as bad...go ahead, laugh, it's fine.
I have been cleaning mine with Easy Off, the regular nasty way since I have owned it (3 years now). Continue laughing
A few days ago I got my manual out and saw that self-cleaning was really self-cleaning. I haven't tried it. Do you think my years of using Easy Off will effect the self-cleaning ability? I know it is the heat that burns it off, but is it a coating or something too that maybe I removed? I'm afraid if I try the self-cleaning, I may do more damage.

To the OP--if I try mine, I'll let you know. But, IMO cleaning the oven is the worst household task.

 

[Hannathy]

That is a no brainer ! Get the self clean- cleaning the oven is terrible. I didn't even know they still made ovens that weren't self-cleaning. Don't tell me they sell non self-defrosting refridgerators, another lovely task from the past.

We always do it on a cold day so we can take advantage of the dissipating heat. I would also never leave home with it going and make sure nothing is sitting on top of the stove or really close on the counter.

 

[Banana magic]

We have a self cleaning oven and the first time I used the self clean feature, the high heat blew out my thermostat. Had to call the repair service and have them order a replacement. So several hundred dollars later, I will not use the self clean feature anymore. I guess according to the repairman, this is a common problem. He said "don't ever use the self clean before a big holiday".