A clean oven helps your food cook better and can keep smoke and strange smells out of your kitchen. Self-cleaning ovens have been around a long time, but using the self-cleaning cycle too often (or not enough) can cause problems. So how often should you use the self-cleaning function, and what really happens during the cycle? Here's what to know, how hot it gets, and what signs to look for before hitting that clean button.
How Often Should You Self-Clean Your Oven?
Most people should use the self-cleaning feature every 4 to 6 months. But this depends on how often you cook and what you’re cooking.
"At KitchenAid, we generally recommend using the self-cleaning feature every three months, but it's ultimately dependent on how often you are using your oven," shared Eric Twist, Senior Manager, Product Marketing (Cooking for Whirlpool). "If you're a frequent baker or have occasional spills, you may want to clean the oven more frequently."
If you’re baking daily or roasting foods that splatter, you might need to do more frequent cleanings—maybe even every other month. If you only use the appliance occasionally, an oven clean once or twice a year is fine.
Watch for the signs, but that said, don’t use the self-cleaning feature too often. Running it monthly or more can be hard on the range, especially on older oven models.
Quick signs it’s time for the self-cleaning cycle:
- You smell burning when preheating or cooking
- Excess smoke comes out when preheating
- There’s a lot of stuck-on grease or food residue on the oven racks or oven cavity
- It’s been more than 6 months
How Hot Does the Oven Get When in Self-Cleaning Mode?
It gets extremely hot—much hotter than regular cooking temperatures. During the self-clean cycle, most models heat up to around 880°F to 935°F (471°C to 502°C). That extreme heat turns any stuck-on food debris into ash, which is what makes the self-cleaning mode so effective.
Because it gets up to such extreme temperatures, the door locks automatically during the cycle. The auto-door lock means you can’t open the door until it cools back down. This is a safety feature to prevent burns from the intense heat. It also means the kitchen may get warmer and might smell smoky during the self-cleaning process. Cracking a window can help.
Don’t leave pets in the kitchen during a cycle, and try not to run it right before guests come over—it can leave a pretty strong odor for a few hours.
Tips for Using the Self-Clean Feature Safely
Using the self-clean function is simple, but there are a few things you should do before starting the cycle.
- Remove racks if your manual says to (some can discolor during the cycle)
- Wipe out loose crumbs, leftover food particles, and big spills first
- Vent fumes during oven cleaning by opening kitchen windows, turning on the range hood, and a fan
- Don’t use commercial cleaning products during a self-clean cycle
- Stay home the entire time it runs, but don’t open the door
After the cycle ends and the oven cools completely, just wipe out the leftover residue and ash with a damp cloth. No scrubbing needed.
FAQ
Can self-clean mode damage the oven?
Yes, doing self-cleaning sessions too often or on older models can cause damage over time. "The main consideration with frequent self-cleaning is discoloration over time and the length of the cleaning cycle itself," noted Twist. "We also recommend removing the oven racks beforehand as the high heat from the cycle can cause them to yellow."
Is it better to do a manual cleaning instead?
It depends on the level of soil. Light soils and light spills are easy to clean by hand with a little baking soda paste with vinegar, a soft cloth, and elbow grease. For grease build-up, baked-on food, or stubborn residue, the self-clean cycle works better and takes less effort. Just don’t use both methods at the same time—never apply chemical cleaners before running the self-clean cycle.
