OK, don't ask why, but my man disconnected the external vent system from our stove/oven, and so it is impossible to use the self-cleaning oven. Every time I turn it on, instead of having all that heat and smoke vent to the outdoors, it sets off the fire alarm!
I hate to admit this, but this has been the situation for the past three years. I have cleaned the oven repeatedly, but I cannot really get it good and clean. As a result, after three years, my oven is just disgusting, even though I clean it.
I need something to clean a cold oven that is not toxic and actually works. I know the RIGHT answer is to make HIM clean it, since he is the one who insisted on disconnecting the oven from the vent, but that'll NEVER happen. ANY IDEAS?
Thank you everyone! I plan on trying all your suggestions, one at a time. We started with Fumeless Easy Off, and it worked well enough that I could self-clean the oven without the alarm going off just to get the last little bits off. Also, it dawned on me that I could take the battery out of the smoke alarms just long enough to clean the oven. Of course, there's about half-dozen of them around the house, and that requires ladders, etc. But it is, at least, an option!
I read a hint from Heloise that if you put a bowl of ammonia in the oven overnight (I think you're supposed to leave the door open a crack), it will soften any baked on stuff.
BAM! When we lived in an apartment (no self cleaning oven) this was what someone suggested to us. It worked like a charm! I don't know for sure that it is non toxic but it is made for that tough baked on grease. You just spray it on and let it sit for a little bit and then everything wipes off with little to no scrubbing. I am pretty sure that they carry it at Wal-mart. It used to be in a purple bottle but I haven't bought any for a while so they might have changed the packageing by now. Just look for BAM and you will be set.
My husband and I own a commercial equipment sales company and we sell both new and used equipment. When we get a used item in that is super dirty we use Easy Off. Spray it on and leave it for a couple of hours. It works like a charm on even the dirtiest of equipment. Good luck.
D.
