I keep the OUTSIDE of the oven clean, that's easy... and I wipe down
the stove top every time I wash the dishes... (and since I discovered
that new burner liners cost less than five dollars each, they're taken
care of the easy way - I'd rather spend ten dollars a year on new
burners than scrub the old ones :P) but the inside is a mystery to me,
and unlike the burners, it can't be replaced. I know they sell
'oven-cleaners' of all shapes and sizes, but I'm very sensitive to
chemicals and we have a small apartment and three cats... is there an
oven cleaner that is NOT fumey or toxic? how do I get the thing clean,
especially the bottom? Does the element lift up or come out or do I
just work around it? My parents oven had a slide-out tray in the
bottom of the oven that you covered with aluminum foil and it caught
all the ickies for you, but this one has a flat bottom with nothing to
remove. Help please...

Karen AKA Kajikit said...

> I keep the OUTSIDE of the oven clean, that's easy... and I wipe down
> the stove top every time I wash the dishes... (and since I discovered
> that new burner liners cost less than five dollars each, they're taken
> care of the easy way - I'd rather spend ten dollars a year on new
> burners than scrub the old ones :P) but the inside is a mystery to me,
> and unlike the burners, it can't be replaced. I know they sell
> 'oven-cleaners' of all shapes and sizes, but I'm very sensitive to
> chemicals and we have a small apartment and three cats... is there an
> oven cleaner that is NOT fumey or toxic? how do I get the thing clean,
> especially the bottom? Does the element lift up or come out or do I
> just work around it? My parents oven had a slide-out tray in the
> bottom of the oven that you covered with aluminum foil and it caught
> all the ickies for you, but this one has a flat bottom with nothing to
> remove. Help please...


Karen,

Remove the oven racks. Do the side "rack height guides" lift up and angle
out (inward, etc.) for removal? That'll be your first clue. If so, from
there, the sides usually lift up and out and then the bottom.

My electric oven comes apart completely (with the exception of the ceiling
panel). The electric oven and broil elements just unplug.

Good luck,

Andy

>I keep the OUTSIDE of the oven clean, that's easy... and I wipe down
> the stove top every time I wash the dishes... (and since I discovered
> that new burner liners cost less than five dollars each, they're taken
> care of the easy way - I'd rather spend ten dollars a year on new
> burners than scrub the old ones :P) but the inside is a mystery to me,
> and unlike the burners, it can't be replaced. I know they sell
> 'oven-cleaners' of all shapes and sizes, but I'm very sensitive to
> chemicals and we have a small apartment and three cats... is there an
> oven cleaner that is NOT fumey or toxic? how do I get the thing clean,
> especially the bottom? Does the element lift up or come out or do I
> just work around it? My parents oven had a slide-out tray in the
> bottom of the oven that you covered with aluminum foil and it caught
> all the ickies for you, but this one has a flat bottom with nothing to
> remove. Help please...


I have similar issues. I use burner guards now as well, and I put heavy
duty foil on the bottom of the oven, making sure not to touch the element,
since a few people warned me about that one when I asked here a couple
months back. I haven't found any non-toxic cleaner, but I imagine if you
needed too, putting a good load of white vinegar in there and letting it
soak for 12-24 hours (and repeat until clean) might help out. I use white
vinegar for soaking my roastings pans and it workes wonders there.

On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 13:43:55 -0600, Andy <q> wrote:


>Remove the oven racks. Do the side "rack height guides" lift up and angle
>out (inward, etc.) for removal? That'll be your first clue. If so, from
>there, the sides usually lift up and out and then the bottom.
>
>My electric oven comes apart completely (with the exception of the ceiling
>panel). The electric oven and broil elements just unplug.

Hmmm... it looks like the oven is all one piece to me. The only thing
that seems to slide out is the actual racks - the guides are moulded
into the walls. I'll have to investigate more closely on Monday. At
worst I guess I can sit down in front of it and lean in and scrub...
If I ever DO get this thing clean I'll treat it with more care in
future - I honestly have to confess that it never occurred to me that
it needed it!

"Karen AKA Kajikit" > wrote

> and unlike the burners, it can't be replaced. I know they sell
> 'oven-cleaners' of all shapes and sizes, but I'm very sensitive to
> chemicals and we have a small apartment and three cats... is there an
> oven cleaner that is NOT fumey or toxic?

They DO make fume free cleaners. They will be easy to find
wherever you buy stuff like that. Check this out:

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/pro...ieweasyoff.htm

Other than that, gloves, a sponge you will toss after cleaning
the oven, and some time. Been a long time since I have done
this, so read the directions on the can. That's important.

nancy

Karen AKA Kajikit wrote:


> that new burner liners cost less than five dollars each, they're taken
> care of the easy way - I'd rather spend ten dollars a year on new
> burners than scrub the old ones :P)

I used to cover them in foil. It was hard to find burner liners the
correct size. I could replace the foil if they got icky, and when I
left, they'd get the burners back in the same condition they started in.



> My parents oven had a slide-out tray in the
> bottom of the oven that you covered with aluminum foil and it caught
> all the ickies for you, but this one has a flat bottom with nothing to
> remove. Help please...

The element usually lifts up in front and unplugs from the back. You can
lay foil under it, even without a pan. Heavy Duty foil might be easier
to manage for that.



Dawn

On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:22:03 -0500, Karen AKA Kajikit
> wrote:

>I keep the OUTSIDE of the oven clean, that's easy... and I wipe down
>the stove top every time I wash the dishes... (and since I discovered
>that new burner liners cost less than five dollars each, they're taken
>care of the easy way - I'd rather spend ten dollars a year on new
>burners than scrub the old ones :P) but the inside is a mystery to me,
>and unlike the burners, it can't be replaced. I know they sell
>'oven-cleaners' of all shapes and sizes, but I'm very sensitive to
>chemicals and we have a small apartment and three cats... is there an
>oven cleaner that is NOT fumey or toxic? how do I get the thing clean,
>especially the bottom? Does the element lift up or come out or do I
>just work around it? My parents oven had a slide-out tray in the
>bottom of the oven that you covered with aluminum foil and it caught
>all the ickies for you, but this one has a flat bottom with nothing to
>remove. Help please...

Honestly, I can never figure out why apartment owners put the cheapest
of the cheap in apartments. Put in a self-cleaning oven!

--
See return address to reply by email

"Karen AKA Kajikit" > wrote in message
...
>I keep the OUTSIDE of the oven clean, that's easy... and I wipe down
> the stove top every time I wash the dishes... (and since I discovered
> that new burner liners cost less than five dollars each, they're taken
> care of the easy way - I'd rather spend ten dollars a year on new
> burners than scrub the old ones :P) but the inside is a mystery to me,
> and unlike the burners, it can't be replaced. I know they sell
> 'oven-cleaners' of all shapes and sizes, but I'm very sensitive to
> chemicals and we have a small apartment and three cats... is there an
> oven cleaner that is NOT fumey or toxic? how do I get the thing clean,
> especially the bottom? Does the element lift up or come out or do I
> just work around it? My parents oven had a slide-out tray in the
> bottom of the oven that you covered with aluminum foil and it caught
> all the ickies for you, but this one has a flat bottom with nothing to
> remove. Help please...


Hand held steam cleaner does wonders.

Ms P

On Jan 27, 3:55�pm, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:22:03 -0500, Karen AKA Kajikit
>
> > wrote:
> >I keep the OUTSIDE of the oven clean, that's easy... and I wipe down
> >the stove top every time I wash the dishes... (and since I discovered
> >that new burner liners cost less than five dollars each, they're taken
> >care of the easy way - I'd rather spend ten dollars a year on new
> >burners than scrub the old ones :P) but the inside is a mystery to me,
> >and unlike the burners, it can't be replaced. I know they sell
> >'oven-cleaners' of all shapes and sizes, but I'm very sensitive to
> >chemicals and we have a small apartment and three cats... is there an
> >oven cleaner that is NOT fumey or toxic? how do I get the thing clean,
> >especially the bottom? Does the element lift up or come out or do I
> >just work around it? My parents oven had a slide-out tray in the
> >bottom of the oven that you covered with aluminum foil and it caught
> >all the ickies for you, but this one has a flat bottom with nothing to
> >remove. Help please...Honestly, I can never figure out why apartment owners put the cheapest
> of the cheap in apartments. *Put in a self-cleaning oven!

Most tenants destroy everything (no point in buying any but the
cheapest), and if tenants are paying their own utilities they wouldn't
use the clean cycle anyway, most wouldn't use the clean cycle even if
utilities are paid... even that's too much effort, they'd need to dust
out the spoonful of ash.

Tenants are not normal people, that's why they're tenants.

It's very rare to find a responsible tenant, and then they don't stay
very long, the good tenants are saving their pennies to buy their own
place.

Sheldon

On 2007-01-27, Karen AKA Kajikit > wrote:

> remove. Help please...

LAW rocket.

nb

> wrote:
>
>Honestly, I can never figure out why apartment owners put the cheapest
>of the cheap in apartments. Put in a self-cleaning oven!

Look up the terms "return on investment," "depreciation,"
and "security deposit."

Unless you're in the "luxury" market, it never pays to
provide more than basic facilities.

--Blair

Sheldon wrote:
> On Jan 27, 3:55?pm, sf wrote:
>> On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:22:03 -0500, Karen AKA Kajikit
>>
>> > wrote:
>>> I keep the OUTSIDE of the oven clean, that's easy... and I wipe down
>>> the stove top every time I wash the dishes... (and since I
>>> discovered
>>> that new burner liners cost less than five dollars each, they're
>>> taken
>>> care of the easy way - I'd rather spend ten dollars a year on new
>>> burners than scrub the old ones :P) but the inside is a mystery to
>>> me,
>>> and unlike the burners, it can't be replaced. I know they sell
>>> 'oven-cleaners' of all shapes and sizes, but I'm very sensitive to
>>> chemicals and we have a small apartment and three cats... is there
>>> an
>>> oven cleaner that is NOT fumey or toxic? how do I get the thing
>>> clean,
>>> especially the bottom? Does the element lift up or come out or do I
>>> just work around it? My parents oven had a slide-out tray in the
>>> bottom of the oven that you covered with aluminum foil and it caught
>>> all the ickies for you, but this one has a flat bottom with nothing
>>> to
>>> remove. Help please...Honestly, I can never figure out why
>>> apartment owners put the cheapest
>> of the cheap in apartments. Put in a self-cleaning oven!
>
> Most tenants destroy everything (no point in buying any but the
> cheapest), and if tenants are paying their own utilities they wouldn't
> use the clean cycle anyway, most wouldn't use the clean cycle even if
> utilities are paid... even that's too much effort, they'd need to dust
> out the spoonful of ash.
>
> Tenants are not normal people, that's why they're tenants.
>
Now that's not true, Sheldon. I rent because I have no reason to buy a
house. Got into a big discussion about this a few years back on this very
newsgroup. I rent because I don't have to pay for appliance repair and
upkeep, or yard work. Why would I choose to pay for all that myself when it
can be included in the rent?

> It's very rare to find a responsible tenant, and then they don't stay
> very long, the good tenants are saving their pennies to buy their own
> place.
>
Not all of us. Although John does have problems with good tenants in his
rental places. I would not choose to be a landlord.

Jill

On 27 Jan 2007 14:14:15 -0800, "Sheldon" > wrote:

>
>
>On Jan 27, 3:55?pm, sf wrote:

..Honestly, I can never figure out why apartment owners put the
cheapest
>> of the cheap in apartments. ut in a self-cleaning oven!
>
>Most tenants destroy everything (no point in buying any but the
>cheapest), and if tenants are paying their own utilities they wouldn't
>use the clean cycle anyway, most wouldn't use the clean cycle even if
>utilities are paid... even that's too much effort, they'd need to dust
>out the spoonful of ash.
>
>Tenants are not normal people, that's why they're tenants.
>
>It's very rare to find a responsible tenant, and then they don't stay
>very long, the good tenants are saving their pennies to buy their own
>place.

Oy! Not everybody who rents an apartment is a lazy slob who trashes
the place... some of us just live in hideously expensive parts of the
country where you have to be a millionaire to own a house. (We're
saving, but it's going to take about five years before we have enough
to buy down here unless the market REALLY crashes, and DH doesn't want
to move north.)

Our landlord was DELIGHTED to buy our apartment when the building went
condo because we're good tenants and our apartment was as close to
immaculate as I could make it in such an old building. I love my
apartment - I just wish I didn't have to have so many neighbours

On Jan 28, 3:42�pm, Karen AKA Kajikit > wrote:
> On 27 Jan 2007 14:14:15 -0800, "Sheldon" > wrote:
>
>
>
> >On Jan 27, 3:55?pm, sf wrote:.Honestly, I can never figure out why apartment owners put the
> cheapest
>
> >> of the cheap in apartments. *ut in a self-cleaning oven!
>
> >Most tenants destroy everything (no point in buying any but the
> >cheapest), and if tenants are paying their own utilities they wouldn't
> >use the clean cycle anyway, most wouldn't use the clean cycle even if
> >utilities are paid... even that's too much effort, they'd need to dust
> >out the spoonful of ash.
>
> >Tenants are not normal people, that's why they're tenants.
>
> >It's very rare to find a responsible tenant, and then they don't stay
> >very long, the good tenants are saving their pennies to buy their own
> >place.Oy! Not everybody who rents an apartment is a lazy slob who trashes
> the place... some of us just live in hideously expensive parts of the
> country where you have to be a millionaire to own a house. (We're
> saving, but it's going to take about five years before we have enough
> to buy down here unless the market REALLY crashes, and DH doesn't want
> to move north.)
>
> Our landlord was DELIGHTED to buy our apartment when the building went
> condo because we're good tenants and our apartment was as close to
> immaculate as I could make it in such an old building. I love my
> apartment - I just wish I didn't have to have so many neighbours

You're one of the rare ones.