Common Reasons Your Oven's Self-Cleaning Function Is Not Working Properly

Manually cleaning your oven isn't exactly fun, so in theory, ovens that have a self-cleaning function are much more convenient. Just press a button, walk away, and come back to a sparkling clean oven. Right? Well, not quite. Cleaning your oven, even with an automatic cleaning function, requires a bit of preparation and oversight. If the self-cleaning function isn't working properly, you may not have prepped the oven properly, or you might need a repair.

During the self-cleaning cycle, ovens get to extremely high temperatures — in the 800- to 900-degree Fahrenheit range or even higher — to burn leftover food residue, crumbs, grease, and grime into nothing but ash. The process takes up to six hours, during which the oven door locks to protect you from those scorching temps and to prevent smoke from leaking out. Afterward, you can open the door and wipe away the ash with a damp cloth. Some ovens also feature a shorter self-cleaning function that uses steam instead of high heat for a lighter cleaning.

You should take certain precautions when self-cleaning your oven. Ventilate the area, and keep an eye on the inside of the oven. Some smoke is normal, but if you see flames, turn the cycle off immediately. Several other issues can arise with the self-cleaning process: the cycle may not start at all, it may take longer than it's supposed to, or it may not clean effectively. You might also notice excessive smoke or fumes. Here's how to troubleshoot.

Before self-cleaning, you need to prepare your oven. Remove anything loose inside, including racks, aluminum foil, or leftover pans. Then give it a quick wipe-down to address any large sections of grease or food build-up. This will help reduce the amount of smoke during the self-cleaning cycle and minimize the risk of flames since the oven won't have to burn as much debris. It also ensures that the self-cleaning function finishes in the proper amount of time.

If the self-cleaning function won't start to begin with, the door could be the culprit. For safety purposes, the oven won't begin self-cleaning until the door is latched correctly. Make sure the door is properly closed and listen for the sound of the latch. If you still experience issues, the door lock motor or switch may need a repair. Call a professional for help.

Sometimes, the oven doesn't get hot enough to properly self-clean, or the cycle stops early. This points to a potential issue with the thermostat, thermal fuse, oven control board, or baking element. A malfunction with one of these parts can shut off the oven or prevent it from getting as hot as it needs to for self-cleaning. This also requires a pro to fix. In the meantime, use simple, natural products like lemons to clean your oven by hand. Don't use commercial oven cleaners on a self-cleaning oven. They can cause damage and make the self-cleaning function less effective over time.