How often do you use the self clean function on your oven?

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More like a 1970s Cadillac, Rivera, Impala or Chevelle LOL.

Those ranges are really popular in apartment buildings.

This GE model is better built, though sadly appears to have the self clean feature:

https://www.geappliances.com/applia...ectric-Radiant-Smooth-Cooktop-Range-JB480DTWW

I see no reason for ovens to gain any more complexity than they had in the 50s. Instead manufacturers should be looking at more durable coatings, thicker metal and running the elements with more surface area so they don't burn out eventually.
 
We've done ours about every couple years or so. Usually if they get dirty, we try to scrub and wipe them off first since it's much easier to do but if it gets really dirty or smelly, then we'd do the detail by self cleaning. I have a brother who just bought a house and they're about to have their condo sold, I overheard my sister-in-law who said she had spent almost all day trying to clean her oven out by hand. She said it was really bad but she refused to use the self cleaning feature because she heard that it can break the oven even faster. Well our Whirlpool wall oven and Jenn-Air stove oven we've had since 1991 has NEVER had any problems with after using the self cleaning feature. That's one of the things I had missed about the Jenn-Air, we replaced it a couple years ago with a LG that uses a steam clean feature. It's not as good at cleaning as the Jenn-Air.
 
Chetlaham and Henrick

This is just a classic example of some people like tech, others don't. Some people are more open to innovation. Others prefer the tried and true classics and just want to get the job at hand done.

Sounds like y'all are just at complete opposite ends of that spectrum, and that's perfect. Variety makes the world go round. Would be a pretty boring world if we all liked the same thing.

I don't mind new tech really but honestly will choose not to have to deal with it if I don't have to. I don't enjoy learning curves very much, especially for daily tasks like cooking and laundry. So in that spirit my non-techy oven works great for me. So does my basic washer and dryer. Why do I need it to have a million options or sing me a little pretty song? LOL
 
Well stated Ryne! Different strokes for different folks. There is no need to tech shame members. After all isn’t this a website that is on some level devoted to vintage appliances? People should buy and use the appliances that best suit their needs and level of comfort with technology.

I happen to like my GE electric stove with the electronic control board, which I had been dead set against buying. But in order to get all the features that I wanted when I bought a new stove I had to accept a stove with an electronic control board. I use the delay start for the oven every single day and I really like this feature. As stated previously I had a self cleaning stove 20 years ago that after the 3rd SC cycle the electronic control board was fried making the oven useless unless I was willing to spend approx. $475.00 for the parts and labor to repair it. My new GE stove has the control panel located on the backsplash which is supposed to protect the control board from the intense heat from a SC cycle. I hope that this proves to be true, because I sure love not having to clean the oven by hand anymore.

Eddie
 
Ryne

No, I totally understand the mindset of "simple is better" and I totally support anybody saying "I don't want anything of that kind".

I recommend simple solutions where ever they make sense. I encourage anybody to share their negative experiences with technology.

I however DESPISE framing anything that is not what one prefers as bad.
There is a lot one can read between the lines.
There is a BIG difference between saying "I wouldn't want that" and calling those things "frivolous gimmicks" and trying to harp on something that's just A solution - not THE solution.
Especially if that is ENTIRELY BESIDES the point of a conversation.

There's a whole larger issue behind that kind of talking that's even less in place here.

I could write pages about why the view "simplicity is the only way to longevity" is just inherently NOT how engineering an appliance works.

I made that very point several times on here before.
There is very much physical proof of that. The technology behind the self cleaning oven is more than twice my age, almost as old as my mum, older than humanity having walked on another celestial body.
And some of those are still around.

The point he is making is A point, but not THE fact. Somebody saying they like that isn't the same as saying what they like is better and trying to make their points valid with presentations of things that show nothing of note to the discussion.
 
Put me on the tech end of the scale.  I just did my baking/roasting in my new Samsung steam oven the replaced my Electolux oven. everything turned out perfect, cookies evenly browned, my sourdough rye had a great crust, and my beef ribeye roast was perfectly browned with a nice medium rare center.  I think the dual convection fans did a much better job than the single in the Elux.

 

That said I still do my pumpkin pies in my trusty Frigidaire CI from '58. The vented oven gives a much nicer finish to the pies. I also use the rotisserie a fair amount in the winter. However I will second John's comment about the complexity needed in some older high end ranges, as a kid the repairman spent a lot of time fixing various parts of this range. The CI was a daily driver for a total of 7 years, then relegated to second string after we moved.  The new house had a very basic drop in 30" Hotpoint that crapped out in 7 years, so much for low tech.
 
Not to stir the pot, in fact I fully agree with you that simplicity is not the only way to longevity. Design, material, wear, equations used, ect all play a role. In fact that is one of my peeves, some of the most simple appliances like Potscrubbers from the 90s (for example) were so simple yet so deprived of quality parts and duty factors that they often didn't make it past 10 years.

Good appliances are both simple and over engineered for what few parts there are.

Regarding the downfalls of tech here is my latest example. The plus button is broken inward- it does not work when depressed. You have to use a metal object to get it to work- until that is- it gets stuck "on" and the control throws an error code 5 minutes latter aborting the cooking cycle. A single knob would have prevented this.

Reason I bring this up in the self clean thread is because I feel self cleaning is a solution to a none existent problem. A sponge and cleaner has always worked for me.

chetlaham-2023122816041706912_1.jpg
 
My Oven

I use this oven every single day, sometimes twice a day, for the last 10 years. Stuffed peppers, meatballs, lasagna, frozen chicken, zucchini casseroles, french fries, frozen foods, and the like. Less so the past few weeks since the Sharp micro came in, but that doesn't count I think.

Minus the resent grease spill over Christmas, the oven is fairly clean for 10 years of hard use. The spill will get cleaned up with cleaner and a sponge. I don't think a self clean cycle will make the inside look any better.

chetlaham-2023122817561701242_1.jpg
 
Honestly, if I didn't have a self-clean function on my oven... I wouldn't even miss it...I'm really careful when using the oven and if there is some accident in the oven I'm going to clean it right then because if I don't it will bug the hell outta me... If there are crumbs.. I start with a wet paper towels to get the crumbs until there are no more... Then take racks out...spray easy off mostly just on the bottom....if I see something on the side I'll spray it there... Obviously let it sit to do the work... Put rubber gloves on....wipe/rinse (windows open)... It's really not hard at all and it looks great afterwards....the reason it's not hard is I never let it get to the state of no return where it's filthy caked baked on grease... If I were dealing with something like that I'd definitely probably use the self-clean function and hope for the best
 
Reply #36 - The downfalls of tech...

Well, Chetlaham, what you are showing is not the downfalls of tech, but the downfalls of poor quality.

Because yes, there are good switches that last a lifetime, but unfortunately they are not the cheapest.

Then, if what you mean is that "tech" is often used by manufacturer to hide poor quality (and often even worse engineering) that is another matter
 
Right. Though the way I feel is that the money spent on the door latch to make for a self cleaning oven could have been used for a more durable membrane. I see the price of appliances bumped up by hundreds of dollars for features without anything being allocated to durability.

Further peeve of mine of how 1) all these control boards, escutcheons, HMIs and touch controls become unavailable after 10 years. 2) Cost half or as much as the new machine.

Where as through standardization a stove can be kept running for for decades at pennies on the dollar:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Universa...MIpbO59_C0gwMVb87ICh3jzAcVEAQYAiABEgJER_D_BwE

I believe simplicity allows for the creation of low cost (by economy of scale) universal replacement parts where any appliance can be repaired by the average person. Replacement parts of lower quality are less sought after while reputable replacement parts are purchased more often creating a market for precision long lasting parts with competition keeping cost reasonable for the quality sold.

chetlaham-2023122908035109649_1.jpg
 
LG refrigerator compressor failures

LG has had a horrible problem with this for almost a decade even though they claim a 10 year warranty. It only covers the part leaving the customer with a very expensive repair.

To their credit I do know a lot of people that have gotten the entire repair done for free, but given the problem they’ve had they need to give at least a 20 year or lifetime parts and labor warranty on the sealed system because they have been so slow to solve this problem. Hopefully the lawsuit will shake them up a little bit.

I only see a handful of compressor failures in GE whirlpool and Frigidaire refrigerators in a years time, in general compressors are extremely reliable, one of the most reliable parts of a refrigerator today.

The other really big problem however, with refrigerators is leaks in the paper, thin aluminum evaporators, I wish the government would come in and require at least a 10 year sealed system warranty on all refrigerators that cost over $250 or something.

John
 
not the downfalls of tech, but the downfalls of poor quality

Unfortunately, modern tech and poor quality go hand in hand in these modern times. No manufacture gives a shit about anything today except quarterly profits.
 
What Dan stated above ^^^^^^^^. Don’t mind modern tech but if it’s going to break down sooner than necessary and causes lots of headache, not worth it. This is one of the many reasons why I love old dryers with v-belts for example, they will just continue to run and run forever. If the main drive belt stretches, can adjust the tension tighter so it’ll work like new again. While a serpentine belt around the drum works fine, manufacturers purposely change part numbers from time to time to make the consumer think the part is NLA when it’s still available but with a different part number if that makes sense. Reason why they put a belt around the drum, is it has to do with the thing we all despise on this site, Planned Obsolescence.
 
Hi Sean, I guess this thread is talking about dryers now, lol.

Putting the belt around the drum clothes dryer was the best thing that ever happened to residential clothes dryers. It made them vastly more reliable, longer lived and easier to repair.

I don’t know of a single dryer built with the belt going around the drum where the belt is NLA you’re just making stuff up.
 
Never use the self cleaning function. I have a range that I really like and they no longer even make the double oven 40 inch size. Like others have stated, I have learned what needs to be be covered. This range has an usually tall ,angled backsplasher panel, so the controls are far away from the heat of the ovens.

electro-2024010321365402915_1.jpg

electro-2024010321365402915_2.jpg

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