Toggle's (unsolicited ) tips...
Self-cleaning ovens:
1- Setting the oven to self-clean immediately after using the oven or broiler saves energy since it's aleready hot, and reduces cleaning time needed. (Remove racks if you normally would). This enables one to reduce cleaning time from say 3 hours to 2 hours.
2- I routinely clean the window and stains and the area around the gasket with Brillo and Comet. (Steel-wool soap pads and cleanser for our int'l friends). Rinse thoroughly.
Do this before a self-clean cycle and this too reduces the time needed to for a clean cycle by about an hour.
If your oven has an electronic cycle that can't be shortened simply cancel it after two hours. The door will unlock in about half an hour when the tepmerature has dropped to normal cooking levels.
BTW the top-burner grates on a gas stove may be self-cleaned OCCASIONALLY. Place one on oven bottom (which you can do because there is no element there)to see how it comes out. Rinse off ash under sink. CAUTION: these stay very hot for very long. Proceed with the rest upon the next cleaning.
NOTE: if they are really greasy they may cause smoke in the self-clean cycle--- this is normal.
Be kind-- do your mom's and/or granny's if they dont have a DW or SC oven.
The grates can also be de-greased in a DW. But the finish may be compromised. I usually wait till they start getting "worn" looking before the first DW cycle. By then who cares! They will come-out grease free!
Also, lye-based oven cleaner works very well on porcelain (think broiler-pan and slotted cover) glass, and stainless steel. If your SS or glass pots need a good scrubbing, the Easy-off is really good stuff. Rinse well NOTE: it will discolor aluminum and peel paint,be careful.
