Pyrolytic oven cleaning

[hoovermatic]

Am hoping someone can offer some advice here! I very stupidly ran the pyrolytic cleaning cycle on my oven and failed to remove the stainless steel shelves. The oven is as clean as new but the oven shelves have changed colour. I tried to clean them using wire wool but it had no affect. Am wondering if there is a remedy for this damage or will I have to live with it? Is it possible to get them dipped in some chemical and 're-coated' or will I have to bite the bullet and replace them? Failing that I could just live with it but they look terrible!

 

[maytagbear]

Entirely off topic...........

Elephants need the dentist when the Tuscaloosa.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[mixfinder]

dull

The finish on the oven racks is damaged by the high heat of the cleaning cycle. You can use Bon-Ami, SOS, mag wheel and metal polish but they'll never be as shiny as before. My range is 35 years old and I run the self cleaning cycle at least once a month and the oven racks are dull but work just fine. In the US manufacturers are offering porcelain coated racks that are unaffected by heat. You might check to see if upgraded oven racks are available for your oven

 

[kb0nes]

Pickling or Passivating Stainless

Assuming that your shelves are indeed stainless the dullness and color you see is simply oxidation of the surface caused by the heat. This can be removed with an acid dip. This is commonly referred to as pickling and is closely related to passivation. Both are common processes to remove color from stainless steel after its welded or thermally processed. A dip in some hot nitric or citric acid will make the parts look like new again (if they are stainless).

You can buy a pickling paste/gel that you brush on the surface from industrial supply companies that cater to the welding industry. This is used to treat areas after welding to remove the color and restore the passive surface. Alternately you might search out a local metal finishing company that does passivation or electropolishing of stainless. I frequently send out batches of stainless parts for passivation, our vendor charges us $50 for a lot. If you sweet talk the local shop they may run a few parts on the side for less for a private party.

You can polish through the oxide layer with a mild abrasive too but that is a lot of work and tough to get a consistent finish.

Follow the link below to a good web resource discussing stainless finishing.

http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=1142

 

[rockland1]

Oven Racks

If things in the UK are like here, I'm inclined to think these are chrome plated
and not stainless steel.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I second what

Rockland1 said. They aren't stainless, they are chrome, or were chrome.

Get used to the pretty blue color and if they don't slide well, then coat the sides with a little cooking oil. The color did not affect the function, only the perddyness.

 

[hoovermatic]

Thank you guys for the information and tips........

.....and of course you're right, they are chrome and not stainless steel. They have gone a kind of bluish colour and no, they don't slide as easily but as you say, it doesn't affect their performance. I am sure that I will get used to them and as it is the lower of the two ovens they are not at eye level and the light only comes on when the oven is in use. I have only had the over just over a year so was kicking myself for making sure a dumb error. If it was a few years older I probably wouldn't be bothered! I did look up replacements on the company's website and they are ridiculously expensive.

 

[kb0nes]

IF they are chrome plated steel

there are products for removing the bluing from chrome on automotive and motorcycle exhausts. Will be a lot of hand work though...

Try holding a magnet to your racks. If they are steel the pull will be significant, stainless will be either non-magnetic or only slightly magnetic. The racks in my Kitchenaid oven are stainless.

I have never pulled the racks before a cleaning, I suppose I don't care if they are shiny, but if there are any spills on them they are gone after a self-clean cycle!