Time to clean the oven

[mixfinder]

Silk Purse from a Sow's Ear

The Kitchenaid range is merely a Whirlpool in a prom dress. A metal prom dress that wraps too much heat with the cabinet. Every time it run the self cleaning cycle it blows the overlimit fuse knocking out the electronics. Its an average $188.00 repair. The slide in models do okay but if the appliance is stainless steel you're more at risk. There is a similar flaw with the side by side and a small plastic flapper that prevents ice from dispensing if the door is open. There is no way to the take the door apart if the flapper breaks. You have to order a new door if you want ice. Average cost? $750.00

 

[iheartmaytag]

Only Cats are self-cleaning

But self cleaning ovens are close to perfection. Our first was a GE P-7 system. That baby got hot, I believe the operating temp was 880 degrees F. You had to slide the window shield up and away it went. It did a wonderful job with nary a complaint in teh 25 years we had it. Now I have a Maytag and I can't say it is as good as the GE in cleaning. I don't really like the darker oven liner of the Maytag as it always looks dirty, but I don't have to do anything but wipe it out afterwards so I'm a happy camper.

Another difference. The GE had a bake element that would swing up to wipe underneath. The Maytag has a larger element that is fixed so you have to wipe around it.

The GE cleaned approximately anywhere from once a month to several times a year the entire time we had it and never had an element replaced. The Maytag has had the bake element replaced three times now in the last 14 years.

 

[retropia]

With the weather so hot and muggy now, we've decided to wait to run the self-cleaning cycle until it's a bit cooler outside.

That way it will be more comfortable to leave the kitchen window open.

In the meantime, I tried washing the oven racks in the dishwasher. By removing the lower dishwasher rack, I was able to place one oven rack at an angle, and clear both the lower and middle wash arms.

They weren't super-dirty to begin with. Both racks definitely look cleaner than before. They don't look like new, but they are acceptably clean.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Another great way to clean the racks without running them through the self-clean cycle that dulls the chrome finish. Put the racks in a large trash bag, pour in a cup of Amonia and seal the bag. Leave it ouside overnight. Next morning, open the bag slowly and hose off the racks with your garden hose. You may need to do a little scrubbing if there is something stubborn, but mostly everything will wipe clean.