right - I know I am a sad bastard but I think you should come round and look at my oven.

[schoolholidaymeanshotcrossmum]

Blimey. The best 35 quid I have EVER spent. In an ideal world I would never have let it get into that mess...but I did....but then I phoned this chap and two hours and 35 quid later and it SPARKLES.

If anyone even contemplates cooking I will beat them over the head with a le creuset....

[aquos]

Agree. When we moved house last year the oven was so filthy I contemplated ripping it out and buying a new one. Instead of which I rang a man in Yellow Pages and he got it almost as good as new. It's turned out to be the best oven I've ever had and I'm so glad now I didn't chuck it out.

[AmberLeaf]

Oh im soo tempted to get mine done.

How bad was yours before the oven man came?

[schoolholidaymeanshotcrossmum]

pretty awful ...I bake a lot and my lasagne runneth over. The last time it was done was when I was nesting (dc2 is 7 months ). The lovely chap said he has seen worse though (bet he says that to all the girls)

[AmberLeaf]

Ive had a quick look online, all of the companies ive seen dont give a price but tell you to submit a form or call for a quote, I hate doing that as I always think they make the prices up! or [as you have to give a phonenumber] will be calling and hassling me.

Did you shop around for prices? is £35 average?

Also the sites I looked at had ovens and hobs listed as seperate jobs, I would like the whole cooker done, did you just get inside the oven done or was it the whole thing?

Mine has some odd carbonised things at the bottom!

[schoolholidaymeanshotcrossmum]

I didn't shop around - busy moving house - just grabbed one out of the local paper he said 30 quid for a single oven (however bad and that encompassed, inside, front and glass) 2 quid for a shelf. agas and ranges required a quote. 12 for the hob - although I do that anyway (I think 12 for the extractor)

I thought it was cheap to be honest but it was in a state.

hope that helps

[spongefingeranyone]

I paid £50 for a single oven clean last year so £35 is an absolute bargain! Still money very well spent. Would always recommend professional clean over DIY with Oven Pride - too many other jobs need doing and I could never ever get it as clean anyway.

[AmberLeaf]

Thanks.

Think i'll get a quote.

[Bloodymary]

I have often thought about doing this, and £35 is really not too bad.

(plus another £5 to ensure little girl does not tell my Mother)

[Mandy2003]

My parents had this done when the service first started (?20 years ago). Whatever it was that the guy used, it removed all the markings from the control knobs on the front of the cooker!!!!!!

Have you ever tried to cook a Christmas dinner without knowing how hot the oven was? In subsequent years an oven thermometer was provided, but that is as much of a nuisance as it falls between the bars in the oven and has to be pulled out of the flames

[PoopyFingers]

Did he use a steam cleaner? If so, is it worth investing in one for yourself?

Cheap alternative - I cleaned manky oven with a solution of bio washing powder in old baby bath, removed hob bits (gas) all oven shelves (including those hard to remove ones at the side of oven, they come off too) glass doors (this comes off) trays etc.

Left it to soak outside overnight, all the baked on gunge comes off very easily with no toxic fumes. Mr Muscle or whatever left overnight on empty oven - it's easy enough.

And remember to line your oven (including sides before re-fitting side racks) with tin foil - then you really don't have to do much cleaning again, just replace foil every now and again