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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or is a dirty oven really that unusual??

197 replies

SandysMam · 24/07/2015 09:29

I am currently having my oven cleaned by a professional oven cleaner. That is his main job...to clean the ovens of those who cannot be bothered. I will admit my oven is disgusting, I mean really gross, but probably no worse than anyone else who cooks but doesn't have time to clean it. However, upon inspection the man appeared shocked and disgusted!! Not even an act to justify his existence, genuinely shocked. I mean seriously, if your oven is bad enough to call in a pro cleaner, what does he expect? Or do people pay £40 to get thier already clean ovens cleaned? Am IBU or is he??

OP posts:
Marynary · 24/07/2015 18:29

I consider myself a tidy cook, but using the cooker inevitably means some mess.

It does mean some mess but most people don't have to clean the hob every single day. I only cook one or two meals a day. There isn't usually much splatter if any. If there is a lot e.g. because something had boiled over, I would wipe straight away but generally it is fine to be cleaned a couple of times a week.

HelloNewman · 24/07/2015 18:30

We have never cleaned our ovens ourselves.

We get a pro in about once a year, if that.

The induction hob is cleaned every day, because it's flat and easy.

sianihedgehog · 24/07/2015 18:38

I only clean mine when I leave a flat and want my deposit back!

Binit · 24/07/2015 18:46

My oven didn't get cleaned for 6 years and then I got an oven man in to do it. He said most he sees were the same, some much worse. Apart from his regular clients who have it done every 6 months etc.

I put oven shelves in the dishwasher regularly though. No effort, clean shelves. It's the body of the actual oven I cba with!

drinkscabinet · 24/07/2015 19:43

adds 'phone oven man' to my to do list

Foreverconfused · 24/07/2015 20:43

I have to clean my hob everytime I cook , I'm not a particularly messy cooker but I get the odd splatter. I'm astounded people leave it ?

Marynary · 24/07/2015 20:56

I have to clean my hob everytime I cook , I'm not a particularly messy cooker but I get the odd splatter. I'm astounded people leave it ?

Why are you astounded? What do you think happens if you only clean it a couple of times a week?

backtowork2015 · 24/07/2015 22:44

my oven cleaner raised his eyebrows at mine, and retrieved a black chip from the back and asked if it was done yet. £40 greater London, so I'll deal with itGrin

HangInThereJoan · 24/07/2015 22:55

Get a pyrolytic oven! Cleans it's bloody self. I'm with Baddz, get a induction hob while you're at it. Wipe over, good as new.

satinpillowcase · 24/07/2015 23:04

A man came to fix my over last week (it had been broken for four months).
He pulled it out of the fitting, and recoiled.
In the electric hole at the back - thankfully unconnected to the body of the oven - was a mummified mouse.
Only it's head was sticking out, resting on its mummified paws.
He said it had trodden on the wires at the back, got a jolt and died. The mouse was completely desiccated. When he took it out with a stick from the garden it snapped into bits.
We put the bits in an empty amazon box. There was a head and a body bits. He wouldn't let me look in the hole, and i think he left the tail in there.
I haven't used the oven since.
I am now going to rebuild the entire kitchen at a cost of 180,000 pounds.

aftereight · 24/07/2015 23:05

I called in the oven cleaning man after 5 years of no oven cleaning. Whilst spending 2 hours transforming my oven and hob, he told me about some of the footballers' houses where he is cslled in monthly by the housekeeper to clean the oven and microwave/coffee machine etc. And that the owners will just give the contract to somebody else if he says it's unnecessary Shock

MissShunImpossible · 24/07/2015 23:19

I clean the hob after every use. I am so pleased with myself - generally I am very slovenly, but it seems for this I get a gold star

It doesn't help with yorkies etc, but for roasts those roasting bags are great. They keep the meat really moist, as well as stopping splatter.

But yeah, I clean the oven as little as poss. But I do try to get the drips as soon as possible, so there's more time between cleans.

MissShunImpossible · 24/07/2015 23:20

OMG satinpillowcase that is rank!!! I'm not surprised you've resorted to desperate measures Wink Hope your new kitchen is beautiful and mouse proof (you're getting a whole house free with it, I hope!)

fourtothedozen · 25/07/2015 07:00

£180,000 kitchen? Shock

HarlettOScara · 25/07/2015 07:27

Oh balls. We're moving soon and leaving the cooker behind. I can't remember the last time it was cleaned. I'm going to have to clean it before we go, aren't I? Or coukd I just leave it as we're leaving it behind out of the goodness of our hearts because it's too manky to move and the buyers didn't actually pay anything additional for it?

frankbough · 25/07/2015 07:34

We clean the hob after every use and the cooker internally every week or so, the external of the cooker is cleaned every day, that way it doesn't become a big deal, plus it's nice to look after things..

Those that don't clean are bone idle and dirty beggars..

Longtalljosie · 25/07/2015 07:50

I spray mine with Cillett Bang degreaser every month or so, leave it half an hour, then scrub a bit.

Mary Berry's tip that you put fish pie dishes in a roasting tin to catch spills has made my life much easier on this front...

sianihedgehog · 25/07/2015 08:22

frankbough or they have jobs and aren't utterly and completely dull humans ?

frankbough · 25/07/2015 09:03

Me and Mrs Bough both have jobs (50 hrs a week each) and two under fours.. We just don't live like tramps..

Athenaviolet · 25/07/2015 09:04

Do ovens need cleaned? Confused

JustMarriedBecca · 25/07/2015 09:15

We use oven Brite. Spray it on, leave overnight and stick the trays in the bag. Best oven cleaner by a mile says my mum that does mine

Artandco · 25/07/2015 09:18

How does working or not equate to clean ovens? We work loads also, cleaning after use takes about 1minute

firesidechat · 25/07/2015 09:21

I think satin was joking. Not about the mouse though.

Kit30 · 25/07/2015 11:50

I think I must be an obsessive cleaner judging by some people's comments on this thread. My washing machine repair guy actually COMPLIMENTED me on the cleanliness of my machine. I routinely wipe it out, clean the filters and bung the soap dispenser drawer in the dishwasher. He said a lot of faults happen just because this isn't done and the machines clog up. And yes I clean my cooker too...takes half an hour with the whizzy in the bag oven cleaner and cost about a fiver.

Kit30 · 25/07/2015 11:53

I think I must be an obsessive cleaner judging by some people's comments on this thread. My washing machine repair guy actually COMPLIMENTED me on the cleanliness of my machine. I routinely wipe it out, clean the filters and bung the soap dispenser drawer in the dishwasher. He said a lot of faults happen just because this isn't done and the machines clog up. And yes I clean my cooker too...takes half an hour with the whizzy in the bag oven cleaner and cost about a fiver.